Re: test results

[Guest guest]

Hi Terry,

I know that I feel better with my TSH around the .30 mark, which is below

the normal range here (.45) is the norm. I think Elaine and U. also

do better with a TSH below the normal ranges, I am sure both will comment to

you.

Ask your doctor to do the FT3 and FT4 and TSI to see what is going on with

them. The frees will tell much better what is going on for you.

I hope the other labs can show you what you want to know.

Merry Christmas to you too,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Terry,

I know that I feel better with my TSH around the .30 mark, which is below

the normal range here (.45) is the norm. I think Elaine and U. also

do better with a TSH below the normal ranges, I am sure both will comment to

you.

Ask your doctor to do the FT3 and FT4 and TSI to see what is going on with

them. The frees will tell much better what is going on for you.

I hope the other labs can show you what you want to know.

Merry Christmas to you too,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Jody,

Thanks for responding. This has been worrying me! He won't run another TSI

so soon, but I do have a slip with FT4 on it for next time. I wonder that we

feel better below normal though, and also what someone who is " normal " ie.,

no thyroid disease at all registers on that test. If I hadn't decided to

give my endo my copy of Elaine's book I could have done some research but I

did, so I have to get another one for myself. Remains to be seen whether he

reads it! The symptom list did pique his interest though, he readily agreed

that some of them were valid--while pooh-poohing a few others.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 16:24:09 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: test results

>

> Hi Terry,

> I know that I feel better with my TSH around the .30 mark, which is below

> the normal range here (.45) is the norm. I think Elaine and U. also

> do better with a TSH below the normal ranges, I am sure both will comment to

> you.

>

> Ask your doctor to do the FT3 and FT4 and TSI to see what is going on with

> them. The frees will tell much better what is going on for you.

>

> I hope the other labs can show you what you want to know.

> Merry Christmas to you too,

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> 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.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jody,

Thanks for responding. This has been worrying me! He won't run another TSI

so soon, but I do have a slip with FT4 on it for next time. I wonder that we

feel better below normal though, and also what someone who is " normal " ie.,

no thyroid disease at all registers on that test. If I hadn't decided to

give my endo my copy of Elaine's book I could have done some research but I

did, so I have to get another one for myself. Remains to be seen whether he

reads it! The symptom list did pique his interest though, he readily agreed

that some of them were valid--while pooh-poohing a few others.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 16:24:09 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: test results

>

> Hi Terry,

> I know that I feel better with my TSH around the .30 mark, which is below

> the normal range here (.45) is the norm. I think Elaine and U. also

> do better with a TSH below the normal ranges, I am sure both will comment to

> you.

>

> Ask your doctor to do the FT3 and FT4 and TSI to see what is going on with

> them. The frees will tell much better what is going on for you.

>

> I hope the other labs can show you what you want to know.

> Merry Christmas to you too,

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> 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.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Terry, Hi and Seasons Greetings and all that.

I'm thinking a string of cranberries for the hat band would be festive. :-)

Elaine's book....pg 105

In screening for thyroid disorders, a TSH concentration between 0.3 and 5.0 mU/L

suggests

euthroidism. "

also on the same page : Serum TSH concentrations begin to rise several hours

before the

onset of sleep, reaching maximal concentrations between 11 pm and 6 am, then

declining

with the lowest concentration occurring at 11 am.

and....daytime values vary by less than 10%

I skipped a lot, but this seems like what you might have looked up.

Then too, are you sure it was slightly hypo that you were feeling, and not

slightly

hyper? When I an pretty close, but not quite right, I find it difficult to be

SURE which

way I am off. So I go in for FT4 only and make sure, rather than wait a few

weeks for

symptoms to become obvious which way I'm off. Heck, I have given up guessing

anymore. I

just get FT4 every month, and consider other tests during my office visit at the

three

month mark, depending on how things have been going.

My endo says that the tests are as much for my benefit, as for his. And I am

sure we

would all agree on this. It was so nice to hear it from him though.

So you can see, if it were me......I would just go get that darn FT4 now. If

you decide

that you need to continue you meds, can you take less than you are, if it turns

out you

are still needing them a bit ? There are a lot of 'ifs' in this question.

As far as the symptom list....My guess is that, on making my list of questions

for my

doctor visit, I must choose only a few things that fit into my allotted time,

and there

are many smaller things that never get mentioned. Should I mention that my toe

nails are

coming off, or talk about the fact that I think I am going blind !!! You may

assume

correctly that the toe nails never came up. So if others are like me, the

doctors never

hear the small stuff. Or if they do, not often enough to see a pattern. They

would then be

left with the only logical conclusion.....that odd patient that brings something

up, is

just wrong. And can we hear a rousing chorus of " THAT'S NOT THYROID " <sigh>

-Pam-

[Guest guest]

Hi Terry,

Ask him for the Free T3 too! That is a really important test, especially

while you are feeling so good. Also, the Free T3 is LESS expensive than the

TSH!

As far as him pooh-poohing the symptoms, tell him that *we* all live them,

and they are real and they are common...maybe he will really think long and

hard about them the next time a patient presents with them.

I am glad he listens to you now though. That sure is progress with him.

Ask him for your book back...or if you have decided to give it to him and

are buying another one...go to barnesandnobel.com the book is discounted

20% and if you buy 2 books of anykind, as long as they ship

together...shipping is free! I wouldn't lend my book to my doctor so bought

her one of her own Hopefully she will recommend it to other GD patients

when she is done reading it...even if she disagrees with some of it. She is

pretty openminded.

TTYL

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

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[Guest guest]

Pam,

You are making a lot of sense. Thanks for the good advice on just getting

the FT4 done sooner. I may just do that. Also VERY interesting that the TSH

concentration is lowest at 11 AM--my appt. was 10:45!

I do think I can tell the difference between slightly hyper and slightly

hypo, my symptoms are completely different--on the hyper side, I start to

notice problems controlling my small motor movement in my hands (like

writing clearly), a bit more tremor and weakness in my arms and legs, more

rapid heart beat, and a funny asthma-like breathing thing, where although

I'm getting air and not in any trouble, I am noticing my breathing all the

time, and feel like I might not get enough air at any moment. I also have

more disturbed sleep, and an uneasy sense that things are just not quite

right, kind of edgy--can't think totally clearly cause I feel almost too

impatient to complete the thought.

When I'm slightly hypo, I feel sluggish, sleepy, constipated, heavy, my

brain hasn't the energy to finish a task, I'm negative, overwhelmed easily,

wake up tired, can't get warm, and feel generally flat and dull. I had been

feeling that way for a while, gradually building to the point where it was

noticeable just a couple days ago. That's when I couldn't bring myself to

put the pill-quarter in my mouth again...and why I was SO sure I'd be in the

normal range--after all, I'd been doing all this so gradually, 5 months of

reducing my dosage from 7.5 mgs to 5 to 3.75 to 2.5 to 1.25...and each time

I waited for the hypo symptoms before I cut the pill smaller.

As for the symptom list, the nail stuff was one of the things he commented

on as being correct--seemed to be surprised to find it on the list. Skin

tags, on the other hand, made him snort almost--and I had to agree that it

seems like the most farfetched one there (my quite normal-thyroid husband

has far more of them than me).

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 15:26:01 -0800

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: test results

>

> Terry, Hi and Seasons Greetings and all that.

>

> I'm thinking a string of cranberries for the hat band would be festive. :-)

>

> Elaine's book....pg 105

>

> In screening for thyroid disorders, a TSH concentration between 0.3 and 5.0

> mU/L suggests

> euthroidism. "

>

> also on the same page : Serum TSH concentrations begin to rise several hours

> before the

> onset of sleep, reaching maximal concentrations between 11 pm and 6 am, then

> declining

> with the lowest concentration occurring at 11 am.

> and....daytime values vary by less than 10%

>

> I skipped a lot, but this seems like what you might have looked up.

>

> Then too, are you sure it was slightly hypo that you were feeling, and not

> slightly

> hyper? When I an pretty close, but not quite right, I find it difficult to be

> SURE which

> way I am off. So I go in for FT4 only and make sure, rather than wait a few

> weeks for

> symptoms to become obvious which way I'm off. Heck, I have given up guessing

> anymore. I

> just get FT4 every month, and consider other tests during my office visit at

> the three

> month mark, depending on how things have been going.

> My endo says that the tests are as much for my benefit, as for his. And I am

> sure we

> would all agree on this. It was so nice to hear it from him though.

>

> So you can see, if it were me......I would just go get that darn FT4 now. If

> you decide

> that you need to continue you meds, can you take less than you are, if it

> turns out you

> are still needing them a bit ? There are a lot of 'ifs' in this question.

>

> As far as the symptom list....My guess is that, on making my list of questions

> for my

> doctor visit, I must choose only a few things that fit into my allotted time,

> and there

> are many smaller things that never get mentioned. Should I mention that my toe

> nails are

> coming off, or talk about the fact that I think I am going blind !!! You may

> assume

> correctly that the toe nails never came up. So if others are like me, the

> doctors never

> hear the small stuff. Or if they do, not often enough to see a pattern. They

> would then be

> left with the only logical conclusion.....that odd patient that brings

> something up, is

> just wrong. And can we hear a rousing chorus of " THAT'S NOT THYROID " <sigh>

>

> -Pam-

>

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> 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.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Terry,

When did you get your TSI done and what were the results? I think you told

us before, but I can't remember. I am just curious as to where they were

at.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Terry,

When did you get your TSI done and what were the results? I think you told

us before, but I can't remember. I am just curious as to where they were

at.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Qualitative was " not detected " and quantitative was <2.0. As I recall,

Elaine's comment was " what part of remission doesn't your endo understand? " ,

or something close to that.

One thing that puzzles me Jody, is that the lab slip doesn't have FT3 on it

at all. Just T3 uptake, TSH and FT4. I wonder why that is?

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 23:32:55 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: test results

>

> Terry,

> When did you get your TSI done and what were the results? I think you told

> us before, but I can't remember. I am just curious as to where they were

> at.

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> 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.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Qualitative was " not detected " and quantitative was <2.0. As I recall,

Elaine's comment was " what part of remission doesn't your endo understand? " ,

or something close to that.

One thing that puzzles me Jody, is that the lab slip doesn't have FT3 on it

at all. Just T3 uptake, TSH and FT4. I wonder why that is?

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2001 23:32:55 -0500

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: test results

>

> Terry,

> When did you get your TSI done and what were the results? I think you told

> us before, but I can't remember. I am just curious as to where they were

> at.

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> 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.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement

> of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Terry,

Maybe your doc is still holding on to the older tests? Elaine said the FT3

and 4 are relatively new...and I have had 2 doctors tell me that the FT3 is

very expensive. It is not, it is 20 dollars less than a TSH...or close to

20 dollars. I would call and ask him to add it. It will show you exactly

how much FT3 is available for your body to use and is a much more accurate

test.

My FT3 has been mid normal range with the Armour, but my FT4 is below

normal, and it continues to fall each of the last 3 labs. I am not sure

what that is all about, will have to do some asking and figure this out.

Now would be the ideal time to have the tests, in my opinion. You are

feeling good, and to know their range while your feeling good would be a

target point for future reference in the future.

TTYL, off to bed, been a long wonderful day. I hope you and yours had a

great Christmas!

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

[Guest guest]

When I went in to see my endo last week, I thought I was feeling slightly

hyper. The previous visit, my test results had come back that I was very

hypo. I was taken off the ATDs for 3 days, and started back at 1/2 the dose

I had been taking. Well, I got my latest test results last Friday and I was

still showing slightly hypo. So I agree with Pam, it's really hard to tell

what's wrong exactly when you're borderline. My doc cut my dose in half

again. Instead of 5mg twice a day, I'm taking 5 mg once a day. Well, I've

been feeling really hyper the last couple of days. I can't sleep. I feel

my heart pounding in my chest while I'm laying in bed. And, it's been doing

cartwheels in my chest again. So, last night, after tossing and turning for

over an hour trying to go to sleep, I took another 5 mgs. (I've been taking

my one dose in the morning). Well, I woke up puffy and foggy this morning.

(But I slept!) So it seems I need a dosage somewhere in between 5 mg twice

a day and 5 mg once a day. Any suggestions? I didn't get my test

values--it was kind of a hurried over the phone thing before the holidays.

I've even wondered if the doctor did this intentionally so that I'd agree to

the RAI when I see him again. He didn't want to see me for two months.

I've been going every month. This seemed strange to me, too. I think I'll

call and have them send me a copy of my labs, so I can see for myself what's

going on.

[Guest guest]

When I went in to see my endo last week, I thought I was feeling slightly

hyper. The previous visit, my test results had come back that I was very

hypo. I was taken off the ATDs for 3 days, and started back at 1/2 the dose

I had been taking. Well, I got my latest test results last Friday and I was

still showing slightly hypo. So I agree with Pam, it's really hard to tell

what's wrong exactly when you're borderline. My doc cut my dose in half

again. Instead of 5mg twice a day, I'm taking 5 mg once a day. Well, I've

been feeling really hyper the last couple of days. I can't sleep. I feel

my heart pounding in my chest while I'm laying in bed. And, it's been doing

cartwheels in my chest again. So, last night, after tossing and turning for

over an hour trying to go to sleep, I took another 5 mgs. (I've been taking

my one dose in the morning). Well, I woke up puffy and foggy this morning.

(But I slept!) So it seems I need a dosage somewhere in between 5 mg twice

a day and 5 mg once a day. Any suggestions? I didn't get my test

values--it was kind of a hurried over the phone thing before the holidays.

I've even wondered if the doctor did this intentionally so that I'd agree to

the RAI when I see him again. He didn't want to see me for two months.

I've been going every month. This seemed strange to me, too. I think I'll

call and have them send me a copy of my labs, so I can see for myself what's

going on.

[Guest guest]

When I went in to see my endo last week, I thought I was feeling slightly

hyper. The previous visit, my test results had come back that I was very

hypo. I was taken off the ATDs for 3 days, and started back at 1/2 the dose

I had been taking. Well, I got my latest test results last Friday and I was

still showing slightly hypo. So I agree with Pam, it's really hard to tell

what's wrong exactly when you're borderline. My doc cut my dose in half

again. Instead of 5mg twice a day, I'm taking 5 mg once a day. Well, I've

been feeling really hyper the last couple of days. I can't sleep. I feel

my heart pounding in my chest while I'm laying in bed. And, it's been doing

cartwheels in my chest again. So, last night, after tossing and turning for

over an hour trying to go to sleep, I took another 5 mgs. (I've been taking

my one dose in the morning). Well, I woke up puffy and foggy this morning.

(But I slept!) So it seems I need a dosage somewhere in between 5 mg twice

a day and 5 mg once a day. Any suggestions? I didn't get my test

values--it was kind of a hurried over the phone thing before the holidays.

I've even wondered if the doctor did this intentionally so that I'd agree to

the RAI when I see him again. He didn't want to see me for two months.

I've been going every month. This seemed strange to me, too. I think I'll

call and have them send me a copy of my labs, so I can see for myself what's

going on.

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

Stop at a local pharmacy and pick up a pill cutter...cut one of your doses

in half and try taking 1/2 in the morning, and a whole one for your second

dose...maybe this will help you sleep also. If this is not enough, cut one

of your halfs into quarters and do a whole one, a half and a quarter of a

tablet.

Cutting down with smaller doses seems to be less harsh on the body. I hope

this helps.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

Stop at a local pharmacy and pick up a pill cutter...cut one of your doses

in half and try taking 1/2 in the morning, and a whole one for your second

dose...maybe this will help you sleep also. If this is not enough, cut one

of your halfs into quarters and do a whole one, a half and a quarter of a

tablet.

Cutting down with smaller doses seems to be less harsh on the body. I hope

this helps.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

[Guest guest]

How about taking the 5mg at night - that way, when you are lying in bed your

heart will be calmer, and in the day time you will have some energy.

Are you on beta blockers at all? They should be calming your heart symptoms

down a bit if you are.

Or... a few of us on this board have found that cutting up the tablets and

taking 2.5mg in the morning and 2.5mg at night helps us more; with me, 5mg

in the morning certainly feels like it runs out by nighttime...

Doctors have been fairly dismissive when I metnion making these tiny changes

in dose, as they say it won't make any difference, but I KNOW that it does.

Even when I cut those tiny little tablets into fiddly quaters and take

1.25mg (close enough to) - even that little bit makes a perceptible

difference to how I feel. It may well not show up in any blood tests that

they have and the small doses will therefore be dismissed as a placebo

effect... but I think fiddling with these tiny proportions of the dose is a

good idea.

I reason that the doctors appointments are rather arbitrarily spaced adn

they always do dramatic things like " half the dose " or " double the dose " it

seems far more sensible to me to manipulate doses gently.

That's my two bobsworth anyway... Happy Boxing Day

DAWN ROSE

>

>Reply-To: graves_support

>To: " 'graves_support ' " <graves_support >

>Subject: RE: test results

>Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 10:39:26 -0500

>

>When I went in to see my endo last week, I thought I was feeling slightly

>hyper. The previous visit, my test results had come back that I was very

>hypo. I was taken off the ATDs for 3 days, and started back at 1/2 the

>dose

>I had been taking. Well, I got my latest test results last Friday and I

>was

>still showing slightly hypo. So I agree with Pam, it's really hard to tell

>what's wrong exactly when you're borderline. My doc cut my dose in half

>again. Instead of 5mg twice a day, I'm taking 5 mg once a day. Well, I've

>been feeling really hyper the last couple of days. I can't sleep. I feel

>my heart pounding in my chest while I'm laying in bed. And, it's been

>doing

>cartwheels in my chest again. So, last night, after tossing and turning

>for

>over an hour trying to go to sleep, I took another 5 mgs. (I've been taking

>my one dose in the morning). Well, I woke up puffy and foggy this morning.

>(But I slept!) So it seems I need a dosage somewhere in between 5 mg twice

>a day and 5 mg once a day. Any suggestions? I didn't get my test

>values--it was kind of a hurried over the phone thing before the holidays.

>I've even wondered if the doctor did this intentionally so that I'd agree

>to

>the RAI when I see him again. He didn't want to see me for two months.

>I've been going every month. This seemed strange to me, too. I think I'll

>call and have them send me a copy of my labs, so I can see for myself

>what's

>going on.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

How about taking the 5mg at night - that way, when you are lying in bed your

heart will be calmer, and in the day time you will have some energy.

Are you on beta blockers at all? They should be calming your heart symptoms

down a bit if you are.

Or... a few of us on this board have found that cutting up the tablets and

taking 2.5mg in the morning and 2.5mg at night helps us more; with me, 5mg

in the morning certainly feels like it runs out by nighttime...

Doctors have been fairly dismissive when I metnion making these tiny changes

in dose, as they say it won't make any difference, but I KNOW that it does.

Even when I cut those tiny little tablets into fiddly quaters and take

1.25mg (close enough to) - even that little bit makes a perceptible

difference to how I feel. It may well not show up in any blood tests that

they have and the small doses will therefore be dismissed as a placebo

effect... but I think fiddling with these tiny proportions of the dose is a

good idea.

I reason that the doctors appointments are rather arbitrarily spaced adn

they always do dramatic things like " half the dose " or " double the dose " it

seems far more sensible to me to manipulate doses gently.

That's my two bobsworth anyway... Happy Boxing Day

DAWN ROSE

>

>Reply-To: graves_support

>To: " 'graves_support ' " <graves_support >

>Subject: RE: test results

>Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 10:39:26 -0500

>

>When I went in to see my endo last week, I thought I was feeling slightly

>hyper. The previous visit, my test results had come back that I was very

>hypo. I was taken off the ATDs for 3 days, and started back at 1/2 the

>dose

>I had been taking. Well, I got my latest test results last Friday and I

>was

>still showing slightly hypo. So I agree with Pam, it's really hard to tell

>what's wrong exactly when you're borderline. My doc cut my dose in half

>again. Instead of 5mg twice a day, I'm taking 5 mg once a day. Well, I've

>been feeling really hyper the last couple of days. I can't sleep. I feel

>my heart pounding in my chest while I'm laying in bed. And, it's been

>doing

>cartwheels in my chest again. So, last night, after tossing and turning

>for

>over an hour trying to go to sleep, I took another 5 mgs. (I've been taking

>my one dose in the morning). Well, I woke up puffy and foggy this morning.

>(But I slept!) So it seems I need a dosage somewhere in between 5 mg twice

>a day and 5 mg once a day. Any suggestions? I didn't get my test

>values--it was kind of a hurried over the phone thing before the holidays.

>I've even wondered if the doctor did this intentionally so that I'd agree

>to

>the RAI when I see him again. He didn't want to see me for two months.

>I've been going every month. This seemed strange to me, too. I think I'll

>call and have them send me a copy of my labs, so I can see for myself

>what's

>going on.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dawn and Jody. I think I'll try taking the 5 mg at night for a

couple of nights, then if I still feel hyper, I'll try cutting a 1/2 in two

again. How easily do they break without a line? It seems every time I've

tried cutting a pill in half that doesn't have a break in it, it crumbles.

Maybe with a pill cutter it will work easier. I'll get one. Oh, and my

pills are 10mg. I assume you can actually get 5 mg tablets? Do they also

have a break line in them? That would be easier to get 2.5 mg.

And Happy Boxing Day to you too!

Holly

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dawn and Jody. I think I'll try taking the 5 mg at night for a

couple of nights, then if I still feel hyper, I'll try cutting a 1/2 in two

again. How easily do they break without a line? It seems every time I've

tried cutting a pill in half that doesn't have a break in it, it crumbles.

Maybe with a pill cutter it will work easier. I'll get one. Oh, and my

pills are 10mg. I assume you can actually get 5 mg tablets? Do they also

have a break line in them? That would be easier to get 2.5 mg.

And Happy Boxing Day to you too!

Holly

[Guest guest]

Holly, welcome to the pill-shavers club! I'll second the advice from Dawn

and Jody, and can definitely say that it's not at all unreasonable to plan

doses down to the 1.25 mg. bit. You can get 5 mg. methimazole (the generic;

much cheaper too) with a cut-line. I find a very, very sharp, thin paring

knife works better than the pill cutter, personally--but I am a " knife

person " because of my profession and have a good collection and do my own

sharpening. I have had no trouble making 1/4ths of them, but not necessarily

exact. The pill cutter tends to make more gravel bits than slices in my

experience, if you don't have a cut line.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 14:20:59 -0500

> To: " 'graves_support ' " <graves_support >

> Subject: RE: test results

>

> Thanks Dawn and Jody. I think I'll try taking the 5 mg at night for a

> couple of nights, then if I still feel hyper, I'll try cutting a 1/2 in two

> again. How easily do they break without a line? It seems every time I've

> tried cutting a pill in half that doesn't have a break in it, it crumbles.

> Maybe with a pill cutter it will work easier. I'll get one. Oh, and my

> pills are 10mg. I assume you can actually get 5 mg tablets? Do they also

> have a break line in them? That would be easier to get 2.5 mg.

>

> And Happy Boxing Day to you too!

>

> Holly

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

>>>I'll try cutting a 1/2 in two again. How easily do they break without a

>>>line? It seems every time I've tried cutting a pill in half that doesn't

>>>have a break in it, it crumbles. Maybe with a pill cutter it will work

>>>easier. I'll get one. Oh, and my pills are 10mg. I assume you can

>>>actually get 5 mg tablets? Do they also have a break line in them? That

>>>would be easier to get 2.5 mg.<<<

A pill cutter will make a huge difference in how they split, Holly. I need

to refresh my memory here...he wants you to take 5 mg. a day instead of 10

and 5 is giving you hyper symptoms right? If so, cut one pill in half, then

half one of the halfs for now...take half at night and one of the quarters

in the morning and see how you fair.

I do believe that the Tap does come in 5 mg. The lowest dose of PTU is 25

mg. and I am now doing 1/4 at 9 a.m. 1/4 at 5 p.m. and 1/2 at 1 a.m. Pam

suggested the quartering as I do not do well doing 1/2 and 1/2 at 12 hour

doses...and this does seem to keep things more stable. With the PTU it is

important to do every 8 hours though.

Talk to you soon,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

>>>I'll try cutting a 1/2 in two again. How easily do they break without a

>>>line? It seems every time I've tried cutting a pill in half that doesn't

>>>have a break in it, it crumbles. Maybe with a pill cutter it will work

>>>easier. I'll get one. Oh, and my pills are 10mg. I assume you can

>>>actually get 5 mg tablets? Do they also have a break line in them? That

>>>would be easier to get 2.5 mg.<<<

A pill cutter will make a huge difference in how they split, Holly. I need

to refresh my memory here...he wants you to take 5 mg. a day instead of 10

and 5 is giving you hyper symptoms right? If so, cut one pill in half, then

half one of the halfs for now...take half at night and one of the quarters

in the morning and see how you fair.

I do believe that the Tap does come in 5 mg. The lowest dose of PTU is 25

mg. and I am now doing 1/4 at 9 a.m. 1/4 at 5 p.m. and 1/2 at 1 a.m. Pam

suggested the quartering as I do not do well doing 1/2 and 1/2 at 12 hour

doses...and this does seem to keep things more stable. With the PTU it is

important to do every 8 hours though.

Talk to you soon,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Jody-

I wonder if your FT4 is falling because of the PTU which interferes with T4

synthesis, whereas, your body is still converting T4 to T3 at a constant

rate as long as T4 is still available.

Anyhow, your doctor could add a little levothyroxine while you're taking the

PTU in addition to the Armour.

The other possibility is that your thyroid is dying at a more accelerated

rate but since this coincided with you starting PTU that's probably the 1st

place to look.

Take care,

> Hi Terry,

> Maybe your doc is still holding on to the older tests? Elaine said the

FT3

> and 4 are relatively new...and I have had 2 doctors tell me that the FT3

is

> very expensive. It is not, it is 20 dollars less than a TSH...or close to

> 20 dollars. I would call and ask him to add it. It will show you exactly

> how much FT3 is available for your body to use and is a much more accurate

> test.

>

> My FT3 has been mid normal range with the Armour, but my FT4 is below

> normal, and it continues to fall each of the last 3 labs. I am not sure

> what that is all about, will have to do some asking and figure this out.

>

> Now would be the ideal time to have the tests, in my opinion. You are

> feeling good, and to know their range while your feeling good would be a

> target point for future reference in the future.

>

> TTYL, off to bed, been a long wonderful day. I hope you and yours had a

> great Christmas!

> Jody