Guest guest Posted July 15, 2006 Report Share Posted July 15, 2006 Maty, I dont know which ones are electrolyte tests ?? I see potassium at 4.7 (range 3.6-5.2) and sodium 139 (range 136-146) calcium 8.6 (range 8.5-10.5) I dont see anything for magnesium unless its a name I dont recognize . yes, I am overweight. I was always a very scrawny kid, and thin teen, but when my thyroid went a little wacky I developed endometrial hyperplasia and basically bled to death for 2 yrs, they put me on prgesterone and I gained 100 lbs in the 1 yr I was on the pills. I cried when the weight started and the DRs would pat my hand and say sorry but you have to stay on this indefinately. I gained 17 lbs in 14 days , and couldnt wear my shoes or my jewelry. they would not test my thyroid back then (2001) I requested it several times. they set me up for a uterine ablation to stop the bleeding, then decided I needed a hysterectomy,and then decided I didnt qualify for any of it, and then finally after 2 yrs I said enough and went to a small walk in clinic, got my TSH tests (9.6) and they put me on armour and the hyperplasia disappeared and I have been normal ever since. exept the weight will not budge no matter what diet I try, I am diabetic so this is really hard on me. but since 2001 my iron has been low, one DR was so worried I might not be able to walk to t he car in the parking lot but a male Dr came in and he called me a sissy because I was so weak and tired all the time. he said evertything was fine and thought I was lying. so I've been living with it ever since. but some days I have no strength to get out of bed, I wake up more exhausted that before I went to bed. I have severe leg cramps every hour all night long, I get dizzy easily, sometimes just sitting at my desk doing emails and a wave of dizziness will hit me for no reason. I will check my bp and my sugar and its all fine. I have only a couple of varicose veins but not too bad . I dont know if I have any circulation problems, I dont think so. I was going in for B12 shots every month but they didnt do anything for me, I use to take B12 supplements for years...but it just doesnt seem to help at all. I take folic acid supplements once in awhile. they say my iron and ferritin is in range so not to worry about it. but something is sure keeping me exhausted. if I take a shower, I have to lay down for 30 min to regain some strength just to get dressed. of course the doctor doesnt believe me. on good days I dont have to do that, I noticed too on my bad days (weak and tired) my ankles swell really bad (3x normal size)...but on days my ankles are not swollen, I seem to feel better and have more energy. so I cant figure the connection there, most likely a coincidence. I have been taking ferrous sulfate 325 mg for 2 months now, I saw a slight improvement..but feel I am a long way off from feeling normal again. my Drs all comlpain because I have 'too much' wrong. believe me I didnt ask for any of this. one DR refused to see me because there was just too much wrong. so found a small clinic and they are doing their best.. but most times I need to tell them what I think and what I would like tested. on monday he set me up to have some labs done... he requested cmp, a1c, CBC, lipids, fe, and fe binding , folate, B12, TSH. so I will be getting these done soon. and hoping to find whats wrong and fix it. I have a ton of stuff to do, and not being able to do normal everyday stuff is driving me nuts. I sleep all the time, sometimes I get worn out just walking from the bedroom to the kitchen and have to rest half the day. I was always a very hyper person, in fact when I first gained the weight I was still quite active.. but this has been going down hill since 2001. one person suggested lupus might be a problem, another suggested CFS,fibromyalgia. I am thinking it might be a nutritional thing. I dont know how to find a nutritionist and one trained well enough to look for things that other Drs miss. but was just curious what the ferritin numbers should be at, what most people are dealing with in Iron and ferritin. just in case this is my mystery illness that they overlooked. if I do a load of laundry and then cook a meal, I am shot for the day. I cant do anything without exhausting myself and its plain rediculous.! I cant have my life coming to a screeching halt because of exhaustion (somewhere). would love to hear from others and see if I can get ideas to take to my Dr. Thanks so much Lin > > Support for Texans with Thyroid DiseaseWhat do your electrolytes test at? (Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium?) Are you much overweight, and do you have varicose veins and/or poor circulation to your legs? Your ferritin looks too low to me, but there could be other factors right along side it, also. Just looking at various things here. B12? Folic Acid? Maybe a combo of some or all of these things? Please forgive if you've given all this info, but my memory is sometimes--well--short term, lol. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 The shortness of breath is definitely a symptom of anemia, but can also be due to hypothyroidism. Does your lab report really show a range of 100-291? It is usually more like 10 on the bottom and not at all realistic. I was symptomatic with a ferritin of 35, even losing hair. Most of us need to have our ferritin over 70 to be free of symptoms. My ferritin was 18 when I had it tested a month ago and Dr Gonino said that was fine and I wasn't anemic and didn't need to take any iron supplements. But my hair will not stop falling out - my nutritionist recommended Nature's Plus Biotin-Folic Acid and Nioxin shampoo/conditioner to me yesterday. Which I just picked up both today so we'll see if they work. She said she had great success with both of those personally with regards to hair within the first month of taking/using them. So hopefully. Guess we'll wait and see. I don't have any plan to see Dr Gonino again (which is too bad because he really is a nice, caring doctor - I'm just sick of the issue with not being able to get my Frees tested!) but am still planning to see Dr in July. Just need to get my mom to give me her schedule so I can make the appointment. I'm so ready!!!! lol I'm feeling worlds better, especially this week, but there is still something amiss, I can feel it. Jul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 This is one more piece of bad news about Dr. Gonino. He is flat wrong about ferritin. Read the website of Dr. Ted Friedman in California. If anyone is still seeing Dr. G, they may want to print out the page on ferritin and take it to him. Dr. has said that he wants my ferritin at about 115. www.goodhormonehealth.com Dr. Gonino will remain on our list for now, because he does Rx Armour and so far has not left anyone undermedicated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. goes to a lot of trouble to keep a low profile. He does not have a website. If he did have a website, it would contain smiling photos of doc and staff, office hours and directions to the office. Period. He does not write books, and does not promote himself in any way. He keeps very thorough records. (This is where they got Springer. Some of her records were out of the office.) A lot of board actions are politically motivated. He tries not to p!$$ off other doctors. He is very careful about discussing his protocols with docs who may be hostile to his approach to medicine. He is careful not to tread on the territory of our local doctors. Since long distance medicine is a red flag, he wants to see the patients before ordering the first labs and a certain number of times each year thereafter. Jul wrote: The shortness of breath is definitely a symptom of anemia, but can also be due to hypothyroidism. Does your lab report really show a range of 100-291? It is usually more like 10 on the bottom and not at all realistic. I was symptomatic with a ferritin of 35, even losing hair. Most of us need to have our ferritin over 70 to be free of symptoms. My ferritin was 18 when I had it tested a month ago and Dr Gonino said that was fine and I wasn't anemic and didn't need to take any iron supplements. But my hair will not stop falling out - my nutritionist recommended Nature's Plus Biotin-Folic Acid and Nioxin shampoo/conditioner to me yesterday. Which I just picked up both today so we'll see if they work. She said she had great success with both of those personally with regards to hair within the first month of taking/using them. So hopefully. Guess we'll wait and see. I don't have any plan to see Dr Gonino again (which is too bad because he really is a nice, caring doctor - I'm just sick of the issue with not being able to get my Frees tested!) but am still planning to see Dr in July. Just need to get my mom to give me her schedule so I can make the appointment. I'm so ready!!!! lol I'm feeling worlds better, especially this week, but there is still something amiss, I can feel it. Jul Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Jan, I have never mentioned my doctor on this forum, nor have I added him to any doctor database, for these very reasons you mention in the 2nd part of your post. He has a website but it says NOTHING about hormone treatment (except that he will test for thyroid function if you are overweight) and yet that is the bulk of his practice! And I know he asked to be removed from the about.com top thyroid doc list, probably for fear of attack from mainstream medicine. The state of things is very sad. Kathleen Re: Ferritin This is one more piece of bad news about Dr. Gonino. He is flat wrong about ferritin. Read the website of Dr. Ted Friedman in California. If anyone is still seeing Dr. G, they may want to print out the page on ferritin and take it to him. Dr. has said that he wants my ferritin at about 115. www.goodhormonehealth.com Dr. Gonino will remain on our list for now, because he does Rx Armour and so far has not left anyone undermedicated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~wbr>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. goes to a lot of trouble to keep a low profile. He does not have a website. If he did have a website, it would contain smiling photos of doc and staff, office hours and directions to the office. Period. He does not write books, and does not promote himself in any way. He keeps very thorough records. (This is where they got Springer. Some of her records were out of the office.) A lot ofboard actions are politically motivated. He tries not to p!$$ off other doctors. He is very careful about discussing his protocols with docs who may be hostile to his approach to medicine. He is careful not to tread on the territory of our local doctors. Since long distance medicine is a red flag, he wants to see the patients before ordering the first labs and a certain number of times each year thereafter. Jul <juliekayegmail> wrote: On 5/19/07, Jan <texasthyroid> wrote: The sortness of breath is definitely a symptom of anemia, but can also be due to hypothyroidism. Does your lab report really show a range of 100-291? It is usually more like 10 on the bottom and not at all realistic. I was symptomatic with a ferritin of 35, even losing hair. Most of us need to have our ferritin over 70 to be free of symptoms. My ferritin was 18 when I had it tested a month ago and Dr Gonino said that was fine and I wasn't anemic and didn't need to take any iron supplements. But my hair will not stop falling out - my nutritionist recommended Nature's Plus Biotin-Folic Acid and Nioxin shampoo/conditioner to me yesterday. Which I just picked up both today so we'll see if they work. She said she had great success with both of those personally with regards to hair within the first month of taking/using them. So hopefully. Guess we'll wait and see. I don't have any plan to see Dr Gonino again (which is too bad because he really is a nice, caring doctor - I'm just sick of the issue with not being able to get my Frees tested!) but am still planning to see Dr in July. Just need to get my mom to give me her schedule so I can make the appointment. I'm so ready!!!! lol I'm feeling worlds better, especially this week, but there is still something amiss, I can feel it. Jul Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.7.5/812 - Release Date: 5/19/2007 1:52 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Since long distance medicine is a red flag, he wants to see the patients before ordering the first labs and a certain number of times each year thereafter. What is it a red flag against? Jul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Long distance medicine is a red flag that catches the attention of the state board, sort of like the bullfighter waving his cape at the bull. . . . .It makes them wonder what kind of off-the-wall miracle cures he is promoting to make folks travel halfway across the state and the country to see him. Jul wrote: Since long distance medicine is a red flag, he wants to see the patients before ordering the first labs and a certain number of times each year thereafter. What is it a red flag against? Jul Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Long distance medicine is a red flag that catches the attention of the state board, sort of like the bullfighter waving his cape at the bull. . . . .It makes them wonder what kind of off-the-wall miracle cures he is promoting to make folks travel halfway across the state and the country to see him. Oh that makes sense. I understand now. Thanks for the explanation.Jul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 I was disappointed to see the comment about Gonino thinking the ferritin being that low is okay. I hope to continue to see Dr R but if someday for some reason I had to go somewhere closer to home (North Texas), etc, I was hoping to have to Dr Gonino as a back-up plan. I think I better start working on another back-up plan…. I need someone that does adrenals so that eliminates a bunch of docs. Kim From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of Jan Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 2:00 PM To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Subject: Re: Ferritin This is one more piece of bad news about Dr. Gonino. He is flat wrong about ferritin. Read the website of Dr. Ted Friedman in California. If anyone is still seeing Dr. G, they may want to print out the page on ferritin and take it to him. Dr. has said that he wants my ferritin at about 115. www.goodhormonehealth.com Dr. Gonino will remain on our list for now, because he does Rx Armour and so far has not left anyone undermedicated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. goes to a lot of trouble to keep a low profile. He does not have a website. If he did have a website, it would contain smiling photos of doc and staff, office hours and directions to the office. Period. He does not write books, and does not promote himself in any way. He keeps very thorough records. (This is where they got Springer. Some of her records were out of the office.) A lot of board actions are politically motivated. He tries not to p!$$ off other doctors. He is very careful about discussing his protocols with docs who may be hostile to his approach to medicine. He is careful not to tread on the territory of our local doctors. Since long distance medicine is a red flag, he wants to see the patients before ordering the first labs and a certain number of times each year thereafter. Jul wrote: The shortness of breath is definitely a symptom of anemia, but can also be due to hypothyroidism. Does your lab report really show a range of 100-291? It is usually more like 10 on the bottom and not at all realistic. I was symptomatic with a ferritin of 35, even losing hair. Most of us need to have our ferritin over 70 to be free of symptoms. My ferritin was 18 when I had it tested a month ago and Dr Gonino said that was fine and I wasn't anemic and didn't need to take any iron supplements. But my hair will not stop falling out - my nutritionist recommended Nature's Plus Biotin-Folic Acid and Nioxin shampoo/conditioner to me yesterday. Which I just picked up both today so we'll see if they work. She said she had great success with both of those personally with regards to hair within the first month of taking/using them. So hopefully. Guess we'll wait and see. I don't have any plan to see Dr Gonino again (which is too bad because he really is a nice, caring doctor - I'm just sick of the issue with not being able to get my Frees tested!) but am still planning to see Dr in July. Just need to get my mom to give me her schedule so I can make the appointment. I'm so ready!!!! lol I'm feeling worlds better, especially this week, but there is still something amiss, I can feel it. Jul Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 I was thinking the same thing abour Gonino. For me, it would be a question of his willingness to keep me on the same protocols that has me on. I know that Launius will not do the adrenals. When I thought that I was losing my insurance, I asked. Gonino says he treats adrenals, but I do not know his treatment protocols. I think he could be educated about the ferritin. Kim Hanson wrote: I was disappointed to see the comment about Gonino thinking the ferritin being that low is okay. I hope to continue to see Dr R but if someday for some reason I had to go somewhere closer to home (North Texas), etc, I was hoping to have to Dr Gonino as a back-up plan. I think I better start working on another back-up plan…. I need someone that does adrenals so that eliminates a bunch of docs. Kim Be a PS3 game guru.Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 He'd probably be open to treating the ferritin if he had the info explaining why. I can't imagine if someone showed him that info in the link you provided, Jan, that he wouldn't be willing to do so. I just didn't know at the time and truthfully don't really feel like pushing things with him about it since I don't have much desire to go back. Right now, I just really want a doctor who knows how to fix me without me having to " educate " him first. lol I'd also go so far as to say if the things was doing for you was working and were adadement about it keeping on the same path, Gonino would very likely keep you on it. I get the impression he's willing to work with the patient if they give him reasons why. If I felt more confident that I knew what I was doing with regards to all of this, I'd stay with him. I just don't. As far as adrenals, all I know is the first time my adrenals were tested, DHEA was mid range which he said was good but my cortisol was high which he said he wanted to wait a month and retest after I changed my diet. It came down on it's own. I almost wish it hadn't just so we could find out what he would have done for them. LOL My AM cortisol a few weeks ago was on the high end of normal so I'm thinking that's good (it was supposed to be an 8 am draw but I didn't get back to the lab until after 9 so I don't know if that makes a difference or not). I'm also taking Adrenal Rebuilder which might be helping. Not sure. anyway - I don't want to discourage anyone from seeing him. Because I do like him and he's very open and willing to listen but you've gotta know what you're talking about - I think that's key. Of course, getting in to see him (for me) is always an issue. Most of the time I've been lucky and got a cancellation or else I had to wait 5 or so weeks between appointments. He'd usually say he wanted to see me back in 2-3 but on those times I'd have to see . And 's about to go on maternity leave if she hasn't already so she was training someone new. I met her last time and while she was nice and I'm sure knowledgeable, she was way, way too new for me to feel comfortable with. You could tell she was nervous, too - which normally I'm pretty lenient of that because I'd be a hypocrite if I wasn't but when it comes to medical care, it just wasn't going to work for me. That also sealed the deal for me not wanting to go back right now. Maybe further on down the road when I feel I'm optimal health and all. Jul I was thinking the same thing abour Gonino. For me, it would be a question of his willingness to keep me on the same protocols that has me on. I know that Launius will not do the adrenals. When I thought that I was losing my insurance, I asked. Gonino says he treats adrenals, but I do not know his treatment protocols. I think he could be educated about the ferritin. Kim Hanson <khanson93065> wrote: I was disappointed to see the comment about Gonino thinking the ferritin being that low is okay. I hope to continue to see Dr R but if someday for some reason I had to go somewhere closer to home (North Texas), etc, I was hoping to have to Dr Gonino as a back-up plan. I think I better start working on another back-up plan…. I need someone that does adrenals so that eliminates a bunch of docs. Kim Be a PS3 game guru.Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 At least with ferritin, you don't need a prescription for iron. But cortisol is another matter. I am not sure how high cortisol is treated. And I don't know how Gonino treats low cortisol. Some docs just use vitamins and supplements. But is something else. It is an amazing experience to see a doc who really knows what he is doing. By his own admission, he is not able to help everyone, but for most of us, he is incredible. > >> > I was disappointed to see the comment about Gonino thinking the ferritin> > being that low is okay.> >> > I hope to continue to see Dr R but if someday for some reason I had to go> > somewhere closer to home (North Texas), etc, I was hoping to have to Dr> > Gonino as a back-up plan. I think I better start working on another back-up> > plan…. I need someone that does adrenals so that eliminates a bunch of> > docs.> >> > Kim> >> > ------------------------------> > Be a PS3 game guru.> > Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo!> > Games. <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49936/*http://videogames.yahoo.com>> >> > > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Well Jul! Hang in there. Many of us have ended up at Dr R’s office due to the same reason…tried something local and it did not work-out. I also refused to take the route of educating the doctor. Kim From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of Jul Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 7:21 PM To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Subject: Re: Ferritin He'd probably be open to treating the ferritin if he had the info explaining why. I can't imagine if someone showed him that info in the link you provided, Jan, that he wouldn't be willing to do so. I just didn't know at the time and truthfully don't really feel like pushing things with him about it since I don't have much desire to go back. Right now, I just really want a doctor who knows how to fix me without me having to " educate " him first. lol I'd also go so far as to say if the things was doing for you was working and were adadement about it keeping on the same path, Gonino would very likely keep you on it. I get the impression he's willing to work with the patient if they give him reasons why. If I felt more confident that I knew what I was doing with regards to all of this, I'd stay with him. I just don't. As far as adrenals, all I know is the first time my adrenals were tested, DHEA was mid range which he said was good but my cortisol was high which he said he wanted to wait a month and retest after I changed my diet. It came down on it's own. I almost wish it hadn't just so we could find out what he would have done for them. LOL My AM cortisol a few weeks ago was on the high end of normal so I'm thinking that's good (it was supposed to be an 8 am draw but I didn't get back to the lab until after 9 so I don't know if that makes a difference or not). I'm also taking Adrenal Rebuilder which might be helping. Not sure. anyway - I don't want to discourage anyone from seeing him. Because I do like him and he's very open and willing to listen but you've gotta know what you're talking about - I think that's key. Of course, getting in to see him (for me) is always an issue. Most of the time I've been lucky and got a cancellation or else I had to wait 5 or so weeks between appointments. He'd usually say he wanted to see me back in 2-3 but on those times I'd have to see . And 's about to go on maternity leave if she hasn't already so she was training someone new. I met her last time and while she was nice and I'm sure knowledgeable, she was way, way too new for me to feel comfortable with. You could tell she was nervous, too - which normally I'm pretty lenient of that because I'd be a hypocrite if I wasn't but when it comes to medical care, it just wasn't going to work for me. That also sealed the deal for me not wanting to go back right now. Maybe further on down the road when I feel I'm optimal health and all. Jul On 5/19/07, Jan wrote: I was thinking the same thing abour Gonino. For me, it would be a question of his willingness to keep me on the same protocols that has me on. I know that Launius will not do the adrenals. When I thought that I was losing my insurance, I asked. Gonino says he treats adrenals, but I do not know his treatment protocols. I think he could be educated about the ferritin. Kim Hanson <khanson93065> wrote: I was disappointed to see the comment about Gonino thinking the ferritin being that low is okay. I hope to continue to see Dr R but if someday for some reason I had to go somewhere closer to home (North Texas), etc, I was hoping to have to Dr Gonino as a back-up plan. I think I better start working on another back-up plan…. I need someone that does adrenals so that eliminates a bunch of docs. Kim Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 I also refused to take the route of educating the doctor. If I have to educate my doctor, then I want him or her paying me instead of the other way around! LOLJul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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