Re: Another new viewer

February 23, 2003

Hi, I'm Tom. I just discovered this online support group from the

Acknowledgements of Elaine 's book which arrived this past week.

I was diagnosed with Grave's about 13 months ago (just in time for my

40th b-day)after blood test and a RAI uptake test. To make a long

story shorter, I had absolutely no treatment in that year's time

since my blood levels seemed to turn in the right direction. About

two weeks ago another MD in the same practice says since my blood

thyroid hormone levels are creeping back up I should get the ablation

treatment. I left the office depressed. The next day I called back

and asked if I could take a ATD until the radiation. He agreed. (I've

been on Methimazole for 1 week.)The same day I ordered Ms. 's

book, and yesterday I registered for this SG. I know that most GD

sufferers are female and I'm not, but I hope our problems and

solutions are similar enough to help me. I hope that doesnt sound too

selfish. I'm sure I'll read posts more than write them. I'm glad i

came across this site. Good luck and good health to all.

February 23, 2003

trying to get rid of us so soon?

Velvet

----- I'm glad i

came across this site. Good luck and good health to all.

February 23, 2003

This is in reply to Fay or cfyoung. (this is my first online message

board of any kind. I don't even know if I'm supposed to reply to a

particular person who responded to me or if i should address all

messages to the group as a whole.) But, anyway here goes.

> 1. When are you scheduled for ablation? I would seriously consider

NOT

> going for RAI and giving the MMI a serious try.

The doctor's office said they would get in touch with me when they

got in touch with the radiologist. That was about 10 days ago. Now

i'm in no hurry to push for that appt. From what i'm reading I may

push for staying on the MMI for a year or more and try to adjust my

environment, my stress management, diet, and so forth and see if I

can eventually reach remission.

> 2. Do you have current bloodwork results you could share with us,

> specifically TSH, TSI (an antibody test your dr. may well not have

run)

> and any other antibody tests, and T3 or T4 (let us know if it was

the

> total or free form) and the ranges your lab gives.

Indeed, I've never heard of TSI until I came across it in Ms. 's

book, so I've never been tested for it. On Jan. 28,2003 I had a

TSH reading of " <0.01 uIU/ML; range: 0.40-5.50 " and a

Free T4 of " 2.11 NG/DL; range: 0.78-1.50 " .

These were about a year after being labeled hyperthyroid and about 11

months after having the I-123 uptake and scan which the Med.

Professionals in my life told me shows me to be a GD sufferer.

Absolutely no treatment/medicine to that point.

In June of 2002, my readings were:

TSH of " 0.01 uIU/ML; range: 0.40-5.50 " ;

Free T4 of " 1.89 NG/DL; range: 0.78-1.50 " ; and

T3 RIA(?) of " 171.3 NG/DL; range: 60.0-181.0 " .

On March 7, 2002 I had a

TSH of " <0.1 (not <0.01, Hmm.);range:0.5-4.7 uIU/mL " ;

Total T4 reading of " 11.1; range:4.5-12.0 ug/dL " ; and

Total T3 reading of " 169.41; range: 45.00-137.0 ng/dL " .

And on January 23,2002 my readings were:

TSH of " <0.01uIU/ML " and

Free T4 of " 2.23 NG/DL; range: 0.78-1.50 " and

T3 RIA of " 244.2 NG/DL; range: 60.0-181.0 " .

> 3. Any other details you feel might be relevant, especially any eye

> discomfort or problems.

What got me to the MDs in the first place on New Year's Eve 2001 was

about 20-25 lbs weight loss, a tremor in my left arm and leg,

sleeplessness, frequent loose bowel movements. About 18 months

previous (July 2000) I had a bright red right eye accompanied with a

feeling of something in my eye and some vague pain around the orbital

bone which required a trip to the opthalmologist, who diagnosed

uveitis and prescribed drops (relatively strong stuff of which i

can't find the name).

If Fay or anyone else has words of advice, I'm listening. Thanks.

Tom

February 24, 2003

> This is in reply to Fay or cfyoung.

I forgot to ask another question - how much MMI are you on. Once your dr.

accepts that you want to stay on ATDs you'll need regular bloodwork and

will want to gradually decrease it, in very gentle increments, no more

than 5 mg. at a time. Some people are so sensitive to changes that they

split pills into 2.5 mg (or beyond). Also, there is a possiblility,

unlikely though, that you should be aware of. Endos will occasionally

give ATDs to patients before RAI to stabilize them somewhat and so might

prescribe a higher dose than they would if they were committed to the

patient using ATDs only for treatment. So if you're on anything higher

than 30 mg./day you might start feeling hypo soon. Truth is, that your

dr. should test a basic thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3 and/or Free T4)

within a month of starting since he'll also need to check your liver

enzymes and blood count to be sure you're not suffering from (rare)

side-effects. After that it should be about every 6-8 weeks.

Jody brought up 2 important points - what tests to get in your routine

bloodwork and checking out your eyes. Any manifestation of TED

contraindicates RAI.

You'll soon learn the cast of characters here. My experience is very

simple and basic. I was on Tapazole for 14 months, no beta-blockers or

eye involvement, and have been in remission for a year and a half. I'm

here to keep on learning and, occasionally, when someone like you writes

in with points that need addressing I'll jump in and then leave it to the

more experienced and knowledgeable to take over. (My eyes glaze over when

it gets too technical.) Oh, and I also have experience dealing with

incompetent endos, but I'm not unusual in that ;-) Fay

________________________________________________________________

Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today

Only $9.95 per month!

Visit www.juno.com

February 24, 2003