Re: You all were right - disappointed in doc

February 11, 2002

Hi Katy,

I went very hypO two months after being on ATDs, to the point that I had to

go off of them for three days to de-hypO me! So, it is possible to go hypO

that soon. I know when I'm on the hypO side because I get " puffy " and I get

a headache that never goes away. But, it is so hard to tell when you're

borderline!

Take care,

Holly

February 11, 2002

Thanks Holly. I have a docs appointment on Wednesday so I should find out

then. I haven't had time to go and get my lab reports myself. I have to say

that the last few days I have been feeling quite shitty (pardon my

descriptives.) I have been getting more and more tired and achy. And now I

am starting to feel weak again... so I am not sure whether it is hyper or

hypo as I haven't been hypo yet. Bad news whatever it is........

RE: You all were right - disappointed in doc

Hi Katy,

I went very hypO two months after being on ATDs, to the point that I had to

go off of them for three days to de-hypO me! So, it is possible to go hypO

that soon. I know when I'm on the hypO side because I get " puffy " and I get

a headache that never goes away. But, it is so hard to tell when you're

borderline!

Take care,

Holly

February 11, 2002

Thanks Holly. I have a docs appointment on Wednesday so I should find out

then. I haven't had time to go and get my lab reports myself. I have to say

that the last few days I have been feeling quite shitty (pardon my

descriptives.) I have been getting more and more tired and achy. And now I

am starting to feel weak again... so I am not sure whether it is hyper or

hypo as I haven't been hypo yet. Bad news whatever it is........

RE: You all were right - disappointed in doc

Hi Katy,

I went very hypO two months after being on ATDs, to the point that I had to

go off of them for three days to de-hypO me! So, it is possible to go hypO

that soon. I know when I'm on the hypO side because I get " puffy " and I get

a headache that never goes away. But, it is so hard to tell when you're

borderline!

Take care,

Holly

February 11, 2002

Thanks Holly. I have a docs appointment on Wednesday so I should find out

then. I haven't had time to go and get my lab reports myself. I have to say

that the last few days I have been feeling quite shitty (pardon my

descriptives.) I have been getting more and more tired and achy. And now I

am starting to feel weak again... so I am not sure whether it is hyper or

hypo as I haven't been hypo yet. Bad news whatever it is........

RE: You all were right - disappointed in doc

Hi Katy,

I went very hypO two months after being on ATDs, to the point that I had to

go off of them for three days to de-hypO me! So, it is possible to go hypO

that soon. I know when I'm on the hypO side because I get " puffy " and I get

a headache that never goes away. But, it is so hard to tell when you're

borderline!

Take care,

Holly

February 11, 2002

Hi Kate,

I am catching up on my mail while I paint today. Nice break excuse huh ? :-)

I see you have only been on ATDs for a few months now. Yes, that is the time

when many

of us go hypo and feel bad, and get real concerned about the whole darn thing.

This is a

very common time to have meds reduced, as most are started out on a high dose,

in order to

get things under control. Because remaining hyper is so hard on our hearts and

bones.

If this is the case for you, and your post this morning makes me think it

might be, it

should be nice for you to know, that I have found after a reduction in meds, I

feel the

improvement fairly quickly. I start to feel something in less than a week, and

then

improve from there.

Your bugelweed question....

Yes, it will make you more hypo.

My suggestion would be to take all of this one thing at a time, and give

yourself time to

adjust to the ATDs first, and learn your hyper / hypo feelings, learn your dose

amounts

and corresponding lab results.

Others may disagree, but for me, it took some time to learn what my body was

doing, and

I feel I did better focusing on one thing at a time.

I do not believe regular medical doctors are going to buy into the bugelweed,

as they

have no knowledge in this area..in my experience.

But this is very powerful stuff, and I think you would need a naturopathic

doctor for

guidance, the trick here being finding one with experience with not only Graves

, but also

ATDs.

That being said, I guess you need more of my story.

I have been on PTU for about 3 1/2 yr. now, and am in an interesting position

at this

exact time. After finding groups like this, and realizing I was being kept too

hypo, thus

not feeling right for a long time, I started my thyroid education. As time went

on, I was

able to find my personal lab values where I feel my best, and was able to show

my endo

this information. At this point, he agreed that I can change my dose of PTU

without a

doctors appointment, but to always get labs done before any change. It takes

awhile to

learn what your body is going to do with ATDs, so time is needed for both your

endo and

yourself to figure this out.

Back to my long story.

Here I am now, very close to remission or a very low dose. I find that 1/4 of

a PTU pill

twice a day is giving me too much up and down, to suit me. But that no PTU, and

I start

getting hyper symptoms. Tough transition here. So this is why I finally started

back on my

search for bugelweed.

I should have found a naturopatic doctor before now, but I didn't so I am

taking a very

large risk, and trying to figure this out on my own. I do not recommend anyone

do this.

Learn from my mistake, and find that doctor before you need one.

I did find one naturopatic doctor, and she did give me the needed prescription

for the

bugelweed. But she really is not the expert I need right now. My search is

continuing.

I did expect the first few days of trial and error with the bugelweed to be a

potential

problem, and it was. But now I seem to have a better idea of what I need.

Sure wish I had some help on this one.

So please do not start experimenting on yourself right now. Get some solid

groundwork laid

first. ( FT4 and FT3 are big ones here )

-Pam- yup, do as I say, not as I do......at least you can learn from my

mistakes.

February 11, 2002

Hi Kate,

I am catching up on my mail while I paint today. Nice break excuse huh ? :-)

I see you have only been on ATDs for a few months now. Yes, that is the time

when many

of us go hypo and feel bad, and get real concerned about the whole darn thing.

This is a

very common time to have meds reduced, as most are started out on a high dose,

in order to

get things under control. Because remaining hyper is so hard on our hearts and

bones.

If this is the case for you, and your post this morning makes me think it

might be, it

should be nice for you to know, that I have found after a reduction in meds, I

feel the

improvement fairly quickly. I start to feel something in less than a week, and

then

improve from there.

Your bugelweed question....

Yes, it will make you more hypo.

My suggestion would be to take all of this one thing at a time, and give

yourself time to

adjust to the ATDs first, and learn your hyper / hypo feelings, learn your dose

amounts

and corresponding lab results.

Others may disagree, but for me, it took some time to learn what my body was

doing, and

I feel I did better focusing on one thing at a time.

I do not believe regular medical doctors are going to buy into the bugelweed,

as they

have no knowledge in this area..in my experience.

But this is very powerful stuff, and I think you would need a naturopathic

doctor for

guidance, the trick here being finding one with experience with not only Graves

, but also

ATDs.

That being said, I guess you need more of my story.

I have been on PTU for about 3 1/2 yr. now, and am in an interesting position

at this

exact time. After finding groups like this, and realizing I was being kept too

hypo, thus

not feeling right for a long time, I started my thyroid education. As time went

on, I was

able to find my personal lab values where I feel my best, and was able to show

my endo

this information. At this point, he agreed that I can change my dose of PTU

without a

doctors appointment, but to always get labs done before any change. It takes

awhile to

learn what your body is going to do with ATDs, so time is needed for both your

endo and

yourself to figure this out.

Back to my long story.

Here I am now, very close to remission or a very low dose. I find that 1/4 of

a PTU pill

twice a day is giving me too much up and down, to suit me. But that no PTU, and

I start

getting hyper symptoms. Tough transition here. So this is why I finally started

back on my

search for bugelweed.

I should have found a naturopatic doctor before now, but I didn't so I am

taking a very

large risk, and trying to figure this out on my own. I do not recommend anyone

do this.

Learn from my mistake, and find that doctor before you need one.

I did find one naturopatic doctor, and she did give me the needed prescription

for the

bugelweed. But she really is not the expert I need right now. My search is

continuing.

I did expect the first few days of trial and error with the bugelweed to be a

potential

problem, and it was. But now I seem to have a better idea of what I need.

Sure wish I had some help on this one.

So please do not start experimenting on yourself right now. Get some solid

groundwork laid

first. ( FT4 and FT3 are big ones here )

-Pam- yup, do as I say, not as I do......at least you can learn from my

mistakes.

February 11, 2002

Hi Kate,

I am catching up on my mail while I paint today. Nice break excuse huh ? :-)

I see you have only been on ATDs for a few months now. Yes, that is the time

when many

of us go hypo and feel bad, and get real concerned about the whole darn thing.

This is a

very common time to have meds reduced, as most are started out on a high dose,

in order to

get things under control. Because remaining hyper is so hard on our hearts and

bones.

If this is the case for you, and your post this morning makes me think it

might be, it

should be nice for you to know, that I have found after a reduction in meds, I

feel the

improvement fairly quickly. I start to feel something in less than a week, and

then

improve from there.

Your bugelweed question....

Yes, it will make you more hypo.

My suggestion would be to take all of this one thing at a time, and give

yourself time to

adjust to the ATDs first, and learn your hyper / hypo feelings, learn your dose

amounts

and corresponding lab results.

Others may disagree, but for me, it took some time to learn what my body was

doing, and

I feel I did better focusing on one thing at a time.

I do not believe regular medical doctors are going to buy into the bugelweed,

as they

have no knowledge in this area..in my experience.

But this is very powerful stuff, and I think you would need a naturopathic

doctor for

guidance, the trick here being finding one with experience with not only Graves

, but also

ATDs.

That being said, I guess you need more of my story.

I have been on PTU for about 3 1/2 yr. now, and am in an interesting position

at this

exact time. After finding groups like this, and realizing I was being kept too

hypo, thus

not feeling right for a long time, I started my thyroid education. As time went

on, I was

able to find my personal lab values where I feel my best, and was able to show

my endo

this information. At this point, he agreed that I can change my dose of PTU

without a

doctors appointment, but to always get labs done before any change. It takes

awhile to

learn what your body is going to do with ATDs, so time is needed for both your

endo and

yourself to figure this out.

Back to my long story.

Here I am now, very close to remission or a very low dose. I find that 1/4 of

a PTU pill

twice a day is giving me too much up and down, to suit me. But that no PTU, and

I start

getting hyper symptoms. Tough transition here. So this is why I finally started

back on my

search for bugelweed.

I should have found a naturopatic doctor before now, but I didn't so I am

taking a very

large risk, and trying to figure this out on my own. I do not recommend anyone

do this.

Learn from my mistake, and find that doctor before you need one.

I did find one naturopatic doctor, and she did give me the needed prescription

for the

bugelweed. But she really is not the expert I need right now. My search is

continuing.

I did expect the first few days of trial and error with the bugelweed to be a

potential

problem, and it was. But now I seem to have a better idea of what I need.

Sure wish I had some help on this one.

So please do not start experimenting on yourself right now. Get some solid

groundwork laid

first. ( FT4 and FT3 are big ones here )

-Pam- yup, do as I say, not as I do......at least you can learn from my

mistakes.

February 12, 2002

Hi Pam,

Thanks for your input. I left work early yesterday to go pick up my lab

reports as I was feeling so bad. And guess what... you were right. I have

dropped into hypo land. It seems like I have gone from one extreme to

another... When I was initially diagnosed I had a TSH of less than 0.03 and

an FT4 of 5.2. Now I have a TSH of 0.08, so going up slowly, and an FT4 of

0.5, which is under the normal range of 0.7 - 2.0. Well I had my 5 minutes

of feeling great... what more can I ask for..

I have reduced my medication myself for now as I will be seeing the doctor

tomorrow. I was on 2 tabs of PTU twice a day, which I know is not the best

as it is supposed to be taken every 8 hours. I have reduced it to one pill

every 8 hours. I started it last night, and I have to say that already I

feel a teensy weensy bit better, not quite as tired this morning.

And also I shall be on the hunt for a naturopathic doctor in preparation....

And this note is for Jody.... Jody could you please e-mail me the symptom

list directly. I would like to store it on my desktop. My hypo symptoms seem

to feel just like my hyper symptoms so I would like to run through the list

ticking of how I feel now and how I felt when I was hyper to see what, if

there are any, differences there are that I am not picking up on. Many

thanks.

Take care,

Katy.

Re: You all were right - disappointed in doc

Hi Kate,

I am catching up on my mail while I paint today. Nice break excuse huh ?

:-)

I see you have only been on ATDs for a few months now. Yes, that is the

time when many

of us go hypo and feel bad, and get real concerned about the whole darn

thing. This is a

very common time to have meds reduced, as most are started out on a high

dose, in order to

get things under control. Because remaining hyper is so hard on our hearts

and bones.

If this is the case for you, and your post this morning makes me think it

might be, it

should be nice for you to know, that I have found after a reduction in meds,

I feel the

improvement fairly quickly. I start to feel something in less than a week,

and then

improve from there.

Your bugelweed question....

Yes, it will make you more hypo.

My suggestion would be to take all of this one thing at a time, and give

yourself time to

adjust to the ATDs first, and learn your hyper / hypo feelings, learn your

dose amounts

and corresponding lab results.

Others may disagree, but for me, it took some time to learn what my body

was doing, and

I feel I did better focusing on one thing at a time.

I do not believe regular medical doctors are going to buy into the

bugelweed, as they

have no knowledge in this area..in my experience.

But this is very powerful stuff, and I think you would need a naturopathic

doctor for

guidance, the trick here being finding one with experience with not only

Graves , but also

ATDs.

That being said, I guess you need more of my story.

I have been on PTU for about 3 1/2 yr. now, and am in an interesting

position at this

exact time. After finding groups like this, and realizing I was being kept

too hypo, thus

not feeling right for a long time, I started my thyroid education. As time

went on, I was

able to find my personal lab values where I feel my best, and was able to

show my endo

this information. At this point, he agreed that I can change my dose of PTU

without a

doctors appointment, but to always get labs done before any change. It takes

awhile to

learn what your body is going to do with ATDs, so time is needed for both

your endo and

yourself to figure this out.

Back to my long story.

Here I am now, very close to remission or a very low dose. I find that 1/4

of a PTU pill

twice a day is giving me too much up and down, to suit me. But that no PTU,

and I start

getting hyper symptoms. Tough transition here. So this is why I finally

started back on my

search for bugelweed.

I should have found a naturopatic doctor before now, but I didn't so I am

taking a very

large risk, and trying to figure this out on my own. I do not recommend

anyone do this.

Learn from my mistake, and find that doctor before you need one.

I did find one naturopatic doctor, and she did give me the needed

prescription for the

bugelweed. But she really is not the expert I need right now. My search is

continuing.

I did expect the first few days of trial and error with the bugelweed to

be a potential

problem, and it was. But now I seem to have a better idea of what I need.

Sure wish I had some help on this one.

So please do not start experimenting on yourself right now. Get some solid

groundwork laid

first. ( FT4 and FT3 are big ones here )

-Pam- yup, do as I say, not as I do......at least you can learn from my

mistakes.

February 12, 2002