Re: New to group...not new to problems

[Guest guest]

Hi, De! Your story sounds similar to mine. About three years

ago, I went cookoo....along with other physical symptoms. They

passed all kinds of pschotropic treatments my way, which I didn't

take. I slowly recovered but I always suspected a thyroid problem.

I am now 30 and was just diagnosed with a thyroid problem. Hypo for

now but I just had the antibody tests this a.m. to determine if

Hashi's. Anyway, I started meds six weeks ago .025 Levoxyl (generic

for Synthroid). I know they need to up the dose, just waiting for

the results from today's test. Glad to hear there is someone out

there with a similar story.

Irene

> Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it

> felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with it.

> It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was

> worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication

to

> stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

synthroid

> about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day.

I

> was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

better?

> Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out what

> my other options are.

> Thanks,

> Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi, De! Your story sounds similar to mine. About three years

ago, I went cookoo....along with other physical symptoms. They

passed all kinds of pschotropic treatments my way, which I didn't

take. I slowly recovered but I always suspected a thyroid problem.

I am now 30 and was just diagnosed with a thyroid problem. Hypo for

now but I just had the antibody tests this a.m. to determine if

Hashi's. Anyway, I started meds six weeks ago .025 Levoxyl (generic

for Synthroid). I know they need to up the dose, just waiting for

the results from today's test. Glad to hear there is someone out

there with a similar story.

Irene

> Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it

> felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with it.

> It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was

> worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication

to

> stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

synthroid

> about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day.

I

> was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

better?

> Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out what

> my other options are.

> Thanks,

> Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi, De! Your story sounds similar to mine. About three years

ago, I went cookoo....along with other physical symptoms. They

passed all kinds of pschotropic treatments my way, which I didn't

take. I slowly recovered but I always suspected a thyroid problem.

I am now 30 and was just diagnosed with a thyroid problem. Hypo for

now but I just had the antibody tests this a.m. to determine if

Hashi's. Anyway, I started meds six weeks ago .025 Levoxyl (generic

for Synthroid). I know they need to up the dose, just waiting for

the results from today's test. Glad to hear there is someone out

there with a similar story.

Irene

> Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it

> felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with it.

> It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was

> worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication

to

> stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

synthroid

> about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day.

I

> was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

better?

> Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out what

> my other options are.

> Thanks,

> Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi, De... Welcome

Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And the symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for years... That, it seems, is common for us too.

So, your questions. There is another type of med that many, including myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic. Natural Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of synthetic versus natural quiet a bit this week.

A brief ditty.

Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic T4. It's been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of recalls for potency issues and shelf life.

Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is whole desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid). It contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical formula from a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid gland and distributed throughout the body.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland, most is made during a chemical process at the cellular level called conversion. Its the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many processes that it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other glands AND metabolism.

T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make throughout the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal of an iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine is removed you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are turned to T3, some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are turned into T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body metabolism. Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name a few.

T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been seeing a lot written on this yet.

Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the blood and put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone problems such as osteoporosis.

When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally dependant on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to manufacture the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going to feel as good as you should.

With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that could be one reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he would run some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs test only TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does not tell much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH that is being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland to increase or decrease hormone production.

You also need to know the level of available hormone in your blood stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for conversion and how much T3 is available for the body processes.

So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab are: TSH, Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have issues with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a waste of time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests are: Total T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on you to determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that can be over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have had a thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you have in your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on your own, to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you feel the need to pursue.

Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can help you to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if changing dose, or types of meds is something that you want to do.

We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over before you head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit more.. the hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that you can monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions of as your work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

Topper ()

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 "De" writes:

Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with it. It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication to stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on synthroid about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day. I was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work better? Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out what my other options are.Thanks,Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi, De... Welcome

Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And the symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for years... That, it seems, is common for us too.

So, your questions. There is another type of med that many, including myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic. Natural Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of synthetic versus natural quiet a bit this week.

A brief ditty.

Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic T4. It's been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of recalls for potency issues and shelf life.

Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is whole desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid). It contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical formula from a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid gland and distributed throughout the body.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland, most is made during a chemical process at the cellular level called conversion. Its the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many processes that it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other glands AND metabolism.

T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make throughout the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal of an iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine is removed you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are turned to T3, some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are turned into T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body metabolism. Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name a few.

T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been seeing a lot written on this yet.

Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the blood and put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone problems such as osteoporosis.

When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally dependant on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to manufacture the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going to feel as good as you should.

With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that could be one reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he would run some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs test only TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does not tell much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH that is being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland to increase or decrease hormone production.

You also need to know the level of available hormone in your blood stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for conversion and how much T3 is available for the body processes.

So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab are: TSH, Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have issues with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a waste of time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests are: Total T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on you to determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that can be over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have had a thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you have in your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on your own, to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you feel the need to pursue.

Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can help you to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if changing dose, or types of meds is something that you want to do.

We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over before you head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit more.. the hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that you can monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions of as your work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

Topper ()

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 "De" writes:

Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with it. It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication to stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on synthroid about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day. I was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work better? Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out what my other options are.Thanks,Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi, De... Welcome

Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And the symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for years... That, it seems, is common for us too.

So, your questions. There is another type of med that many, including myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic. Natural Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of synthetic versus natural quiet a bit this week.

A brief ditty.

Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic T4. It's been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of recalls for potency issues and shelf life.

Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is whole desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid). It contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical formula from a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid gland and distributed throughout the body.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland, most is made during a chemical process at the cellular level called conversion. Its the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many processes that it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other glands AND metabolism.

T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make throughout the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal of an iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine is removed you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are turned to T3, some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are turned into T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body metabolism. Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name a few.

T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been seeing a lot written on this yet.

Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the blood and put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone problems such as osteoporosis.

When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally dependant on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to manufacture the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going to feel as good as you should.

With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that could be one reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he would run some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs test only TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does not tell much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH that is being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland to increase or decrease hormone production.

You also need to know the level of available hormone in your blood stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for conversion and how much T3 is available for the body processes.

So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab are: TSH, Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have issues with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a waste of time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests are: Total T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on you to determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that can be over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have had a thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you have in your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on your own, to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you feel the need to pursue.

Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can help you to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if changing dose, or types of meds is something that you want to do.

We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over before you head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit more.. the hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that you can monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions of as your work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

Topper ()

On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 "De" writes:

Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with it. It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication to stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on synthroid about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day. I was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work better? Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out what my other options are.Thanks,Deanna

[Guest guest]

You can order saliva hormone profiles from several companies such as

ZRT labs and find out what is going on with your hormones.

Most of us on this site have not found Synthroid a satisfactory

thryoid replacement.

I think that you might see if you can get some of your hormones

straightened out by switching to Armour. The thyroid produces 7

hormones, T4, T3(two types), T2(two types), T1, and T0, along with

calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4 and it relies on your body

converting to make the rest. However, for most people there are

problems in conversion. By giving all T4, certain enzyme pathways in

the brain that convert thryroid T4 to the energy producing T3 are

hampered leaving the brain mildly low on energy. Other organs that

aren't as good at converting only T4 also suffer to some degree.

Also, T2, and T3 are known to influence hromone activity and the

amount and sensitivity of hormone receptors. T3 tends to push the

body toward more androgen production which increases muscle tone and

lean body mass. T2 is very important for use to keep the body warm

and to burn brown adipose fat. T2 was found to help regulate

estrogen receptor density and their sensitivity to estrogen. T3

tends to make estrogen receptors less sensitive to estrogen in the

uterus, which can protect against uterine fibroids, hyperplasia, and

endometriosis. In fact it is rare for well treated hypothryoids to

have uterine fibroids.

Many people who have trouble converting T4 only meds to the other

hormones are left with lingering hypothyroid problems such as high

estrogen, menstrual disturbances, high cholesterol, weight gain,

blood sugar problems, and water retention.

Armour also contains calcitonin which protects against bone loss by

controlling bone turnover and calcium balance. One problem with

Synthroid is that once you adjust it high enough to relieve

symptoms, osteoporosis often occurs.

Tish

[Guest guest]

You can order saliva hormone profiles from several companies such as

ZRT labs and find out what is going on with your hormones.

Most of us on this site have not found Synthroid a satisfactory

thryoid replacement.

I think that you might see if you can get some of your hormones

straightened out by switching to Armour. The thyroid produces 7

hormones, T4, T3(two types), T2(two types), T1, and T0, along with

calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4 and it relies on your body

converting to make the rest. However, for most people there are

problems in conversion. By giving all T4, certain enzyme pathways in

the brain that convert thryroid T4 to the energy producing T3 are

hampered leaving the brain mildly low on energy. Other organs that

aren't as good at converting only T4 also suffer to some degree.

Also, T2, and T3 are known to influence hromone activity and the

amount and sensitivity of hormone receptors. T3 tends to push the

body toward more androgen production which increases muscle tone and

lean body mass. T2 is very important for use to keep the body warm

and to burn brown adipose fat. T2 was found to help regulate

estrogen receptor density and their sensitivity to estrogen. T3

tends to make estrogen receptors less sensitive to estrogen in the

uterus, which can protect against uterine fibroids, hyperplasia, and

endometriosis. In fact it is rare for well treated hypothryoids to

have uterine fibroids.

Many people who have trouble converting T4 only meds to the other

hormones are left with lingering hypothyroid problems such as high

estrogen, menstrual disturbances, high cholesterol, weight gain,

blood sugar problems, and water retention.

Armour also contains calcitonin which protects against bone loss by

controlling bone turnover and calcium balance. One problem with

Synthroid is that once you adjust it high enough to relieve

symptoms, osteoporosis often occurs.

Tish

[Guest guest]

You can order saliva hormone profiles from several companies such as

ZRT labs and find out what is going on with your hormones.

Most of us on this site have not found Synthroid a satisfactory

thryoid replacement.

I think that you might see if you can get some of your hormones

straightened out by switching to Armour. The thyroid produces 7

hormones, T4, T3(two types), T2(two types), T1, and T0, along with

calcitonin. Synthroid is only T4 and it relies on your body

converting to make the rest. However, for most people there are

problems in conversion. By giving all T4, certain enzyme pathways in

the brain that convert thryroid T4 to the energy producing T3 are

hampered leaving the brain mildly low on energy. Other organs that

aren't as good at converting only T4 also suffer to some degree.

Also, T2, and T3 are known to influence hromone activity and the

amount and sensitivity of hormone receptors. T3 tends to push the

body toward more androgen production which increases muscle tone and

lean body mass. T2 is very important for use to keep the body warm

and to burn brown adipose fat. T2 was found to help regulate

estrogen receptor density and their sensitivity to estrogen. T3

tends to make estrogen receptors less sensitive to estrogen in the

uterus, which can protect against uterine fibroids, hyperplasia, and

endometriosis. In fact it is rare for well treated hypothryoids to

have uterine fibroids.

Many people who have trouble converting T4 only meds to the other

hormones are left with lingering hypothyroid problems such as high

estrogen, menstrual disturbances, high cholesterol, weight gain,

blood sugar problems, and water retention.

Armour also contains calcitonin which protects against bone loss by

controlling bone turnover and calcium balance. One problem with

Synthroid is that once you adjust it high enough to relieve

symptoms, osteoporosis often occurs.

Tish

[Guest guest]

Oh you are wonderful!!! The appointment today is the labwork and

then I go back in a week. I will ask about the other tests today and

definitley mention armour! Geez, I found this group just in time

Also, my hyperthyroidism was due to Graves' disease. I think it's

where your body " attacks " your thyroid so in turn it starts over

producing. I think once the thyroid is removed then the disease

won't effect anything else. But I'm not too sure.

I'll go through the posts to catch up on the discussion of Armour.

One thing I did want to ask about it...you said pig hormone?? Are

these pigs farmed for the hormone? Are they mistreated? I'm not in

PETA or anything, I would just want to be sure that they are treated

properly since they are helping to save lives.

Thanks again!! Your info was amazing!

Deanna

> Hi, De... Welcome

>

> Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And the

> symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for

years...

> That, it seems, is common for us too.

>

> So, your questions. There is another type of med that many,

including

> myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic.

Natural

> Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of

synthetic

> versus natural quiet a bit this week.

>

> A brief ditty.

>

> Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic T4.

It's

> been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of

recalls for

> potency issues and shelf life.

>

> Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is whole

> desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid). It

> contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical

formula from

> a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

>

> Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

>

> T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid

gland and

> distributed throughout the body.

>

> T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland, most

is made

> during a chemical process at the cellular level called conversion.

Its

> the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many processes

that

> it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other

glands

> AND metabolism.

>

> T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make

throughout

> the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal

of an

> iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine is

removed

> you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are turned

to T3,

> some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are turned

into

> T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body metabolism.

> Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name a

few.

>

> T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been seeing

a lot

> written on this yet.

>

> Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the

blood and

> put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone

> problems such as osteoporosis.

>

> When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally

dependant

> on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to

manufacture

> the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not

> converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going to

feel

> as good as you should.

>

> With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that could

be one

> reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

>

> Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he

would run

> some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs

test only

> TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does not

tell

> much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH

that is

> being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland to

> increase or decrease hormone production.

>

> You also need to know the level of available hormone in your blood

> stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for

conversion and

> how much T3 is available for the body processes.

>

> So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab are:

TSH,

> Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have

issues

> with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a

waste of

> time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests are:

Total

> T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

>

> I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on you

to

> determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's

Thyroiditis.

> With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that can

be

> over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have had a

> thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that

> remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you

have in

> your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on

your own,

> to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with

> occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you feel

the

> need to pursue.

>

> Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can

help you

> to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if changing

dose,

> or types of meds is something that you want to do.

>

> We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over

before you

> head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit

more.. the

> hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that

you can

> monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

>

> www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

> www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

>

> Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions of

as your

> work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

>

> Topper ()

>

>

> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 " De " <violetjade11@y...>

> writes:

> Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it

> felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with

it.

> It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was

> worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication

to

> stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

synthroid

> about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day.

I

> was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

better?

> Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out

what

> my other options are.

> Thanks,

> Deanna

[Guest guest]

Oh you are wonderful!!! The appointment today is the labwork and

then I go back in a week. I will ask about the other tests today and

definitley mention armour! Geez, I found this group just in time

Also, my hyperthyroidism was due to Graves' disease. I think it's

where your body " attacks " your thyroid so in turn it starts over

producing. I think once the thyroid is removed then the disease

won't effect anything else. But I'm not too sure.

I'll go through the posts to catch up on the discussion of Armour.

One thing I did want to ask about it...you said pig hormone?? Are

these pigs farmed for the hormone? Are they mistreated? I'm not in

PETA or anything, I would just want to be sure that they are treated

properly since they are helping to save lives.

Thanks again!! Your info was amazing!

Deanna

> Hi, De... Welcome

>

> Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And the

> symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for

years...

> That, it seems, is common for us too.

>

> So, your questions. There is another type of med that many,

including

> myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic.

Natural

> Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of

synthetic

> versus natural quiet a bit this week.

>

> A brief ditty.

>

> Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic T4.

It's

> been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of

recalls for

> potency issues and shelf life.

>

> Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is whole

> desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid). It

> contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical

formula from

> a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

>

> Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

>

> T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid

gland and

> distributed throughout the body.

>

> T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland, most

is made

> during a chemical process at the cellular level called conversion.

Its

> the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many processes

that

> it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other

glands

> AND metabolism.

>

> T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make

throughout

> the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal

of an

> iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine is

removed

> you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are turned

to T3,

> some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are turned

into

> T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body metabolism.

> Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name a

few.

>

> T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been seeing

a lot

> written on this yet.

>

> Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the

blood and

> put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone

> problems such as osteoporosis.

>

> When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally

dependant

> on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to

manufacture

> the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not

> converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going to

feel

> as good as you should.

>

> With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that could

be one

> reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

>

> Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he

would run

> some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs

test only

> TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does not

tell

> much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH

that is

> being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland to

> increase or decrease hormone production.

>

> You also need to know the level of available hormone in your blood

> stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for

conversion and

> how much T3 is available for the body processes.

>

> So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab are:

TSH,

> Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have

issues

> with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a

waste of

> time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests are:

Total

> T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

>

> I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on you

to

> determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's

Thyroiditis.

> With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that can

be

> over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have had a

> thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that

> remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you

have in

> your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on

your own,

> to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with

> occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you feel

the

> need to pursue.

>

> Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can

help you

> to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if changing

dose,

> or types of meds is something that you want to do.

>

> We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over

before you

> head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit

more.. the

> hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that

you can

> monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

>

> www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

> www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

>

> Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions of

as your

> work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

>

> Topper ()

>

>

> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 " De " <violetjade11@y...>

> writes:

> Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it

> felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with

it.

> It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was

> worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication

to

> stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

synthroid

> about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day.

I

> was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

better?

> Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out

what

> my other options are.

> Thanks,

> Deanna

[Guest guest]

Oh you are wonderful!!! The appointment today is the labwork and

then I go back in a week. I will ask about the other tests today and

definitley mention armour! Geez, I found this group just in time

Also, my hyperthyroidism was due to Graves' disease. I think it's

where your body " attacks " your thyroid so in turn it starts over

producing. I think once the thyroid is removed then the disease

won't effect anything else. But I'm not too sure.

I'll go through the posts to catch up on the discussion of Armour.

One thing I did want to ask about it...you said pig hormone?? Are

these pigs farmed for the hormone? Are they mistreated? I'm not in

PETA or anything, I would just want to be sure that they are treated

properly since they are helping to save lives.

Thanks again!! Your info was amazing!

Deanna

> Hi, De... Welcome

>

> Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And the

> symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for

years...

> That, it seems, is common for us too.

>

> So, your questions. There is another type of med that many,

including

> myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic.

Natural

> Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of

synthetic

> versus natural quiet a bit this week.

>

> A brief ditty.

>

> Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic T4.

It's

> been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of

recalls for

> potency issues and shelf life.

>

> Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is whole

> desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid). It

> contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical

formula from

> a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

>

> Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

>

> T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid

gland and

> distributed throughout the body.

>

> T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland, most

is made

> during a chemical process at the cellular level called conversion.

Its

> the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many processes

that

> it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other

glands

> AND metabolism.

>

> T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make

throughout

> the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal

of an

> iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine is

removed

> you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are turned

to T3,

> some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are turned

into

> T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body metabolism.

> Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name a

few.

>

> T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been seeing

a lot

> written on this yet.

>

> Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the

blood and

> put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone

> problems such as osteoporosis.

>

> When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally

dependant

> on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to

manufacture

> the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not

> converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going to

feel

> as good as you should.

>

> With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that could

be one

> reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

>

> Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he

would run

> some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs

test only

> TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does not

tell

> much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH

that is

> being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland to

> increase or decrease hormone production.

>

> You also need to know the level of available hormone in your blood

> stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for

conversion and

> how much T3 is available for the body processes.

>

> So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab are:

TSH,

> Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have

issues

> with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a

waste of

> time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests are:

Total

> T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

>

> I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on you

to

> determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's

Thyroiditis.

> With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that can

be

> over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have had a

> thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that

> remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you

have in

> your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on

your own,

> to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with

> occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you feel

the

> need to pursue.

>

> Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can

help you

> to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if changing

dose,

> or types of meds is something that you want to do.

>

> We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over

before you

> head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit

more.. the

> hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that

you can

> monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

>

> www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

> www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

>

> Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions of

as your

> work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

>

> Topper ()

>

>

> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 " De " <violetjade11@y...>

> writes:

> Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it

> felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with

it.

> It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was

> worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication

to

> stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

synthroid

> about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day.

I

> was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

better?

> Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out

what

> my other options are.

> Thanks,

> Deanna

[Guest guest]

Thanks again for the info. I went in to so my labwork today and the

doc wasn't there so I could only get the TSH and T4 tests he hadin my

files I meet with him on Monday to discuss the results, but I

will be taking a big ole list of questions for him this time. I

usually just do what he says and leave. This time I will be sure to

get exactly what I need thanks to this group!

I read a little more about Armour and I definitley think I should try

it. I am only 25 and already have to take calcium. Plus I am having

numerous other women problems so it has to all be related. As long as

they are using part of an animal they were already going to kill for

food I am ok. I just would hate to take a life to help my own.

Thanks again! You are SO knowledgeable!

Deanna

> De,

>

> The glands are harvested from the same pigs that are used for human

food.

> They aren't pigs raised specifically for their glands. So I guess it

> would depend on how you feel about animals raised for food.

>

> I consider the glands to be another part of the animal put to good

use,

> rather than discarded.

>

> You'll want to do a bit of research on Grave's antibodies. Yes,

they do

> attack the thyroid gland and cause it to over produce. But they can

also

> turn and attack other areas of the body if you're not treated

properly.

>

> My knowledge of Grave's is very limited, I'll leave the details to

others

> that are more knowledgeable than I am.

>

> Topper ()

[Guest guest]

LOL Topper! Yep we have all been told we are crazy AND have thought

that people were RIGHT about us!!

Interestingly, my symptoms became profound right after a cross-

country move (Fort Lauderdale to Seattle!, change of jobs, making

all new friends, change of churches, out of work 5 months, etc... so

I thought it WAS just stress from all the changes! Over the past two

years I have learned to " cope " and hide it better... but what a

relief to find I am not crazy... hopefully... results are still out

on that one but I am hopeful!

Sue

> Hi, De... Welcome

>

> Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And the

> symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for

years...

> That, it seems, is common for us too.

>

> So, your questions. There is another type of med that many,

including

> myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic.

Natural

> Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of

synthetic

> versus natural quiet a bit this week.

>

> A brief ditty.

>

> Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic T4.

It's

> been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of

recalls for

> potency issues and shelf life.

>

> Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is whole

> desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid). It

> contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical

formula from

> a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

>

> Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

>

> T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid

gland and

> distributed throughout the body.

>

> T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland, most

is made

> during a chemical process at the cellular level called conversion.

Its

> the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many processes

that

> it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other

glands

> AND metabolism.

>

> T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make

throughout

> the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal

of an

> iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine is

removed

> you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are turned

to T3,

> some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are turned

into

> T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body metabolism.

> Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name a

few.

>

> T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been seeing

a lot

> written on this yet.

>

> Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the

blood and

> put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone

> problems such as osteoporosis.

>

> When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally

dependant

> on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to

manufacture

> the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not

> converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going to

feel

> as good as you should.

>

> With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that could

be one

> reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

>

> Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he

would run

> some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs

test only

> TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does not

tell

> much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH

that is

> being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland to

> increase or decrease hormone production.

>

> You also need to know the level of available hormone in your blood

> stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for

conversion and

> how much T3 is available for the body processes.

>

> So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab are:

TSH,

> Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have

issues

> with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a

waste of

> time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests are:

Total

> T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

>

> I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on you

to

> determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's

Thyroiditis.

> With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that can

be

> over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have had a

> thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that

> remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you

have in

> your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on

your own,

> to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with

> occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you feel

the

> need to pursue.

>

> Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can

help you

> to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if changing

dose,

> or types of meds is something that you want to do.

>

> We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over

before you

> head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit

more.. the

> hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that

you can

> monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

>

> www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

> www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

>

> Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions of

as your

> work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

>

> Topper ()

>

>

> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 " De " <violetjade11@y...>

> writes:

> Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least it

> felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with

it.

> It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what was

> worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after medication

to

> stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

synthroid

> about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a day.

I

> was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

better?

> Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out

what

> my other options are.

> Thanks,

> Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi De

It is interesting... your description of Graves Disease.

I have the opposite... hypo -- or signs of Hashimoto's Disease...

and was also told that the nodule was caused by the immune system

causing white blood cells (I think it was) to attack my thyroid. I

got copies of my pathology reports which of course I don't

understand <G> but have been looking up the words on the Internet.

<G> Fortunately my surgeon and his nurse are great about answering

questions, but I also want to be considerate and not " bombard "

them... he HAS explained all this but I like to " dig out " all I can

and take responsibility for my own health.

Sue

Sue

> > Hi, De... Welcome

> >

> > Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And

the

> > symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for

> years...

> > That, it seems, is common for us too.

> >

> > So, your questions. There is another type of med that many,

> including

> > myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic.

> Natural

> > Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of

> synthetic

> > versus natural quiet a bit this week.

> >

> > A brief ditty.

> >

> > Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic

T4.

> It's

> > been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of

> recalls for

> > potency issues and shelf life.

> >

> > Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is

whole

> > desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid).

It

> > contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical

> formula from

> > a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

> >

> > Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

> >

> > T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid

> gland and

> > distributed throughout the body.

> >

> > T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland,

most

> is made

> > during a chemical process at the cellular level called

conversion.

> Its

> > the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many

processes

> that

> > it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other

> glands

> > AND metabolism.

> >

> > T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make

> throughout

> > the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal

> of an

> > iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine

is

> removed

> > you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are

turned

> to T3,

> > some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are

turned

> into

> > T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body

metabolism.

> > Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name

a

> few.

> >

> > T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been

seeing

> a lot

> > written on this yet.

> >

> > Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the

> blood and

> > put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone

> > problems such as osteoporosis.

> >

> > When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally

> dependant

> > on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to

> manufacture

> > the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not

> > converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going

to

> feel

> > as good as you should.

> >

> > With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that

could

> be one

> > reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

> >

> > Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he

> would run

> > some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs

> test only

> > TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does

not

> tell

> > much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH

> that is

> > being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland

to

> > increase or decrease hormone production.

> >

> > You also need to know the level of available hormone in your

blood

> > stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for

> conversion and

> > how much T3 is available for the body processes.

> >

> > So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab

are:

> TSH,

> > Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have

> issues

> > with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a

> waste of

> > time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests

are:

> Total

> > T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

> >

> > I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on

you

> to

> > determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's

> Thyroiditis.

> > With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that

can

> be

> > over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have

had a

> > thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that

> > remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you

> have in

> > your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on

> your own,

> > to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with

> > occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you

feel

> the

> > need to pursue.

> >

> > Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can

> help you

> > to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if

changing

> dose,

> > or types of meds is something that you want to do.

> >

> > We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over

> before you

> > head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit

> more.. the

> > hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that

> you can

> > monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

> >

> > www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

> > www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

> >

> > Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions

of

> as your

> > work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

> >

> > Topper ()

> >

> >

> > On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 " De " <violetjade11@y...>

> > writes:

> > Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> > I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least

it

> > felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> > problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with

> it.

> > It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what

was

> > worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> > falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> > thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after

medication

> to

> > stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

> synthroid

> > about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> > symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a

day.

> I

> > was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

> better?

> > Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> > levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out

> what

> > my other options are.

> > Thanks,

> > Deanna

[Guest guest]

Hi De

It is interesting... your description of Graves Disease.

I have the opposite... hypo -- or signs of Hashimoto's Disease...

and was also told that the nodule was caused by the immune system

causing white blood cells (I think it was) to attack my thyroid. I

got copies of my pathology reports which of course I don't

understand <G> but have been looking up the words on the Internet.

<G> Fortunately my surgeon and his nurse are great about answering

questions, but I also want to be considerate and not " bombard "

them... he HAS explained all this but I like to " dig out " all I can

and take responsibility for my own health.

Sue

Sue

> > Hi, De... Welcome

> >

> > Oh, yeah... We're all crazy here, or so we have been told. And

the

> > symptoms... yep, LLLOOOONNNNNNGGGGG list. And the suffering for

> years...

> > That, it seems, is common for us too.

> >

> > So, your questions. There is another type of med that many,

> including

> > myself, feel is better than Synthroid, which is a synthetic.

> Natural

> > Thyroid. We've actually been discussing the pros and cons of

> synthetic

> > versus natural quiet a bit this week.

> >

> > A brief ditty.

> >

> > Synthroid and it's clones contain only one hormone. Synthetic

T4.

> It's

> > been around about 50 years and has had dozens and dozens of

> recalls for

> > potency issues and shelf life.

> >

> > Natural thyroid, the most common brand name being Armour. Is

whole

> > desiccated porcine thyroid (in real words is dried pig thyroid).

It

> > contains not only T4 and in the natural form, not a chemical

> formula from

> > a lab, but T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

> >

> > Okay.... you have no idea what that means. Again, briefly.

> >

> > T4 is the thyroid storage hormone. Manufactured by the thyroid

> gland and

> > distributed throughout the body.

> >

> > T3 is the active thyroid hormone. Some is made in the gland,

most

> is made

> > during a chemical process at the cellular level called

conversion.

> Its

> > the hormone that is used throughout the body for so many

processes

> that

> > it boggles the mind, including the control of many of the other

> glands

> > AND metabolism.

> >

> > T2 is a lesser known hormone, also found in the gland and make

> throughout

> > the body by converting T3 to T2 (conversion involves the removal

> of an

> > iodine molecule from the thyroid molecule, each time an iodine

is

> removed

> > you get a new hormone molecule. you start with T4, they are

turned

> to T3,

> > some of those are turned to T2, and then some of those are

turned

> into

> > T1). They are finding that T2 has a lot to do with body

metabolism.

> > Energy levels, weight management and temperature control to name

a

> few.

> >

> > T1 is now being linked to brain function, but I've not been

seeing

> a lot

> > written on this yet.

> >

> > Calcitonin is used by the body to help pull calcium out of the

> blood and

> > put it into the bones. Reducing the likelihood of developing bone

> > problems such as osteoporosis.

> >

> > When taking Synthroid, a synthetic T4 only med. You are totally

> dependant

> > on how well your body is able to utilize that synthetic to

> manufacture

> > the hormones that it needs to be healthy. If your system is not

> > converting enough hormone for proper function you are not going

to

> feel

> > as good as you should.

> >

> > With the inconsistencies in synthetic hormone potency, that

could

> be one

> > reason you sometimes have boughts of hyper...

> >

> > Since you're going in to the doc today. It would be great if he

> would run

> > some tests on you to find out just how you are doing. Most docs

> test only

> > TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) unfortunately this test does

not

> tell

> > much about how your body is doing, it's is only testing the TSH

> that is

> > being sent from the pituitary gland to signal the thyroid gland

to

> > increase or decrease hormone production.

> >

> > You also need to know the level of available hormone in your

blood

> > stream. To determine how much of the T4 is available for

> conversion and

> > how much T3 is available for the body processes.

> >

> > So the minimum tests that you should have run with every lab

are:

> TSH,

> > Free T4, and Free T3. There are other tests, but unless you have

> issues

> > with the pituitary or the hypothalamus those tests are just a

> waste of

> > time and money as those are very rare conditions. Those tests

are:

> Total

> > T4, Total T3, Reverse T4, Reverse T3 and T3 uptake.

> >

> > I also wonder if they have ever run thyroid antibodys tests on

you

> to

> > determine if your original cause for hypo was Hashimoto's

> Thyroiditis.

> > With this you have a cycling in the function of the gland that

can

> be

> > over a course of weeks, months or years. Even though you have

had a

> > thyroidectomy, there is still a small amount of gland tissue that

> > remains, that could still be affecting any antibodies that you

> have in

> > your system. It would be something that you'd have to decide on

> your own,

> > to check for them. You said that you mostly feel pretty good with

> > occasional hyper systems so it may not be something that you

feel

> the

> > need to pursue.

> >

> > Once you have the results of those labs and their ranges. We can

> help you

> > to understand what those numbers mean and to determine if

changing

> dose,

> > or types of meds is something that you want to do.

> >

> > We have a couple of pages at our web site that you can go over

> before you

> > head in for your appointment that runs through this all a bit

> more.. the

> > hormones, the tests and the types of meds and a few things that

> you can

> > monitor on your own to get an idea of how your body is doing.

> >

> > www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

> > www.thyrophoenix.com/self_monitor.htm

> >

> > Beyond that.. you've got the whole gang of us to ask questions

of

> as your

> > work on learning more about this thyroid stuff.

> >

> > Topper ()

> >

> >

> > On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 13:42:39 -0000 " De " <violetjade11@y...>

> > writes:

> > Hi everyoneA! Guess I'll give a brief intro.

> > I am 25 years old and four years ago I went crazy (or at least

it

> > felt like it) I won't go into the numerous mental and physical

> > problems that I had because I am sure you are all familiar with

> it.

> > It took the doctors months of testing to even figure out what

was

> > worng with me. It wasn't until I could not walk ten feet without

> > falling with exhaustion that they finally realized it was my

> > thryroid. I had a giant goiter too. A few months after

medication

> to

> > stop my hormones they removed my entire thryoid. I went on

> synthroid

> > about a week later and aside from the occasional hyperthyroid

> > symptoms I have felt pretty good. I take 150mg of synthroid a

day.

> I

> > was wondering what other meds are out there and if they work

> better?

> > Recently I have had very bad acne and I know it is from hormone

> > levels. I go back to my doc today and I would like to find out

> what

> > my other options are.

> > Thanks,

> > Deanna