Guest guest Posted April 7, 2000 Report Share Posted April 7, 2000 I always was prescribed PTU. It costs considerably less and I think many doctors start with it, and then move to the more expensive prescription if there are problems. Elaine Re: What I've Learned > Jody, > > Wednesday I was told that I needed surgery immediately by my endo. When I > called back yesterday for the lab results they told me that my T-3 had > dropped from 867 to 390 (from 2 weeks on Tapazole). The nurse then called > the doctor on his cell phone and he said that since I was apparently > improving that I was to start taking PTU, since I was allergic to the > Tapazole. > > I can't believe that the doctor based his recommendation for surgery solely > based on my progress by looking at my appearance (My hands and legs shake > pretty badily) . So since yesterday afternoon surgery is off for now. My > endo did give me a talk about the " dangerous side effects from continuing > ATDs, though " . I told him that I would take my chances. > > I wonder if PTU works the same way as Tapazole. I get the impression that > itchy skin and rashes are common with Tapazole. Although, there must be > some reason why the doctor tries it first before the PTU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2000 Report Share Posted April 7, 2000 No. I was told they both prevent synthesis of the thyroid hormone. And there are some differences if you plan to bear children. Also Tapazole is one dose a day vs. one dose/8 hrs. Lastly, PTU patients seem to have more problems with TED if they eventually go to RAI. >the impression I got from my doctor (who is not an endo), was that PTU takes >a bit longer to work. The Tapazole's a bit more powerful. Anyone else hear >this? > >Kari > Shen Holy Macro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2000 Report Share Posted April 7, 2000 Kari, Gee, I was taking 4 doses of Tapazole a day and now I am taking 6 doses if PTU a day. Maybe that is not typical. I also take more of the PTU more times a day than the Tapazole. This is a stupid question but what is TED? Thyroid Disease? I see it all of the time. This PTU better start kicking in soon! e RE: What I've Learned > No. I was told they both prevent synthesis of the thyroid hormone. And > there are some differences if you plan to bear children. Also Tapazole is > one dose a day vs. one dose/8 hrs. Lastly, PTU patients seem to have more > problems with TED if they eventually go to RAI. > > >the impression I got from my doctor (who is not an endo), was that PTU takes > >a bit longer to work. The Tapazole's a bit more powerful. Anyone else hear > >this? > > > >Kari > > > > > > > Shen > Holy Macro! > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! > 1. Fill in the brief application > 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds > 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR > Apply NOW! > http://click./1/2646/3/_/585824/_/955141985/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ------------------------------------- > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace expert medical care. > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments. > ---------------------------------------- > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2000 Report Share Posted April 7, 2000 Hi Jody- TSH probably wouldn't be such a bad indicator if they didn't insist on just getting people within the normal range (as long as they take other things into consideration). I found out after many years that all the women in my family had TSHs ranging from 0.5-1.5. I was kept at a minimum of 2.5. Even though that might not be a great difference, I'd think that the effects of being deprived of even a small amount of thyroid hormone would build up over the years. It might not be a big deal in the short term but if your cells can't metabolize properly over the long haul, I'd think that'd be a problem. Wish they'd quit just keeping patient's TSHs just under 4.5-6.0 depending upon the lab). And then say there's nothing wrong when the patient tells them that they're exhausted. This reluctance to play with numbers within the normal range perplexes me. I guess they're afraid patient's will have complications. A fear of lawsuits is definitely prevalent in this litigious society. It's kind of screwed things up for us all. Hopefully, that will change. Take care, Jody Spitale wrote: > , > I liked what you said regarding the TSH...and didn't know that it would not > be accurate with the T3 supplement. For me though, whose drs. have done > nothing BUT a TSH for 3 years and relying on that to tell them how I am > suppose to feel, I HATE that test because it doesn't indicate the > THYROID...at least in my opinion. A test on the pituatary to determine what > the thyroid is doing ALL of the time just doesn't make sense. > > As an indicator that something is omiss with the thyroid it is a good place > to start but not to depend on. I have read where the TSH can lag behind, or > be slow to wake up, or slow to catch up when taking TRH, all kinds of > reasons why when we feel like crap and the TSH is within normal range and a > dr. depends on the TSH and leaves us feeling like crap...I'm not sure I'm > making sense...I hope you know what I am trying to say. > > I am moving back into hyper again and boy I had forgotten how nasty these > feelings can be. I went in for a BP check yesterday, nurse took it, it was > 190/100 NOT GOOD...I also told her to please tell the dr. I was having > hyper symptoms again, heart palps, insomnia (no matter I am exhausted) > trouble concentrating, hair is falling out heavily now, muscle > weakness...she wrote it all down...I also didn't bring up doing any blood > test (my dr. hates when I tell him to do them, especially since I see a new > endo in 2 months)but I can't go on like this for 2 more months...so what I > did ask her to ask him was could we try alternating my TRH between .075 (not > enough) and .088 (too much). He called me 2 hours later and said he had just > ordered a full panel... FINALLY...I have only been asking him for this for 4 > months. Anyhow, blood will be done on Monday. His first reaction was he > wanted to increase my BP meds...I told him not right now because I felt my > BP was rising because of all the hyper symptoms...so now I get the blood > tests. I can't wait to see new endo in June. Wish it weren't so far away. > > Now that I have gotten off the beaten track of where I started I close. > TTYL. > *HUGZ* to all. > Jody > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! > 1. Fill in the brief application > 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds > 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR > Apply NOW! > http://click./1/2646/3/_/585824/_/955126467/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ------------------------------------- > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace expert medical care. > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments. > ---------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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