Re: new here... and a littla scared

[Guest guest]

,

You'll also need antibody tests to determine whether or not you have Hashimoto's

Thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Personally, I

wouldn't walk out of the doc's office with anything but a script for Armour.

Easier

said than done, but it's the most complete replacement for your thyroid! Also,

read

the Files and Links sections to the left and educate yourself on this disease.

Most

docs don't know nearly enough (endocrinologist included) about this disease to

treat

it properly. In most cases, you'll need to know all you can because you'll be

directing

the doc in the direct you need to go. I.e. You'll need to look out for yourself

very

carefully and this is in your own best interests. Get copies of ALL your lab

results and

NEVER accept " normal " as a reply to " what were my labs. " If you'd like, and

this would

be most helpful to us here on the group, you should post your labs with the

reference ranges (normal ranges) and then we can offer feedback to help you.

Janet

> Hi there, I was just diagnoised with having a hypothyroid and have an

> appointment to see an endocrinologist on Monday. I have been

> suffering for quite a while with trying to lose weight, depression,

> brittle nails, dry hair, forgetfulness, and finally they ran this

> test and it said my thyroid was pretty much inactive. I do not know

> my TSH levels, and am kind of nervous since I do not know a lot about

> what we are getting into with this appointment. Are there are

> questions I should specifically ask? Since I really do not know much

> about it I have no clue what to ask them.

> Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi, .. sorry for taking so long to reply.. just been so busy

working on our thyroid website...

You certainly sound like you have quite a few thyroid symptoms.

Robin already touched on some of the things.... I'll run over 'the list'

too

Check TSH, Free T3 and Free T4.

Total T4, total T3, Reverse T4 and Reverse T3 are all worthless.

Check the thyroid antibodies... to see if you have Hashi's....

Have your Ferritin (storage iron) checked.. that is coming up in a lot of

hypos.. that it's really low.

Have your adrenals checked, if possible.. they'll probably say no... if

they do.. you can give it a shot next time.. but for now get a good run

at finding out why you are hypo and start getting treatment.

Most docs want to prescribe the synthetics, like Synthroid.... Most of us

are finding out that the Natural thyroid meds, like Armour brand, work a

whole lot better for us....

Not to bombard you with info right from the start.. but to give you a

grasp at the difference.... Synthetics have only one hormone T4.. it's

the thyroid storage hormone. Naturals have T4, the storage hormone, T3

the active hormone, T2 which is believed to strongly effect metabolism

and T1, I recently read an article say that they are finding a link

between T1 and the brain and it's function. And, last but not least,

Calcitonin. Calcitonin takes calcium from the blood and puts it back into

the bones.

.... so, as you can see the natural thyroid meds give our bodies a lot

more of what our bodies naturally produced before our thyroids went bad.

And the only source of calcitonin is the thyroid. So if you are taking

synthetics, you have no source.

First, you'll need to find out what is going on to cause you to be hypo..

that means a few tests, maybe some scans... then getting started on meds,

follow up blood tests and adjusting meds.

It's really helpful if you bring notes... so that you don't forget what

you want to ask. as Robin said... Also take notes as the doctor talks to

you... jot everything down and don't panic if he's talking about stuff

that you don't quite understand.. just jot everything down and then we'll

help you translate it all into human speak so that you can understand

what didn't click with you in the exam room.

Request a copy of the lab results, you can post them hear and we'll help

you to understand what they mean.

Armour, by the way, has been around for over a hundred years and is still

the better thyroid replacement than the synthetic that have been around

only half that time... so don't let him/her tell you that it's not around

anymore.. I mention that so that if the discussion goes around to

medication in this first visit that you'll have a bit of info behind the

belt....

You still have a few days to ask questions, do some reading and absorbing

before Monday.. so don't be shy.. ask away....

Topper ()

On Thu, 20 May 2004 12:23:08 -0000 " "

writes:

> Hi there, I was just diagnoised with having a hypothyroid and have

> an

> appointment to see an endocrinologist on Monday. I have been

> suffering for quite a while with trying to lose weight, depression,

> brittle nails, dry hair, forgetfulness, and finally they ran this

> test and it said my thyroid was pretty much inactive. I do not know

> my TSH levels, and am kind of nervous since I do not know a lot

> about

> what we are getting into with this appointment. Are there are

> questions I should specifically ask? Since I really do not know

> much

> about it I have no clue what to ask them.

> Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi, .. sorry for taking so long to reply.. just been so busy

working on our thyroid website...

You certainly sound like you have quite a few thyroid symptoms.

Robin already touched on some of the things.... I'll run over 'the list'

too

Check TSH, Free T3 and Free T4.

Total T4, total T3, Reverse T4 and Reverse T3 are all worthless.

Check the thyroid antibodies... to see if you have Hashi's....

Have your Ferritin (storage iron) checked.. that is coming up in a lot of

hypos.. that it's really low.

Have your adrenals checked, if possible.. they'll probably say no... if

they do.. you can give it a shot next time.. but for now get a good run

at finding out why you are hypo and start getting treatment.

Most docs want to prescribe the synthetics, like Synthroid.... Most of us

are finding out that the Natural thyroid meds, like Armour brand, work a

whole lot better for us....

Not to bombard you with info right from the start.. but to give you a

grasp at the difference.... Synthetics have only one hormone T4.. it's

the thyroid storage hormone. Naturals have T4, the storage hormone, T3

the active hormone, T2 which is believed to strongly effect metabolism

and T1, I recently read an article say that they are finding a link

between T1 and the brain and it's function. And, last but not least,

Calcitonin. Calcitonin takes calcium from the blood and puts it back into

the bones.

.... so, as you can see the natural thyroid meds give our bodies a lot

more of what our bodies naturally produced before our thyroids went bad.

And the only source of calcitonin is the thyroid. So if you are taking

synthetics, you have no source.

First, you'll need to find out what is going on to cause you to be hypo..

that means a few tests, maybe some scans... then getting started on meds,

follow up blood tests and adjusting meds.

It's really helpful if you bring notes... so that you don't forget what

you want to ask. as Robin said... Also take notes as the doctor talks to

you... jot everything down and don't panic if he's talking about stuff

that you don't quite understand.. just jot everything down and then we'll

help you translate it all into human speak so that you can understand

what didn't click with you in the exam room.

Request a copy of the lab results, you can post them hear and we'll help

you to understand what they mean.

Armour, by the way, has been around for over a hundred years and is still

the better thyroid replacement than the synthetic that have been around

only half that time... so don't let him/her tell you that it's not around

anymore.. I mention that so that if the discussion goes around to

medication in this first visit that you'll have a bit of info behind the

belt....

You still have a few days to ask questions, do some reading and absorbing

before Monday.. so don't be shy.. ask away....

Topper ()

On Thu, 20 May 2004 12:23:08 -0000 " "

writes:

> Hi there, I was just diagnoised with having a hypothyroid and have

> an

> appointment to see an endocrinologist on Monday. I have been

> suffering for quite a while with trying to lose weight, depression,

> brittle nails, dry hair, forgetfulness, and finally they ran this

> test and it said my thyroid was pretty much inactive. I do not know

> my TSH levels, and am kind of nervous since I do not know a lot

> about

> what we are getting into with this appointment. Are there are

> questions I should specifically ask? Since I really do not know

> much

> about it I have no clue what to ask them.

> Thanks!

[Guest guest]

As of yesterday my TSH was a 65.98, even though I have been on the

meds for 2 weeks. I do not even know what my TSH means, although I

know normal is between 3 and 5, I do not know exactly how bad my

level is. My doctor upped my dosage of Levexol to .75 mcg and said he

would see me back in 2 months... does that sound right?

Oh, and I am more tired now then I think I have ever been.

> It might be ok for a very short while, but when does he plan on

taking it on

> up with a bigger prescription? You are very hypo, evidently. It

is a good

> start, but with your labs, unless you're feeling awfully good,

don't let the

> doc stick you in that one place, after awhile. What are your lab

readings,

> as in Free T3, Free T4, or was that the Free T3 you posted. The

thyroid

> gland mainly produces the larger amt of hormone in the T4, 4 to 1,

but also

> makes other thyroid hormones, with different #s of iodine atoms

attached to

> a molecule. Some people do fine on the synthetic T4, but many do

not. What

> about nutritional issues? Have you had other tests, like Ferritin,

> Electrolytes, Kidney and Liver function tests? What about B12 and

Folic

> Acid? Many of these become issues, once a person has been hypo for

awhile.

>

>

>

>

> Re: new here... and a littla

scared

>

>

> > Hi there, thanks for getting back to me.

> > I started on Levoxyl this morning, and as of yesterday my TSH was

at

> > 26 and T3 was .5

> > Still really does not know what that means. With the Levoxyl I am

> > starting out at 50 for 2 weeks, and then the doctor told me to up

it

> > to 75 after that. Does that sound right?