Re: what's going on.

December 18, 2001

hi Val,

I don't think I'd shave off more PTU in case these are early hyper symptoms.

Unless you have an FT4 level showing you're getting hypo.

By any chance have you changed your diet or encountered hidden sources of

gluten? I get insomnia when I cheat on wheat.

The best way to predict remission is with TSI (thyroid stimulating

immunoglobulin levels--the ones that cause the hyperT and are related to eye

problems). When these levels decline and fall into the normal range, you're

in remission. Without them, going off the meds is a guess at best and the

cause of relapses.

Although Graves' ophthalmopathy occurs independently of the thyroid

condition, the symptoms you mention sound more like the type that's

associated with high thyroid hormone or high antibody levels. That's why I'd

hold off on changing the PTU until you get either of these tests done.

Dryness will also exacerbate and induce these symptoms. Often, artificial

tears are enough to help with this.

December 18, 2001

hi Val,

I don't think I'd shave off more PTU in case these are early hyper symptoms.

Unless you have an FT4 level showing you're getting hypo.

By any chance have you changed your diet or encountered hidden sources of

gluten? I get insomnia when I cheat on wheat.

The best way to predict remission is with TSI (thyroid stimulating

immunoglobulin levels--the ones that cause the hyperT and are related to eye

problems). When these levels decline and fall into the normal range, you're

in remission. Without them, going off the meds is a guess at best and the

cause of relapses.

Although Graves' ophthalmopathy occurs independently of the thyroid

condition, the symptoms you mention sound more like the type that's

associated with high thyroid hormone or high antibody levels. That's why I'd

hold off on changing the PTU until you get either of these tests done.

Dryness will also exacerbate and induce these symptoms. Often, artificial

tears are enough to help with this.

December 18, 2001

hi Val,

I don't think I'd shave off more PTU in case these are early hyper symptoms.

Unless you have an FT4 level showing you're getting hypo.

By any chance have you changed your diet or encountered hidden sources of

gluten? I get insomnia when I cheat on wheat.

The best way to predict remission is with TSI (thyroid stimulating

immunoglobulin levels--the ones that cause the hyperT and are related to eye

problems). When these levels decline and fall into the normal range, you're

in remission. Without them, going off the meds is a guess at best and the

cause of relapses.

Although Graves' ophthalmopathy occurs independently of the thyroid

condition, the symptoms you mention sound more like the type that's

associated with high thyroid hormone or high antibody levels. That's why I'd

hold off on changing the PTU until you get either of these tests done.

Dryness will also exacerbate and induce these symptoms. Often, artificial

tears are enough to help with this.

December 18, 2001

Elaine,

Thanks,

I haven't shaved any PTU off since my NP and I lowered the dose about

a month back. I take one and quarter pills a day. 1/2 in the morning

and the rest at night. My diets been strict as ever.

I was thinking maybe that I was a little more hyper just due to

holiday stress and the fact that I have been having some other family

problems. Normal people can get insomnia and headaches from stress, I

guess I could too. I think maybe I need to just manage my stress with

more meditation etc. Sometimes I want to blame the GD for things that

aren't its fault.

I think too that I have just been hoping that I would be going into

remission, but with what you said about what my eye probs could

indicate, it might be more likely that I'm just a little bit hyper,

even more hyper than I was last month. I will stick with this until my

next blood tests and checkup (Jan 16) and see then what the #'s say.

Val

December 18, 2001

Elaine,

Thanks,

I haven't shaved any PTU off since my NP and I lowered the dose about

a month back. I take one and quarter pills a day. 1/2 in the morning

and the rest at night. My diets been strict as ever.

I was thinking maybe that I was a little more hyper just due to

holiday stress and the fact that I have been having some other family

problems. Normal people can get insomnia and headaches from stress, I

guess I could too. I think maybe I need to just manage my stress with

more meditation etc. Sometimes I want to blame the GD for things that

aren't its fault.

I think too that I have just been hoping that I would be going into

remission, but with what you said about what my eye probs could

indicate, it might be more likely that I'm just a little bit hyper,

even more hyper than I was last month. I will stick with this until my

next blood tests and checkup (Jan 16) and see then what the #'s say.

Val

December 18, 2001

Elaine,

Thanks,

I haven't shaved any PTU off since my NP and I lowered the dose about

a month back. I take one and quarter pills a day. 1/2 in the morning

and the rest at night. My diets been strict as ever.

I was thinking maybe that I was a little more hyper just due to

holiday stress and the fact that I have been having some other family

problems. Normal people can get insomnia and headaches from stress, I

guess I could too. I think maybe I need to just manage my stress with

more meditation etc. Sometimes I want to blame the GD for things that

aren't its fault.

I think too that I have just been hoping that I would be going into

remission, but with what you said about what my eye probs could

indicate, it might be more likely that I'm just a little bit hyper,

even more hyper than I was last month. I will stick with this until my

next blood tests and checkup (Jan 16) and see then what the #'s say.

Val

December 18, 2001

Hi Val,

I hope you can get your FT4 checked at will, and not have to wait for a

doctors app. I

am able to call the lab ( standing doctors orders there ) and go in the same

day.

Though if they are busy, I have to say I am sick and I really have to do this

now. Well,

its half true... and if I wait it will be really true.

I would say you are doing great, and catching this early. We learn eventually.

What you describe has been for me, both hypo and hyper...when I am just starting

to go off

my mark. And once I change my PTU dose, I start improving in a few days.

Though to be honest, the queasy tummy, is for me more of a hypo thing. Nothing

sounds

good and when I must eat it takes water to get it down. I cook anything, and

then eat a

few bites, and the rest eventually gets tossed.

The things I find to do the best for me at these times need to be moist, and

PROTEIN. I

could get toast down, but then I would be full and not nourished, so learned to

avoid that

trap by inventing 'Fling Salad'....I got all the kind of things a restaurant

puts in a

chefs salad...hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, beets, asparagus, mushrooms,

green beans,

grated cheese, pre cooked chicken or turkey, what ever ...

Then I placed each in a little glad bowl thing in the frig. I then wash and tear

my

lettuce into individual bigger glad bowl things. I can then FLING a salad

together in a

flash ! You can get a pretty decent meal this way without wearing yourself in

the

kitchen. And with the prep and mess done all at once, I can eat for several

days, but not

get bored, as I make it different each time. Celery with cream cheese could be

your side

dish. This little plan has worked so well, I now Fling one together in the

morning and

take it to work for lunch. LOL, now part of my secret for feeling better here

lately is

out.

But I have learned, that when I feel the ucky tummy, my worst enemy then is

toast or

sweets. They just fill me up, and leave the body weaker.

For you eyes, I find Refresh Plus works the best for many of us. Just be sure

whatever you

get does NOT say, 'takes the red out' ! These make our eyes worse.

So, congrats on catching this thing early. Hope you can get your tummy better by

Turkey

Day.

-Pam-

December 18, 2001

Hi Val,

I hope you can get your FT4 checked at will, and not have to wait for a

doctors app. I

am able to call the lab ( standing doctors orders there ) and go in the same

day.

Though if they are busy, I have to say I am sick and I really have to do this

now. Well,

its half true... and if I wait it will be really true.

I would say you are doing great, and catching this early. We learn eventually.

What you describe has been for me, both hypo and hyper...when I am just starting

to go off

my mark. And once I change my PTU dose, I start improving in a few days.

Though to be honest, the queasy tummy, is for me more of a hypo thing. Nothing

sounds

good and when I must eat it takes water to get it down. I cook anything, and

then eat a

few bites, and the rest eventually gets tossed.

The things I find to do the best for me at these times need to be moist, and

PROTEIN. I

could get toast down, but then I would be full and not nourished, so learned to

avoid that

trap by inventing 'Fling Salad'....I got all the kind of things a restaurant

puts in a

chefs salad...hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, beets, asparagus, mushrooms,

green beans,

grated cheese, pre cooked chicken or turkey, what ever ...

Then I placed each in a little glad bowl thing in the frig. I then wash and tear

my

lettuce into individual bigger glad bowl things. I can then FLING a salad

together in a

flash ! You can get a pretty decent meal this way without wearing yourself in

the

kitchen. And with the prep and mess done all at once, I can eat for several

days, but not

get bored, as I make it different each time. Celery with cream cheese could be

your side

dish. This little plan has worked so well, I now Fling one together in the

morning and

take it to work for lunch. LOL, now part of my secret for feeling better here

lately is

out.

But I have learned, that when I feel the ucky tummy, my worst enemy then is

toast or

sweets. They just fill me up, and leave the body weaker.

For you eyes, I find Refresh Plus works the best for many of us. Just be sure

whatever you

get does NOT say, 'takes the red out' ! These make our eyes worse.

So, congrats on catching this thing early. Hope you can get your tummy better by

Turkey

Day.

-Pam-

December 18, 2001

Hi Val,

I hope you can get your FT4 checked at will, and not have to wait for a

doctors app. I

am able to call the lab ( standing doctors orders there ) and go in the same

day.

Though if they are busy, I have to say I am sick and I really have to do this

now. Well,

its half true... and if I wait it will be really true.

I would say you are doing great, and catching this early. We learn eventually.

What you describe has been for me, both hypo and hyper...when I am just starting

to go off

my mark. And once I change my PTU dose, I start improving in a few days.

Though to be honest, the queasy tummy, is for me more of a hypo thing. Nothing

sounds

good and when I must eat it takes water to get it down. I cook anything, and

then eat a

few bites, and the rest eventually gets tossed.

The things I find to do the best for me at these times need to be moist, and

PROTEIN. I

could get toast down, but then I would be full and not nourished, so learned to

avoid that

trap by inventing 'Fling Salad'....I got all the kind of things a restaurant

puts in a

chefs salad...hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, beets, asparagus, mushrooms,

green beans,

grated cheese, pre cooked chicken or turkey, what ever ...

Then I placed each in a little glad bowl thing in the frig. I then wash and tear

my

lettuce into individual bigger glad bowl things. I can then FLING a salad

together in a

flash ! You can get a pretty decent meal this way without wearing yourself in

the

kitchen. And with the prep and mess done all at once, I can eat for several

days, but not

get bored, as I make it different each time. Celery with cream cheese could be

your side

dish. This little plan has worked so well, I now Fling one together in the

morning and

take it to work for lunch. LOL, now part of my secret for feeling better here

lately is

out.

But I have learned, that when I feel the ucky tummy, my worst enemy then is

toast or

sweets. They just fill me up, and leave the body weaker.

For you eyes, I find Refresh Plus works the best for many of us. Just be sure

whatever you

get does NOT say, 'takes the red out' ! These make our eyes worse.

So, congrats on catching this thing early. Hope you can get your tummy better by

Turkey

Day.

-Pam-

December 18, 2001

Val,

Me again. I just saw your last post about the timing of your PTU. Since it

works for 8

hr. , have you tried splitting it into 3 doses? I find this works better for me.

Just a

thought. But then maybe I'm weird. I'm on the same 1 1/4 pills now,( thought

after this

last lab, I am working into 1 pill), and if I take a full half in the morning,

things just

seem slow.

-Pam- who has a full selection of 1/4 pills :-)

December 18, 2001

Val,

Me again. I just saw your last post about the timing of your PTU. Since it

works for 8

hr. , have you tried splitting it into 3 doses? I find this works better for me.

Just a

thought. But then maybe I'm weird. I'm on the same 1 1/4 pills now,( thought

after this

last lab, I am working into 1 pill), and if I take a full half in the morning,

things just

seem slow.

-Pam- who has a full selection of 1/4 pills :-)

December 18, 2001

Val,

Me again. I just saw your last post about the timing of your PTU. Since it

works for 8

hr. , have you tried splitting it into 3 doses? I find this works better for me.

Just a

thought. But then maybe I'm weird. I'm on the same 1 1/4 pills now,( thought

after this

last lab, I am working into 1 pill), and if I take a full half in the morning,

things just

seem slow.

-Pam- who has a full selection of 1/4 pills :-)

December 18, 2001

Pam,

You make me smile. You've just described the classic " mise en place " all

restaurants (and caterers too) use to get through. Do your prep work, then

you've got all the components--that is the secret to restaurant cooking! The

only trick is to also use FIFO (first in, first out) discipline--so you

don't find the ratty stuff you forgot about in the back of the fridge later!

Terry

(to steal a trick from you: who is 2 days away from being DONE with holiday

catering and is needing a rest...and has a massage booked for Friday morning

before she STARTS her Christmas shopping...!!)

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 22:07:15 -0800

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: what's going on.

>

> I got all the kind of things a restaurant puts in a

> chefs salad...hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, beets, asparagus, mushrooms,

> green beans,

> grated cheese, pre cooked chicken or turkey, what ever ...

> Then I placed each in a little glad bowl thing in the frig. I then wash and

> tear my

> lettuce into individual bigger glad bowl things. I can then FLING a salad

> together in a

> flash !

December 18, 2001

Pam,

You make me smile. You've just described the classic " mise en place " all

restaurants (and caterers too) use to get through. Do your prep work, then

you've got all the components--that is the secret to restaurant cooking! The

only trick is to also use FIFO (first in, first out) discipline--so you

don't find the ratty stuff you forgot about in the back of the fridge later!

Terry

(to steal a trick from you: who is 2 days away from being DONE with holiday

catering and is needing a rest...and has a massage booked for Friday morning

before she STARTS her Christmas shopping...!!)

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 22:07:15 -0800

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Re: what's going on.

>

> I got all the kind of things a restaurant puts in a

> chefs salad...hard boiled eggs, garbanzo beans, beets, asparagus, mushrooms,

> green beans,

> grated cheese, pre cooked chicken or turkey, what ever ...

> Then I placed each in a little glad bowl thing in the frig. I then wash and

> tear my

> lettuce into individual bigger glad bowl things. I can then FLING a salad

> together in a

> flash !

December 18, 2001

Terry,

LOL...I didn't know I was a professional !!! :-) Just lazy.... And have spent

way too

much time in hypo land. Geezzz, by the time I would fix anything to eat, I was

too tired

to chew.

And I am not telling how my kitchen looked in the morning <sigh>.See, when I am

too hypo,

I stop caring. Well, I'm not doing hypo anymore....SO THERE!

Thanks for the FIFO....I love it ! I believe I shall post it in big letters

on the

front of the frig !

Sorry, the only tips I have for Christmas shopping are : WEEKDAYS!!!!!

Thanks for the laugh, -Pam- who is working every single day till Christmas...

what's with

that ???

December 18, 2001

Terry,

LOL...I didn't know I was a professional !!! :-) Just lazy.... And have spent

way too

much time in hypo land. Geezzz, by the time I would fix anything to eat, I was

too tired

to chew.

And I am not telling how my kitchen looked in the morning <sigh>.See, when I am

too hypo,

I stop caring. Well, I'm not doing hypo anymore....SO THERE!

Thanks for the FIFO....I love it ! I believe I shall post it in big letters

on the

front of the frig !

Sorry, the only tips I have for Christmas shopping are : WEEKDAYS!!!!!

Thanks for the laugh, -Pam- who is working every single day till Christmas...

what's with

that ???

December 18, 2001

Terry,

LOL...I didn't know I was a professional !!! :-) Just lazy.... And have spent

way too

much time in hypo land. Geezzz, by the time I would fix anything to eat, I was

too tired

to chew.

And I am not telling how my kitchen looked in the morning <sigh>.See, when I am

too hypo,

I stop caring. Well, I'm not doing hypo anymore....SO THERE!

Thanks for the FIFO....I love it ! I believe I shall post it in big letters

on the

front of the frig !

Sorry, the only tips I have for Christmas shopping are : WEEKDAYS!!!!!

Thanks for the laugh, -Pam- who is working every single day till Christmas...

what's with

that ???

December 19, 2001

Pam,

That thing about cooking and then not eating...weird. that's what's

been happening. But for me it's extra weird since I am allergic to

wheat and all dairy and eggs. I dont have a big selection, and usually

when I am eating I am really hungry, but lately I have been having to force

it down. Ick!

I tried a salad the other day and it was sooo gushy! anyhow,it's not

like me at all, I can normally eat a house.

I am going to try taking my meds 3 times a day instead, and see if

that does anything. You know I remember when Holly (I think it was

Holly) was so Hypo and other times when people were hyper, Including

my self! But right now I feel like I'm stuck in limbo. Not hyper or

hypo, but somehow a little bit of both and feeling crappy!

The other thing that kinda makes me suspect stress too, is that i just

had labs done in the middle of November and they were fine, My NP

said my doasge was correct and I had to agree. Hrm...Well we'll see.

By the way I wanted to tell you all about something really great that

I tried. It's called " Natures Alchemy mineral bath " The one I tried is

called " restful sleep " and I soaked in it right before bed. It has a

bunch of stuff in it like skullcap and valerian. I actually slept

really well last night, mainly I think because it relaxed me so

much. Anyhow, thanks Pam for writing.

Val

December 19, 2001