Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Bless your heart Topper! What a story! Re: Re: Another Question > It's kind of ironic... the first doc I saw for the massive weight loss, > excessive thirst.. yada yada... he blew me off saying I was too fat to be > sick (even though I'd lost 40 pounds in 30 days).. the second doc was ten > months later.... I was having trouble with my shoulders, couldn't open > the doors of my truck (for my job), she was an orthopedist. She had me > take off my shirt so that I could move my arms for her... she asked me > some questions.... when was your last period? have you been losing > weight? etc..... as she was asking me these questions she was reading my > chart... then she went storming out of the exam room yelling and cussing > as she went down the hall to the exam room that the first doc was in.. > just chewed him a new butt!!!! then she came back and told me that I was > in thyroid storm, that she wanted to confirm it with blood tests but that > she'd be calling the hospital to get me in ASAP.... I had the blood drawn > and headed home, I walked in the door to a ringing phone.. had to turn > around and head to the hospital.... got scanned while they waited for the > lab results... got the lecture, the sheet of paper to sign saying that I > couldn't sue them for what they were going to do... got handed the pill.. > then told I might still die, I should have come in sooner! > > The problem with my shoulders was tendonitis... .from the twitching of my > muscles from being in thyroid storm.... It was pure luck that the > orthopedist had done her residency under an endo and she spotted me as > hyper on sight..... > > First doc was a (fill in appropriate word here). > > Then all those years on synthetics AND underdosed.. then with no > insurance and no meds at all.... Sometimes I consider myself lucky... if > I'd not been without meds I never would have found out about naturals and > learned how to self medicate... I'm doing better now than I did on all > those years on synthetics..... > > I'd like to qualify that... do I feel as good now as I did 11 years ago? > No, not yet... but the difference is that I feel better than I did before > I started on naturals.. and I felt better and better as each month has > passed since I started self medicating in July of '02... When I was on > the synthetics.... I got worse and worse as the years went by... the > synthetics AND being underdosed was killing me... Now I'm on the track to > being human again!!!! > > Four years ago I needed crutches to walk. There have been times when my > pain levels were so high that I was talking 30 or more ibuprophen tabs a > day just to survive. I'd go without food and water so as not to have to > get up to walk to the bathroom. > > My pulse was down to 50, barely... my respirations were down to 10, and > voluntary.. I sometimes just stopped breathing. I was lucky to sleep two > hours a night along with all the other wonderful symptoms of severe hypo. > > Life is grand, isn't it? > > That's why we HAVE to get the word out about thyroid disorders. So not > only that folks are aware of it's existence but so that they know how to > be checked PROPERLY and treated PROPERLY.. and cared for in the long term > PROPERLY... > > oh oh... I've not been on my soap box for quite some time... .sorry... > climbing down now.... > > *hanging head* > > Topper ( E) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Hey , your story can help alot of people. Thank God for the orthopedist knew what she was doing. You have had a long road, and am so glad you are here to help us through what we are going through. HUGS Chrissy It's kind of ironic... the first doc I saw for the massive weight loss, > excessive thirst.. yada yada... he blew me off saying I was too fat to be > sick (even though I'd lost 40 pounds in 30 days).. the second doc was ten > months later.... I was having trouble with my shoulders, couldn't open > the doors of my truck (for my job), she was an orthopedist. She had me > take off my shirt so that I could move my arms for her... she asked me > some questions.... when was your last period? have you been losing > weight? etc..... as she was asking me these questions she was reading my > chart... then she went storming out of the exam room yelling and cussing > as she went down the hall to the exam room that the first doc was in.. > just chewed him a new butt!!!! then she came back and told me that I was > in thyroid storm, that she wanted to confirm it with blood tests but that > she'd be calling the hospital to get me in ASAP.... I had the blood drawn > and headed home, I walked in the door to a ringing phone.. had to turn > around and head to the hospital.... got scanned while they waited for the > lab results... got the lecture, the sheet of paper to sign saying that I > couldn't sue them for what they were going to do... got handed the pill.. > then told I might still die, I should have come in sooner! > > The problem with my shoulders was tendonitis... .from the twitching of my > muscles from being in thyroid storm.... It was pure luck that the > orthopedist had done her residency under an endo and she spotted me as > hyper on sight..... > > First doc was a (fill in appropriate word here). > > Then all those years on synthetics AND underdosed.. then with no > insurance and no meds at all.... Sometimes I consider myself lucky... if > I'd not been without meds I never would have found out about naturals and > learned how to self medicate... I'm doing better now than I did on all > those years on synthetics..... > > I'd like to qualify that... do I feel as good now as I did 11 years ago? > No, not yet... but the difference is that I feel better than I did before > I started on naturals.. and I felt better and better as each month has > passed since I started self medicating in July of '02... When I was on > the synthetics.... I got worse and worse as the years went by... the > synthetics AND being underdosed was killing me... Now I'm on the track to > being human again!!!! > > Four years ago I needed crutches to walk. There have been times when my > pain levels were so high that I was talking 30 or more ibuprophen tabs a > day just to survive. I'd go without food and water so as not to have to > get up to walk to the bathroom. > > My pulse was down to 50, barely... my respirations were down to 10, and > voluntary.. I sometimes just stopped breathing. I was lucky to sleep two > hours a night along with all the other wonderful symptoms of severe hypo. > > Life is grand, isn't it? > > That's why we HAVE to get the word out about thyroid disorders. So not > only that folks are aware of it's existence but so that they know how to > be checked PROPERLY and treated PROPERLY.. and cared for in the long term > PROPERLY... > > oh oh... I've not been on my soap box for quite some time... .sorry... > climbing down now.... > > *hanging head* > > Topper ( E) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 .....and I'm still kickin! all these years later!!!! heheheheheh Topper ( E) On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 18:18:38 -0700 " Melancholy Muse " writes: > Bless your heart Topper! What a story! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 We all have our stories.. that's why these groups are so important.. to share with others so that they can understand that what they are experiencing is REAL and not just in their heads... Once you have the knowledge.. you have the POWER to get better.... Let's all get to be 'brainiacs' !!!! hehehehehehe Topper ( E) On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 01:36:36 -0000 " Chrissy and Charlie " writes: > Hey , your story can help alot of people. Thank God for the > orthopedist knew what she was doing. You have had a long road, and > am so glad you are here to help us through what we are going > through. > HUGS > Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 We all have our stories.. that's why these groups are so important.. to share with others so that they can understand that what they are experiencing is REAL and not just in their heads...Once you have the knowledge.. you have the POWER to get better....Let's all get to be 'brainiacs' !!!! hehehehehehe Topper ( E) LOL , well finding my thyroid problem was a fluke. I had a Dr. appointment and I felt this knot in my neck and it hurt, this had happened before but went down in a day or 2 but just so happened it was swollen the day of a Dr.'s appointment, and I was just there for a follow up on my diabetes, the Dr. felt it and got me into an ultrasound that day, it ended up being a cancerous tumor on my thyroid. What a ride, it was ultrasounds, biopsys, the biopsy came back to where they couldn't tell if it was cancer so just took out the side of the thyroid where the tumor was, sent the tumor off to be tested, 1 week later they got the results back and it was cancer, so 2 weeks later I was back in the hospital getting the other side out, then radiation, then thyroid med. building. It was a very long year. lol This group has helped so much preparing me for this dose of radiation and has helped out so much about thyroid meds. Thanks to you all I'm becoming a brainiac!! LOL!!! HUGS Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Re: Another Question > When they do surgery to remove the thyroid they get MOST of it, but > not all of it.. that's why they are doing the RAI now, to get what > was left...Surgery is not yet developed to the point where they can > do a complete removal of the gland, to leave it in one piece, that > is why it's not yet possible to have a thyroid transplant. I've been > following that part, transplants.... cause mine got fried...getting > a new one, well...would be pretty cool! > Topper ( E) > > > Thats just it, 8 years ago when they removed my thyroid they did > another body scan and found a little something in my neck still, so > did radiation. But I guess that didn't get it all, I can't remember > if I had another scan after the radiation......And , why > haven't they removed your thyroid yet?? > Chrissy > when they took your thyroid out how long was it till you went back to work, the reason I am asking is because I work for a answering service and all I do is talk. I do not know if I have to have surgery or not. My doctor had me on synthroid but my body started rejecting then, then she tryed me on eltroxen and my body started rejected them also, so now I am on thyroid pills, but I do not know so far how they are doing for my body. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Hey , good luck on your surgery! I am glad your husband will be off to be with you and help with the kids. HUGS Chrissy Thanks so much Chrissy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 You did have a quick ride! But, gosh, lucky you that it was caught so quickly! You had a GOOD doc! Topper ( E) On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 03:38:26 -0000 " Chrissy and Charlie " writes: > LOL , well finding my thyroid problem was a fluke. I had a Dr. > appointment and I felt this knot in my neck and it hurt, this had > happened before but went down in a day or 2 but just so happened it > was swollen the day of a Dr.'s appointment, and I was just there for > a follow up on my diabetes, the Dr. felt it and got me into an > ultrasound that day, it ended up being a cancerous tumor on my > thyroid. What a ride, it was ultrasounds, biopsys, the biopsy came > back to where they couldn't tell if it was cancer so just took out > the side of the thyroid where the tumor was, sent the tumor off to > be tested, 1 week later they got the results back and it was cancer, > so 2 weeks later I was back in the hospital getting the other side > out, then radiation, then thyroid med. building. It was a very long > year. lol This group has helped so much preparing me for this dose > of radiation and has helped out so much about thyroid meds. Thanks > to you all I'm becoming a brainiac!! LOL!!! > HUGS > Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 They told me to take six months off work.. but to do that would mean that I'd lose my insurance, not to mention my income, my home, etc... so I went back to work three days later.. as soon as I was safe to be around adults. I came down with strep throat in about a week.. that affected my voice... like it would anyone.. but other than that no problems in that area. As time passed I became more and more hypo. I was going in every week for labs, they were waiting to see if my thyroid was going to kick in, it didn't. After they were sure that I was totally bottomed out hypo it was time to start me on meds. They put me on Synthroid.. but it made me sick, then they tried levoxyl.. no better. So back to Synthroid but reducing the dose and splitting it into thirds... I took it three times a day... that was better.. but I was still getting sick from it... so then it was three times a day, with food... that finally did it.... but it took two full years to get me up to 200 mcg.... and another year before I could take it as a single dose.. but always with food. Since then I've found out that for a person with no thyroid function, synthetics are to be prescribed at 1 mcg per pound of body weight. After my weight gain level out I was at 311.... and only 200 mcg of Synthroid... and that, along with taking it with food, is why I spent the next decade turning into a zombie.... Then I had no insurance and no meds for three years... then I learned about natural thyroid and where to get it.. that was July '02... Now I still multi-dose, part of that is that it's better for your body if you can handle the inconvenience, and part, I believe, is that my body is so damaged from being under dosed for so many years AND then being without meds. I now dose 5 times a day... the first dose before I even crawl out of bed... the last dose as I crawl into bed.. the others every four hours during the day.... That has been the trick for me.... I've also found that taking the meds, especially naturals, is best sublingually. Under the tongue, the same way the give nitro to heart patients. Second choice would be between cheek and gum.. but that is less efficient, but better than swallowing. For the new folks.. the difference between natural thyroid and synthetics is significant. Natural thyroid (Most common brand name Armour) has T4, the storage hormone, T3, the active hormone, T2 involved with metabolism, T1 that is now being linked to brain activity and calcitonin, which pulls calcium out of the blood and puts it into the bones. Synthetics, like Synthroid and Levoxyl, contain ONLY T4. Now, your body can produce the other Ts.. but some of us are lousy converters... but without the Calcitonin from either your thyroid or taking natural thyroid... you have no other source for calcitonin.... your bones are going to lose density.. no matter how much calcium you take...... So, I guess it's pretty obvious.. I'm not a fan of synthetics.... You can add a second synthetic, Cytomel, it's T3... but that still doesn't help, in the long term... with the other missing items. Selenium is the mineral that the body uses when converting T4 to T3... T3 to T2 and T2 to T1... but some of us have bodies that just don't do it as well as they should... normally the T4 is stored in the body tissues... then, when the body needs more of something it just converts from the stores when it needs extra.... but if you don't convert well, like me... have the natural thyroid supply those extras throughout the day is the difference between sitting in a chair and staring at a wall all day long... and living.... ... and right now... I'm climbing off my soap box... I think I'm getting a wee bit vocal for so early on a Saturday morning! hehehehehehe Topper ( E) On Sat, 05 Jun 2004 00:25:01 -0600 Marguerite Duperron writes: > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > when they took your thyroid out how long was it till you went back > to > work, the reason I am asking is because I work for a answering > service and > all I do is talk. I do not know if I have to have surgery or not. > My doctor > had me on synthroid but my body started rejecting then, then she > tryed me on > eltroxen and my body started rejected them also, so now I am on > thyroid > pills, but I do not know so far how they are doing for my body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Pard, I find it a nice way to wake up when you have posted and are using the soapbox. It gives me hope and incentive.... Thanks Pard! Feisty Re: Re: Another Question They told me to take six months off work.. but to do that would mean that I'd lose my insurance, not to mention my income, my home, etc... so I went back to work three days later.. as soon as I was safe to be around adults. I came down with strep throat in about a week.. that affected my voice... like it would anyone.. but other than that no problems in that area. As time passed I became more and more hypo. I was going in every week for labs, they were waiting to see if my thyroid was going to kick in, it didn't. After they were sure that I was totally bottomed out hypo it was time to start me on meds. They put me on Synthroid.. but it made me sick, then they tried levoxyl.. no better. So back to Synthroid but reducing the dose and splitting it into thirds... I took it three times a day... that was better.. but I was still getting sick from it... so then it was three times a day, with food... that finally did it.... but it took two full years to get me up to 200 mcg.... and another year before I could take it as a single dose.. but always with food. Since then I've found out that for a person with no thyroid function, synthetics are to be prescribed at 1 mcg per pound of body weight. After my weight gain level out I was at 311.... and only 200 mcg of Synthroid... and that, along with taking it with food, is why I spent the next decade turning into a zombie.... Then I had no insurance and no meds for three years... then I learned about natural thyroid and where to get it.. that was July '02... Now I still multi-dose, part of that is that it's better for your body if you can handle the inconvenience, and part, I believe, is that my body is so damaged from being under dosed for so many years AND then being without meds. I now dose 5 times a day... the first dose before I even crawl out of bed... the last dose as I crawl into bed.. the others every four hours during the day.... That has been the trick for me.... I've also found that taking the meds, especially naturals, is best sublingually. Under the tongue, the same way the give nitro to heart patients. Second choice would be between cheek and gum.. but that is less efficient, but better than swallowing. For the new folks.. the difference between natural thyroid and synthetics is significant. Natural thyroid (Most common brand name Armour) has T4, the storage hormone, T3, the active hormone, T2 involved with metabolism, T1 that is now being linked to brain activity and calcitonin, which pulls calcium out of the blood and puts it into the bones. Synthetics, like Synthroid and Levoxyl, contain ONLY T4. Now, your body can produce the other Ts.. but some of us are lousy converters... but without the Calcitonin from either your thyroid or taking natural thyroid... you have no other source for calcitonin.... your bones are going to lose density.. no matter how much calcium you take...... So, I guess it's pretty obvious.. I'm not a fan of synthetics.... You can add a second synthetic, Cytomel, it's T3... but that still doesn't help, in the long term... with the other missing items. Selenium is the mineral that the body uses when converting T4 to T3... T3 to T2 and T2 to T1... but some of us have bodies that just don't do it as well as they should... normally the T4 is stored in the body tissues... then, when the body needs more of something it just converts from the stores when it needs extra.... but if you don't convert well, like me... have the natural thyroid supply those extras throughout the day is the difference between sitting in a chair and staring at a wall all day long... and living.... ... and right now... I'm climbing off my soap box... I think I'm getting a wee bit vocal for so early on a Saturday morning! hehehehehehe Topper ( E) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 It does get the juices flowing when you hear (or give) an oratory first thing! Sure beats feeling like recycled dog food (see, nice proper language for a family friendly group! hehehehehe) Topper ( E) aka ThyroGeek Proud Co-Owner of http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Thyroid_Support_Group/ http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TTSG_Cafe/ http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Overcoming_TD_Metabolism/ and our new gateway to thyroid info and support: www.thyrophoenix.com ..... end of unsolicited advertising for thyroid links! hehehehehehehe On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 09:35:14 -0500 " Feisty\(ThyroFeisty\) " writes: > Pard, I find it a nice way to wake up when you have posted and are > using the > soapbox. It gives me hope and incentive.... > Thanks Pard! > Feisty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 Chrissy when they took your thyroid out how long was it till you went back to work, the reason I am asking is because I work for a answering service and all I do is talk. I do not know if I have to have surgery or not. My doctor had me on synthroid but my body started rejecting then, then she tryed me on eltroxen and my body started rejected them also, so now I am on thyroid pills, but I do not know so far how they are doing for my body. Hello, I have always been a housewife so luckily did not have to worry about working. I have many other health problems so just stay home. Be sure your Dr. knows what you do, because I remember my voice being hoarse for awhile. HUGS Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 You did have a quick ride! But, gosh, lucky you that it was caught so quickly! You had a GOOD doc! Topper ( E) Yes I was lucky! Had my TSH checked today so will know tomorrow when I can have my radiation, am anxious to get this over with. lol HUGS Chrissy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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