Re: Re: Good news and horrible news

[Guest guest]

Hi thanks for responding... can having graves or hashimotos give us

a possitive ANA? Could that be all it is?

I don't know what else she tested me for, will when I see the lab report she

s mailing... the nurse just called to tell me the doc wanted to see me... I

got her to give me the test name and my thyroid numbers.

I went into my old records to see and here are the tests that match,

somewhat anyway:

In May:

Free T3 14.1 (1.3-4.2)

Free T4 5.4 (0.8-1.6)

In June:

FT3: 12.3 (range 2.3-4.2)

In July:

FT3: 10.01 (range 2.3-4.2)

Now, Sept:

FT4: 3.6 (.8 - 1.6)

T3: 8.6 (2.3 - 4.2)

So my numbers are progressivly coming down. If what I am now is really

elevated.... well... what the h*ll were they in May or even in January for

that matter.... I haven't been able to get any doctor to prescribe ATDs,

that is why I'm doing the alternative thing... and now that that is slowly

working and my numbers are coming down, this new doc is going to want to put

me on ATDs... She thinks my numbers are really elevated too. I'm sure they

are, but if that is true, why in the world have 4 MDs said they would like

to take a wait and see approach??? It's only been the NDs who want to do

anything to make me better. Sheesh. This is all so frustrating... they

aren't *that* high are they? I feel better now than I have in a year. or

more.

Pam B.

-- Re: Good news and horrible news

Hi Pam -

Your thyroid levels are really elevated - no wonder you're having

heart palps.

> FT4: 3.6 (.8 - 1.6)

> T3: 8.6 (2.3 - 4.2)

A positive ANA can mean a lot of things. Did they also test you for

Lupus and Rheum Arthritis and other such things?

I've had a positive ANA for several years now, and not one doctor can

give me an answer. I can't figure out what it means, but I can't see

what harm it's doing, if any...... Hopefully someone else might have

a clue on this one.

Best Wishes,

Chris

[Guest guest]

and... these days I only get heart palps when I'm stressed or have eaten a food

I'm allergic to.

[Guest guest]

Thank you I was freaked out that you thought they were really high -

I was so proud that they are so much lower than they have been! Jody keeps

telling me she thinks I need block and replace -that this is taking too long

... but I don't know... I think what I am doing may be healing, not just

treating the symptoms... so maybe it has to take longer. If this doesn't

work, block and replace is my next request for treatment... but I don't know

if I'm ready to give up on the alternative stuff yet... maybe we just need

to up my herbs or add something new in to the mix.

How long does it usually take for a persons numbers to get into normal range

with ATDs?

Thanks,

Pam B.

[Guest guest]

Hi , I get mine from the Bastyr dispensary - but you would need an rx

from your doc to get them from there. I know qualities vary in the internet

shopes and healthfood stores... my latest ND told me that this guy is the

guy to get everything from - herbs, suplements, etc.:

Medicine Man

323 N. 85th St.

Seattle, WA 98103

she said he does mail order and bulk discount as well - I havne't used

bought anything there yet though.

You want to find stuff that is straight - not in an alchohol base - I'm not

sure how you ensure top quality other than getting it through a good source.

This is medicine - and potent stuff too - not something to mess around with

- make sure you keep getting your labs on a regular basis.

Hope this helps,

Pam B.

[Guest guest]

Pam,

Where do you get your herbs? I have been looking at the health food stores out

here and have not had any luck. I want to get started on the alternative meds

and see if they will help some in relieving my palpitations since nothing else

has yet. I have changed may diet and am taking vitamin supplement and fish oil,

but have not started any of the herbs yet. My Dr. is taking forever to get back

to me and tell me his recommendations.

Re: Re: Good news and horrible news

Thank you I was freaked out that you thought they were really high -

I was so proud that they are so much lower than they have been! Jody keeps

telling me she thinks I need block and replace -that this is taking too long

.. but I don't know... I think what I am doing may be healing, not just

treating the symptoms... so maybe it has to take longer. If this doesn't

work, block and replace is my next request for treatment... but I don't know

if I'm ready to give up on the alternative stuff yet... maybe we just need

to up my herbs or add something new in to the mix.

How long does it usually take for a persons numbers to get into normal range

with ATDs?

Thanks,

Pam B.

[Guest guest]

Pam B wrote:

>

> How long does it usually take for a persons numbers to get into normal range

> with ATDs?

Usually you are most of the way there in a month, it varies of

course.

Whether they then keep it there depends on the doctor knowing

when to drop the ATD dose, or start the replacements.

Grave's is known to lead to a " false positive " on ANA tests,

i.e. it doesn't always indicate Lupus. There are better tests,

so make those doctors work for a living.

Lupus is much more variable than Grave's, I know someone who is

vibrant and not obviously ill at all with Lupus, where as my mum

(who had other complicating factors ended up having a lung

transplant).

Still fingers crossed, you don't need anything else on your

plate,

Take care,

Simon

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam, I wish I had some words of wisdom for you. You asked about a persons

levels on ATD's - I have been taking 20mg Carbimazole for 5 weeks now. On

diagnosis my FT3 levels were 15.8 (they told me the norm was 6.5) after 3.5

weeks my FT3 had dropped to 8.5. I don't know if I am a typical case, but

suspect everyone responds differently.

Aldyth

Pam B

wrote:Thank you I was freaked out that you thought they were really high

-

I was so proud that they are so much lower than they have been! Jody keeps

telling me she thinks I need block and replace -that this is taking too long

... but I don't know... I think what I am doing may be healing, not just

treating the symptoms... so maybe it has to take longer. If this doesn't

work, block and replace is my next request for treatment... but I don't know

if I'm ready to give up on the alternative stuff yet... maybe we just need

to up my herbs or add something new in to the mix.

How long does it usually take for a persons numbers to get into normal range

with ATDs?

Thanks,

Pam B.

[Guest guest]

Aldyth Rae wrote:

>

> You asked about a persons levels on ATD's - I have been taking 20mg

Carbimazole for 5 weeks now. On diagnosis my FT3 levels were 15.8 (they told me

the norm was 6.5) after 3.5 weeks my FT3 had dropped to 8.5. I don't know if I

am a typical case, but suspect everyone responds differently.

I happen to know this is pretty typical for 20mg daily

methimazole type drugs, as that was the protocol used in a drug

comparison PTU v Methimazole. They were seeing most people

dropping into range by about week 4 on once daily Methimazole at

20mg. It may be Carbimazole is slightly different in potency as

it has to be converted to Methimazole, but from what I've seen

elsewhere it seems to make very little difference.

You get a faster response by taking the daily dose in divided

doses, 8 or 12 hourly. That'll be from more constant dose in

serum.

A lot of doctors will start with a higher dose, and drop it

fairly quickly, achieving the same result quicker. There is a

fair amount of research on best methimazole protocol, very

little of it tells us anything unexpected - che sera sera.