Re: MEN IN THIS GROUP--we'd love to hear from you

[Guest guest]

Hi guys! Welcome to the group. Don't be shy. We'd really like to

hear about your thyroid experiences.

Zina

> We have a few men members here in the Natural Thyroid group, plus

> one who joined just the other day. We'd love to hear from one or

> more of you guys, and what your thyroid experience is. I have three

> grown sons, and wonder what their future holds since I am hypo, and

> my mother was hyper/hypo, and no telling what else was farther

> back....

>

> Janie

[Guest guest]

Hello All:

I felt compelled to respond to this message - so here goes. I am

currently 36 and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when I was 29.

After a full thyroidectomy (sp??) and several doses of RAI (almost at

life time max) it's been a long journey of ups and downs but as of

late have been feeling pretty good overall. Have become very

interested in taking natural supplements etc., since the ongoing

issues with Synthroid, etc. bothers me to no end. So tonight I

bought Thyroid & L-Tyrosine complex. Does anyone have any

suggestions? I have been off Synthroid for a few weeks now - another

story - so I am simply switching over. My main concern is trying to

figure out how much I need. I was on 250 mcg of synthroid.

I am also very interested in learning about the impact on adrenals.

I am trying to get a handle on these things on my own since I fired

my doc almost 2 years ago.

So any suggestions - would be appreciated. Any questions - will

respond.

Thanks all.

Tom

> We have a few men members here in the Natural Thyroid group, plus

> one who joined just the other day. We'd love to hear from one or

> more of you guys, and what your thyroid experience is. I have three

> grown sons, and wonder what their future holds since I am hypo, and

> my mother was hyper/hypo, and no telling what else was farther

> back....

>

> Janie

[Guest guest]

>I have been off Synthroid for a few weeks now - another

> story - so I am simply switching over. My main concern is trying

>to figure out how much I need. I was on 250 mcg of synthroid.

Hi Tom. Glad you posted! It's good for us to hear about a man's

story to see what is similar, or what is unique.

First, a big oops, because it's not a good idea for you to have been

off everything for a few weeks (hopefully you have been taking

the " thyroid-L-tyrosine " ?? With that thyroid of yours gone, you

need something!!

As far as switching, I can tell you if that had been Armour, the

equivalent dose would have been at least 2 1/2 grains. Not sure what

you need with the OTC....we have a few here on OTC and perhaps they

can help!!

As far as adrenals, can you afford to do a 24 hour adrenal test by

Smokey Labs?? It's in the LINKS section of this site and would give

you a good idea of whether you need supplementation. I feel great on

Armour alone (except during the dang female cycle, which you don't

have to deal with---LUCKY you!!) but I still supplement with Maca

and pregnenolene.

Additionally, check out the good articles in the FILES section of

this site. They will help educate you.

The fabulous aspect of natural thyroid is that it contains the exact

same hormones your own thyroid would have been producing, not simply

T4 of Synthroid. Natural contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

Because of that direct T3, it has turned the lives of many of us

around.

Hope this gives you a good start, and don't hestitate to come back

with any info or questions!!

Janie

[Guest guest]

Hi Tom and EveryOne,

I used Thyroid and LTyrosine Complex and it contains nutrients to support

thyroid function however with no thyroid you will need to take thryoid

hormone too. Why not try Armour? Most natural and has added T3, T2, T1

Calcitonin that synthetics don't have.

Feel better and better:-))

Peace, Love and Harmony,

Bev

Dedicated To Your Health and Well-being!

Pure n' Natural Skin Care - no animal testing!

http://www.om.lbrionline.com/

Thyroid Epidemic - Thyroid Information and Resources

http://www.bestweb.net/~om/thyroid

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone with their input and welcoming.......

Currently, I am " underemployed " - temping and no health insurance.

Additionally, I only recently moved to Salt Lake City from Los

Angeles - fresh start. So right now, money is a big issue. Can

armour be purchased without a script? I also don't currently have a

doctor - as I mentioned I fired my previous one over a year ago.

Part of the reason was because he wouldn't change my meds. At one

point my mcg dose for synthroid was 300. So I was hyperthyroid and

in turn he placed me on beta blockers, anti-diarrhea meds, anti-

anxiety meds. I wasn't sure if I was coming or going and most of the

time, with the help of Paxil, I really didn't care! I requested

several times to be put on a T4/T3 combo and I had mentioned Armour

and all of this was to no avail. So I fired him - started taking

synthroid at 250 and stopped all of the other meds and with time I

started to feel like a normal person again. But then the economy

soured and I have spent the last year looking for work and trying to

keep my head above water. I know I am one of many - but I am furious

to be in this situation because of over medication and people not

listening. At least now I feel empowered and think that the rest

will come with time.

I do have one question that I would really like some feedback on -

has anyone been out of work for a long period of time? When asked

why I left my former employer I am trying to skirt the health issue.

I resent having had a disease that I have had to fight and appear to

have beat only to have to lie so I won't be considered an employment

risk.

> Hi Tom and EveryOne,

>

> I used Thyroid and LTyrosine Complex and it contains nutrients to

support

> thyroid function however with no thyroid you will need to take

thryoid

> hormone too. Why not try Armour? Most natural and has added T3, T2,

T1

> Calcitonin that synthetics don't have.

>

> Feel better and better:-))

>

> Peace, Love and Harmony,

> Bev

>

> Dedicated To Your Health and Well-being!

> Pure n' Natural Skin Care - no animal testing!

> http://www.om.lbrionline.com/

> Thyroid Epidemic - Thyroid Information and Resources

> http://www.bestweb.net/~om/thyroid

[Guest guest]

> Currently, I am " underemployed " - temping and no health

insurance....So right now, money is a big issue. Can

> armour be purchased without a script?

Yes, it can. It's more expensive than getting a prescription, but

it's still a good option. It can be obtained from:

http://www.smart-drugs.com/ias-order-Intro.htm#Thyroid

That's from England so it will take a few weeks. With a

prescription, I pay around 13.00 for 60 one grain tabs.

OR, you can check out Nutri-Meds natural thryoid. Topper is on that

as is and are having great results.

And yes, a few are in your shoes when it comes to finances and work.

Janie

[Guest guest]

I've been out of work for a year or more at a time on several occasions

since my RAI. In all cases it was from the company downsizing or going

bankrupt, and one where I ended up having a transportation problem and

just left (the job sucked anyway). My reasons to new employers were

always that I took advantage of severance pay and unemployment to take a

shot at starting a business on my own, which I did. When asked why I was

giving up on my project I would explain that the economy or area or what

not was not good at this time and felt that I was spinning my wheels. I

was looking for something with a future that would still give me a

feeling of accomplishment for a job well done.

With the economy in this area now, with so many layoffs it's hard for a

lot of folks to get work and I'm still having transportation issues which

makes it that much harder for me... I'm just scrapping by living with

family and doing computer work which is limited by house rules causing it

to be FAR less then it could be.

I've been without health insurance since '97, I'd managed to stock pile

meds to last until November of '99. Then my next job decided just before

my probation was up that they were considering whether or not they would

be offering health benefits to new hires... they drug me out with that

line for nearly a year and a half and then booted over thirty of us out

the door and filed for bankruptcy.

Finally pulled money together and found a place to buy thyroid OTC in

July of '02.

Topper () *13 years post RAI, still without insurance and

self-medicating*

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 23:44:48 -0000 " oconnort_99 "

writes:

> Thanks to everyone with their input and welcoming.......

> Currently, I am " underemployed " - temping and no health insurance.

> Additionally, I only recently moved to Salt Lake City from Los

> Angeles - fresh start. So right now, money is a big issue. Can

> armour be purchased without a script? I also don't currently have a

> doctor - as I mentioned I fired my previous one over a year ago.

> Part of the reason was because he wouldn't change my meds. At one

> point my mcg dose for synthroid was 300. So I was hyperthyroid and

> in turn he placed me on beta blockers, anti-diarrhea meds, anti-

> anxiety meds. I wasn't sure if I was coming or going and most of

> the time, with the help of Paxil, I really didn't care! I requested

> several times to be put on a T4/T3 combo and I had mentioned Armour

> and all of this was to no avail. So I fired him - started taking

> synthroid at 250 and stopped all of the other meds and with time I

> started to feel like a normal person again. But then the economy

> soured and I have spent the last year looking for work and trying to

> keep my head above water. I know I am one of many - but I am

> furious

> to be in this situation because of over medication and people not

> listening. At least now I feel empowered and think that the rest

> will come with time.

> I do have one question that I would really like some feedback on -

> has anyone been out of work for a long period of time? When asked

> why I left my former employer I am trying to skirt the health issue.

> I resent having had a disease that I have had to fight and appear to

> have beat only to have to lie so I won't be considered an employment

> risk.

[Guest guest]

Re: MEN IN THIS GROUP--we'd love to hear

from you

Thanks to everyone with their input and welcoming.......

Currently, I am " underemployed " - temping and no health insurance.

Additionally, I only recently moved to Salt Lake City from Los

Angeles - fresh start. So right now, money is a big issue. Can

armour be purchased without a script? I also don't currently have a

doctor - as I mentioned I fired my previous one over a year ago.

Part of the reason was because he wouldn't change my meds. At one

point my mcg dose for synthroid was 300. So I was hyperthyroid and

in turn he placed me on beta blockers, anti-diarrhea meds, anti-

anxiety meds. I wasn't sure if I was coming or going and most of the

time, with the help of Paxil, I really didn't care! I requested

several times to be put on a T4/T3 combo and I had mentioned Armour

and all of this was to no avail. So I fired him - started taking

synthroid at 250 and stopped all of the other meds and with time I

started to feel like a normal person again. But then the economy

soured and I have spent the last year looking for work and trying to

keep my head above water. I know I am one of many - but I am furious

to be in this situation because of over medication and people not

listening. At least now I feel empowered and think that the rest

will come with time.

I do have one question that I would really like some feedback on -

has anyone been out of work for a long period of time? When asked

why I left my former employer I am trying to skirt the health issue.

I resent having had a disease that I have had to fight and appear to

have beat only to have to lie so I won't be considered an employment

risk.

Hi Tom,

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat, in many respects. I too am

temping here in NYC, and 9/11 did me in even worse as far as employment. I quit

my last good full time position a few years back because of my extreme

hypothyroid issues. That was before the coma and diagnosis (that I had to make

myself, with the help of Dr. Langer's book). I too, have been skirting the

health issue, when looking for jobs. Now I get feisty sometimes and tell the

truth.....and often times add two words, that ain't " happy birthday " to the job

interview conversation!

Please take my advice with a couple things. First, immediately apply for

Medicaid, and do what ever is necessary to get it. If nothing else, it pays for

all prescriptions, (and a lot of useless Doogie Housers)! You did the right

thing by dumping the doctor who wouldn't give you the meds that you know are

best for you. Remember that YOU are the Primary Care Physician of yourself,

first and foremost. You were very kind to not have hurt him before firing him!

LOL I myself, am not that kind, any longer, after what those fools did to me,

and my life!!! I have been removed from a hospital clinic here in NYC, by

security guards on two occasions, once was when the chief of the Endocrinology

department made the mistake of contradicting me! The rest is history! LOL

Second, do what ever you can, whenever you can, to stockpile your thyroid

meds. I know what it's like to have a damned fool MD mess up my prescription,

and expect me to go without any hormones for a week. For me, it's the

difference between life and death, and if it's gonna be death, well then, I'm

taking MD's with me! I say that you should beg, borrow, steal, cheat and kill

to stockpile your Armour thyroid. I have on at least one occasion, run back into

the pharmacy, about 20 minutes after picking up my refills, like a hysterical

fool (sliced onion on each eye works for me), screaming that a maniac

stole/grabbed my bag/briefcase/whatever, with all my refills in it, and ran off

with them! So the pharmacy replaced the whole month's worth of thyroid, as I

continued sobbing away. An winning performance, can be a hypothyroid's

best friend! I keep all my Armour thyroid in the freezer, as my endo explained

that that keeps them fresh longer! Now I have a small network of friends,

relatives, and acquaintances who take Armour Thyroid, and we all make sure that

the others are " secure " . If we lived in a civilized country, like Canada or

something, all this nonsense wouldn't be necessary!

Good luck to you, and please stay in touch, on or off-list.

Jimmy Ogilvie

NYC