Newly diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Hi, I just had my ctoma removed last Monday. Here is a rundown of

what I have experienced so far. I really thought that after the

surgery I would be in a lot of pain, but honestly it hasn't been bad

at all. The only pain medicine I was prescribed was Tylenol 3. I have

only taken a couple of these. The pain I had, was after waking up in

the mornings, I think from sleeping on my ear off and on through the

night. The worst thing I am going through now is the packing in my

ear. I can feel it deep down in there, and sometimes it gives me a

little pain, but it is more annoying than anything. Eating, drinking,

and talking is a constant reminder of it being in there. I can feel

it, and hear it " crunching " around in there. I go back for my first

follow up appointment tuesday, and really hope he takes this thing

out. From what I have read on this group it doesn't hurt coming out,

but feels good, as it is such a relief. I am also anxious to find out

how my hearing is in this ear now. My ear is also numb, I wasn't

expecting that, it seems like some feeling is coming back to it, but

I can't tell if it is coming back or I am just getting used to it.

The dr told my wife afterwards that the ctoma had been preventing two

of the three bones in my ear from vibrating, but after removal they

were vibrating again. So I am hoping I lucked out and didn't have

that much damage done. He also said this thing was headed straight

for the membrane between my ear and brain. So it is good that I had

it removed soon enough. Anybody reading, don't put it off, like I

almost did, just get it done. The area they shaved, wasnt that large.

My wife says it looks kinda 80's. I went ahead and buzzed all my hair

off prior to the surgery, to make the shaved spot less noticeable,

and so I wouldn't have to worry about washing it so much. This past

week, I haven't been to motivated to do much but sit in my chair, but

I haven't been miserable either.

Like everything else, the worry was whole lot worse than what I ended

up going through.

Good luck. You will be fine, and your ear will be healthier.

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi there everyone!

>

> Like Debbie I'm a new member to the group. I just went for my CT

> scan yesterday and should have results by tomorrow so my ENT can let

> me know the next step. I have to say I'm pretty nervous about it and

> just want to have it over with. The Doc is pretty sure it is c-toma

> and wants to make sure with the CT scan and see how large an area is

> effected. Unlike many of the postings and info I have found since

> last Friday, (I was just diagnosed Thursday) my first symptom didn't

> show up until early September. I think my last ear infection was

> when I was 5 or 6 so I'm really shocked by this. I'm wondering if

> anyone else out there had a similar experience. I appreciate any

> info as I try to be very proactive and want to know all possible

> outcomes.

>

> Thanks.

>My son was just diagnosed a few weeks ago at his pediatrician, He is

14 years old and they said his c-toma is small. We are waiting for our

appt. with the ENT on May, 2. The ped. asked me if he had alot of ear

infections growing up and he maybe only had 3 or 4 since he has been

born. We were told that this is not very common, but I am finding out

that it is more common than we were led to believe. Good Luck.

[Guest guest]

Hi I am almost four weeks post op and had a pretty similar experience. I'm 41, and had lots of ear infections as a child but no real problems as an adult. In my CT scan it is clear that the bone and the whole left side of my head developed differently - less bone mass, less air space, etc. I started to experience bouts of vertigo about four years ago and was unable, through visits with two ENTs and a series of scans, to determine what the problem was. The interim solution was to insert a tube into my ear drum which seemed to alleviate the pressure problems I was having due to eustachian tube dysfunction, and pretty much eliminated the vertigo. After two tubes and a move to another city, I finally found an ENT who had a more detailed scan done. He was able to quickly identify cholesteatoma, referred me to a surgeon, and I had the surgery performed within four weeks of diagnosis. Part of one of my bones has

eroded, so I may have a second surgery for reconstruction. The good thing is that I finally KNOW what the underlying problem was and it has been resolved. I don't know how long that thing was in my ear, but once it started making its presence known it was sure a hassle! I'm glad to be rid of it and am looking forward to an improved condition of existence. I hope you have a conclusive diagnosis and good plan for treatment. ferrandtracy <ferrandtracy@...> wrote: >> Hi there everyone!> > Like Debbie I'm a new member to the group. I just went for my CT > scan yesterday and should have results by tomorrow so my ENT can let > me know the next step. I have to say I'm pretty nervous about it and > just want to have it over with. The Doc is pretty sure it is c-toma > and wants to make sure with the CT scan and see how large an area is > effected. Unlike many of the postings and info I have found since > last Friday, (I was just diagnosed Thursday) my first symptom didn't > show up until early September. I think my last ear infection was > when I was 5 or 6 so I'm really shocked by this. I'm wondering if > anyone else out there had a similar experience. I appreciate any > info as I try to be very proactive and

want to know all possible > outcomes.> > Thanks.>My son was just diagnosed a few weeks ago at his pediatrician, He is 14 years old and they said his c-toma is small. We are waiting for our appt. with the ENT on May, 2. The ped. asked me if he had alot of ear infections growing up and he maybe only had 3 or 4 since he has been born. We were told that this is not very common, but I am finding out that it is more common than we were led to believe. Good Luck.

[Guest guest]

> >

> > Hi there everyone!

> >

> > Like Debbie I'm a new member to the group. I just went for my

CT

> > scan yesterday and should have results by tomorrow so my ENT can

let

> > me know the next step. I have to say I'm pretty nervous about

it and

> > just want to have it over with. The Doc is pretty sure it is c-

toma

> > and wants to make sure with the CT scan and see how large an

area is

> > effected. Unlike many of the postings and info I have found

since

> > last Friday, (I was just diagnosed Thursday) my first symptom

didn't

> > show up until early September. I think my last ear infection

was

> > when I was 5 or 6 so I'm really shocked by this. I'm wondering

if

> > anyone else out there had a similar experience. I appreciate

any

> > info as I try to be very proactive and want to know all possible

> > outcomes.

> >

> > Thanks.

> >My son was just diagnosed a few weeks ago at his pediatrician, He

is

> 14 years old and they said his c-toma is small. We are waiting for

our

> appt. with the ENT on May, 2. The ped. asked me if he had alot of

ear

> infections growing up and he maybe only had 3 or 4 since he has

been

> born. We were told that this is not very common, but I am finding

out

> that it is more common than we were led to believe. Good Luck.

>

My daughter is 21 years old as of next week, her last ear infection

was age 7, She was diagnosed About a year ago and Thursday is having

her third operation on the left ear, the c-toma continues to grow

aggressively and they have cleaned the same ear two times, however

she is with her 2nd doctor so hopefully we can get more

accomplished this go round. her first doc was an ent, who finaly

after the 2nd operation admitted it was a bigger job than he could

take on. The new doc is an otologist/ neuro doc and seems to have

more knowledge than the ent.

I guess going through this quest with my daughter is that had I

known that she would have had a better outcome with the first 2

operations I would have gone with the otologist first and never have

let the ENT operate???

[Guest guest]

Well, my CAT scan is tomorrow at 930, and I am a little apprehensive

since I have never had one of these done before. I did have an MRI

recently (on my shoulder), so I don't expect it to be all that much

different. I guess that I will just have to wait till I hear from the

doctor to find out when we will meet again regarding this and the

surgery. Still doing antibiotic drops to clear up the " low grade "

infection that the doctor said I have.

It is the waiting that is bothering me. My whole life is on hold

because of this and shoulder injury, which also needs surgery.

I joke around saying that I am the beginning of the new bionic woman,

but I am still very scared.

For those of you that have been through this, thank you for your input

and information. For those of you going through it, I know where

you're at.

>

> Greetings all!

>

> Just a little about me:

> I am a 42 yr old female, living in Chicopee Massachusetts. I have had

> a long history of lifelong problems with ears and sinuses. About 22

> years ago I had a surgery that improved my problems greatly and I did

> not have another ear infection for 20 years.About 3 years ago I

> started having problems with my hearing, a feeling of fullness in my

> ears and ringing in my ears after an ear infection.My primary doctor

> took one look in my ears and told me, as I had indicated to her, that

> I would need to be referred to a specialist (required by my insurance

> plan). I went to an ENT who diagnosed the problem as fluid in my ears,

> and a tube was placed into my ear. After the surgery, hearing tests

> revealed no improvement in my hearing. I was referred to another

> specialist in the office for evaluation of possible otosclerosis. Due

> to my insurance changing, and the group not being covered by my

> insurance, I had to put off going back to that set of doctors

> (fortunately a really good set) until very recently. My current doctor

> is Dr. Theodore Mason, touted to be the best around. I finally was

> able to book an appointment with him. My first appointment showed a

> " plug " in my ear in which the tube was embedded. It was hard and I

> spent the next two weeks softening it up with a regimen of hydrogen

> peroxide in the ear 2 times daily for 2 weeks. He removed the earwax

> plug yesterday and then diagnosed me with a c-toma. I am currently

> waiting for appointment for CT scan. After that we will meet back at

> his office for a meeting for surgical strategy. He indicated that

> there will be a minimum of 2 surgeries. One to remove the c-toma, and

> any damaged bones/tissue etc, and the second (about 8 months later- he

> said if it didn't come back by then, it won't) to make sure it doesn't

> come back and to do the reconstruction at that time.

>

> I'd like to know what the surgery was like, and what I should expect.

>

[Guest guest]

Hang in there! I'm just getting back on me feet 2 weeks after my c-

toma was removed. But it all went very smoothly and it was a much

easier experience than I anticipated. Looking back, I'd say that

there really wasn't much justification for anxiety. I've had worse

surgery.

I hope yours goes as well as mine did. Good luck and keep us posted!

-Mark

> >

> > Greetings all!

> >

> > Just a little about me:

> > I am a 42 yr old female, living in Chicopee Massachusetts. I

have had

> > a long history of lifelong problems with ears and sinuses. About

22

> > years ago I had a surgery that improved my problems greatly and I

did

> > not have another ear infection for 20 years.About 3 years ago I

> > started having problems with my hearing, a feeling of fullness in

my

> > ears and ringing in my ears after an ear infection.My primary

doctor

> > took one look in my ears and told me, as I had indicated to her,

that

> > I would need to be referred to a specialist (required by my

insurance

> > plan). I went to an ENT who diagnosed the problem as fluid in my

ears,

> > and a tube was placed into my ear. After the surgery, hearing

tests

> > revealed no improvement in my hearing. I was referred to another

> > specialist in the office for evaluation of possible otosclerosis.

Due

> > to my insurance changing, and the group not being covered by my

> > insurance, I had to put off going back to that set of doctors

> > (fortunately a really good set) until very recently. My current

doctor

> > is Dr. Theodore Mason, touted to be the best around. I finally was

> > able to book an appointment with him. My first appointment showed

a

> > " plug " in my ear in which the tube was embedded. It was hard and I

> > spent the next two weeks softening it up with a regimen of

hydrogen

> > peroxide in the ear 2 times daily for 2 weeks. He removed the

earwax

> > plug yesterday and then diagnosed me with a c-toma. I am currently

> > waiting for appointment for CT scan. After that we will meet back

at

> > his office for a meeting for surgical strategy. He indicated that

> > there will be a minimum of 2 surgeries. One to remove the c-toma,

and

> > any damaged bones/tissue etc, and the second (about 8 months

later- he

> > said if it didn't come back by then, it won't) to make sure it

doesn't

> > come back and to do the reconstruction at that time.

> >

> > I'd like to know what the surgery was like, and what I should

expect.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Mark!My follow-up to my CAT scan is on May 13th. It seems like a long time out, but at this point every day seems like it takes forever. My family is worried about me, as the stress of this, on top of

everything else in my life is talking a huge toll on me. and this group

is helping a lot.Just seems like everything hit me at once. I'm also

looking at a surgery on my shoulder in the near future.I hope that the waiting is the hardest part. Looks like I'm going to have a "fun" summer. Well at least I will get to enjoy my anniversary on May 11th!I'm curious as to what I should expect for recovery time, as I canceled my vacation so I would have that time for my recovery. But I only have a week, so I am wondering if that is going to be enough. Should I be preparing for a two week, or more recovery? I've got a desk job, would that affect how soon I could return to work? I know my doc will tell me more on the 13th, but I'd still like to know. Financially anything more than a week is going to be difficult, so seeing as I have the time to plan, what should I expect?~E

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

You should be okay with a week off, particularly with a desk job. I actually took two weeks off, but that was just because I had a lot of sick days available. For me, just working off the anesthesia was a big deal.  Good luck to you with all of this. You will feel much better once you know what you are dealing with. I found the anticipation to be nerve wracking. leOn Apr 28, 2008, at 6:33 AM, Evotiquien wrote:Thank you Mark!My follow-up to my CAT scan is on May 13th. It seems like  a long time out, but at this point every day seems like it takes forever. My family is worried about me, as the stress of this, on top of everything else in my life is talking a huge toll on me. and this group is helping a lot.Just seems like everything hit me at once. I'm also looking at a surgery on my shoulder in the near future.I hope that the waiting is the hardest part. Looks like I'm going to have a "fun" summer. Well at least I will get to enjoy my anniversary on May  11th!I'm curious as to what I should expect for recovery time, as I canceled my vacation so I would have that time for my recovery. But I only have a week, so I am wondering if that is going to be enough. Should I be preparing for a two week, or more recovery? I've got a desk job, would that affect how soon I could return to work? I know my doc will tell me more on the 13th, but I'd still like to know. Financially anything more than a week is going to be difficult, so seeing as I have the time to plan, what should I expect?~EBe a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

I had my surgery on a Thursday, and took Friday, the weekend, and

Monday and Tuesday off. The following Wednesday I returned to work.

I think that was a very agressive schedule by the standards of c-toma

recoverers. But everyone's experience differs a little bit. In my

case, I was quite fatigued for the first week back at work so I made

sure not to overextend myself. Now three weeks later I'm practically

back to normal.

-Mark

[Guest guest]

Hi, I've been diagnosed with low T-3. All Free T-3 and free T-4 tests were done including TSH. Everything normal except for T3 which is low. Now my internal med doc wants me to see an endocrinologist. Does anyone know of some good endo in Austin Texas? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Are you taking Synthroid or a levothyroxine med? Someone on a T4 only med usually has a low T3.

Most conversion of T4 to T3 takes place in the liver. You could do things to support your liver.

Lynn

I've been diagnosed with low T-3. All Free T-3 and free T-4 tests were done including TSH. Everything normal except for T3 which is low. Now my internal med doc wants me to see an endocrinologist. Does anyone know of some good endo in Austin Texas?

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Do not know of a good endo, but do know of a fantastic doc for thyroid

in Austin. Dr Ron Manzanero.

Darla

>

> Hi,

>

> I've been diagnosed with low T-3. All Free T-3 and free T-4 tests

were done including TSH. Everything normal except for T3 which is

low. Now my internal med doc wants me to see an endocrinologist.

Does anyone know of some good endo in Austin Texas?

>

> Thanks.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

The first thing you should do is ask your GP practice for the exact numbers of your blood test including the ranges (as these vary between labs). This will give you some info & also give yourself something to work from. However I will add that labs before starting thyroid and after are very different in that what would have been good before as in middle of the ranges FT3 & FT4 & a TSH of 1 to 1.5, will not be high enough later to feel good, and then you should be looking to be higher in the ranges than that, and some of us need to have a TSH suppressed as well particularly if on a T3 or combination.

Val

Having had bloods taken last week I received the results yesterday and was told I have an underactive thyroid. It's seemingly reasonably borderline but because of my symptoms I have been prescribed levothyroxine 50mcg and have to go back in 2 months for more bloods. Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi Val,

Thanks for that but I'm not understanding. It's probably me as my concentration and understanding have been all over the place for a wee while. I have bought a book as the doc told me nothing other than take one tablet each morning on an empty stomach, and as far as I can gather levothyroxine is T4.

What is this about needing to be higher in the ranges to feel good? Is it not just about getting back to a normal figure? All I know is that I feel lousy and had been putting it down to my mental health as I already have treatment for depression.

I just want to understand what is happening to my body as it feels like it is doing it's damnedest to shut down, and to feel better now I know what is wrong and that it is treatable.

Jen

From: valerieforster56 <valerieforster56@...>Subject: Re:Newly diagnosedthyroid treatment Date: Thursday, July 3, 2008, 10:35 AM

Hi Jen,

The first thing you should do is ask your GP practice for the exact numbers of your blood test including the ranges (as these vary between labs). This will give you some info & also give yourself something to work from. However I will add that labs before starting thyroid and after are very different in that what would have been good before as in middle of the ranges FT3 & FT4 & a TSH of 1 to 1.5, will not be high enough later to feel good, and then you should be looking to be higher in the ranges than that, and some of us need to have a TSH suppressed as well particularly if on a T3 or combination.

Val

Having had bloods taken last week I received the results yesterday and was told I have an underactive thyroid. It's seemingly reasonably borderline but because of my symptoms I have been prescribed levothyroxine 50mcg and have to go back in 2 months for more bloods. Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

I just read this back & it should have read that the higher than bit just referring to the FTs, not the TSH.

Val

labs before starting thyroid and after are very different in that what would have been good before as in middle of the ranges FT3 & FT4 & a TSH of 1 to 1.5, will not be high enough later to feel good

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen

Yes you are correct, levothyroxine is T4, the docs all prescribe that

for underactive thryoid as standard, some people are ok on it, others

of us are not and need some T3 too which is the 'active useable'

thyroid hormone made from T4, which is why you will see on here posts

about people taking T3, thyroxine, or Armour which is the extract of

pigs thyroid which is natural whereas the other 2 are syntheticly made

by chemists.

If the doctor said you were borderline hypo he probably meant you are

somewhere around 6.0 ish or round about in TSH (thyroid stimulating

hormone) which although is the top of the English ranges is way out of

range in the USA and we all know that people with a TSH like that feel

horrible most of the time.

I don't like the look of what statins do to a person. But it is your

call whether you want to be on them as a preventative or not. I would

never say that you shouldn't follow the advice of your doctor, just

that it would not be my personal first choice in helping my

cholesterol levels. I would never take them in light of the long term

consequences of them and when there are natural alternatives to

statins for cholesterol. Incidentally a person with hypothyroidism has

higher cholestrol and higher risk of cardiac problems unless the

thyroid is adequately treated so I should think that would be the

doctors top priority. In the old days high cholestrol was used to

diagnose hypothyroidism. So when the thyroid is operating at optimum

the cholestrol lowers due to the effect of active T3 on smooth muscle

of the veins and arterys.

So if I were you I would post your blood test results here and keep

taking your thyroxine, it may be that after you get on the adequate

doseage you will feel much better .

Also after reading your book have a look at the stuff in the files

section of the site and aquaint yourself with the signs and symptoms.

Hope you get better quickly.

God bless

Dawnx

[Guest guest]

Thank you Dawn.

The thing is he didn't tell me any numbers except for my cholesterol at 3.5 which I know is low but I was started on a statin when my cholesterol wasn't high. Heart probs in my family are way too much for me to risk not following my docs advice but I will have a read up on things so thanks for your advice.

I've been feeling awful and everything is mixed up as having long term recurrent depression and having been very ill with a lung infection at the start of the year which was with me for 3 months and meant 2 hospital admissions for asthma, followed by 2 death of close relations in 8 weeks, so not a good time at all.

The rest of the year can only get better.

Jen

From: blondiethefirstuk <whitbywitchuk@...>Subject: Re:Newly diagnosedthyroid treatment Date: Friday, July 4, 2008, 4:03 AM

Hi JenYes you are correct, levothyroxine is T4, the docs all prescribe thatfor underactive thryoid as standard, some people are ok on it, othersof us are not and need some T3 too which is the 'active useable'thyroid hormone made from T4, which is why you will see on here postsabout people taking T3, thyroxine, or Armour which is the extract ofpigs thyroid which is natural whereas the other 2 are syntheticly madeby chemists.If the doctor said you were borderline hypo he probably meant you aresomewhere around 6.0 ish or round about in TSH (thyroid stimulatinghormone) which although is the top of the English ranges is way out ofrange in the USA and we all know that people with a TSH like that feelhorrible most of the time.I don't like the look of what statins do to a person. But it is yourcall whether you want to be on them as a preventative or not. I wouldnever say that you

shouldn't follow the advice of your doctor, justthat it would not be my personal first choice in helping mycholesterol levels. I would never take them in light of the long termconsequences of them and when there are natural alternatives tostatins for cholesterol. Incidentally a person with hypothyroidism hashigher cholestrol and higher risk of cardiac problems unless thethyroid is adequately treated so I should think that would be thedoctors top priority. In the old days high cholestrol was used todiagnose hypothyroidism. So when the thyroid is operating at optimumthe cholestrol lowers due to the effect of active T3 on smooth muscleof the veins and arterys.So if I were you I would post your blood test results here and keeptaking your thyroxine, it may be that after you get on the adequatedoseage you will feel much better .Also after reading your book have a look at the stuff in the

filessection of the site and aquaint yourself with the signs and symptoms. Hope you get better quickly.God blessDawnx

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

With a relatively low cholesterol, it might be worth asking your doc

for a second opinion on the need for statins.

Big Gov blasting to get as many on statins as possible may be over-kill..

I've heard mention that it may not be wise to lower your cholesterol

too far...after all, that's where the steroids and sex hormones come

from in the first place.

I bet your doc won't have assessed the effect of statins on your

steroid output? as might be expected in those circumstances...they get

brownie points for putting you on the statins and none for checking if

it's doing damage....

best wishes

Bob

>

> Thank you Dawn.

>

> The thing is he didn't tell me any numbers except for my cholesterol

at 3.5 which I know is low but I was started on a statin when my

cholesterol wasn't high. Heart probs in my family are way too much for

[Guest guest]

Oh you poor luv

So sorry you have had such a bad time, it does take it out of even a

person who is completely well.

You need lots or r and r.

Pamper yourself as much as you can, keep away from stress (I know not

always possible but do your best).

Do thyroid problems as well as heart problems run in your family too?

God bless

Dawnx

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn

Heart problems are the big family thing. My dad was the first one in his family to make it to 50 (he's now 70).

He does have an underactive thyroid but through taking amiodarone for a length of time, and never felt ill, but he's always getting bloods taken and they were looking out for it.

Me, well I've had depression since 2000, and had to give up work in 2001 so I think a lot of things I have complained about get written off due to mental health problems. It was only when I said about my puffy, pitting ankles and how my aunt had just died and her ankles looked the same and she had kidney failure amongst other things that he took full bloods (not an easy thing to do - he was lucky to fund a vein and even luckier to get 3 bottles of blood). I also complained about wanting to lose weight but having no energy and being shattered and breathless by the time I was half way round the supermarket (I thought my asthma was playing up).

I've been a walking disaster area since Christmas. I was in Australia from early December until early Jan and on boxing day I managed to get stung by one of the world's most poisonous fish (a reef stonefish), the pain was off the scale and I had to sit with my foot in hot water for nearly 10 hours.

I was also coughing by then and a few days later between Christmas and New Year I spent a Saturday morning in A & E with an asthma attack that I'd been suffering all night but could no longer deal with on my own as I was just too tired and needed nebulisers and a different drug. The chest x-ray said I had a bad infection on my right lung so I was put on antibiotics.

The lung infection was with me until in to March and in late Feb landed me in A & E here again with another asthma attack I couldn't sort out.

We had a close family death on 20th March, followed 8 weeks later by another close family death, both of which brought completely different feelings for me. But the past year and been very stressful for my family running around after these relations. A week and a half after the last one my first nephew was born in Australia, for the first week or so I couldn't enjoy it and felt angry to the second person who died for stopping me enjoying the birth.

On top of all that last August I had begin an HNC Social Sciences course, by the time I went off to Oz in December I was struggling due to my treatment by the college and various little health complaints. Then in late Feb/early March I was taken off the course due to my sickness record. I had been caught between 2 systems, the doc was signing me off saying the college should be sending out work, and the college were saying that if I was ill I was ill and work shouldn't be sent out. By that time I was too worn out to care and felt that my physical health had to come first.

No I have this hypothyroid stuff. I hate it because of what I've read, but then again it makes sense as for a few years I have complained about thinning hair, period problems etc., and I've had carpal tunnel syndrome resulting in surgery. I've also had the 3pm slump bit for a wee while and have just had to sleep for a wee while.

I do have to laugh though as I've had the diagnosis of asthma since I was 19 and have complained for years about prescription costs, more so now that I have 4 meds for asthma alone, but had celebrated the ish Parliament cutting pre-paid presecription costs by half. Then I get this diagnosis and according to what I have read on the internet it qualifies me for free prescriptions. Ironic or what?

Yesterday I fell asleep in the bath.

I've got a meeting in Glasgow all day Tues which will be fun giving my need for sleep then I am off on Wednesday camping with a friend and her wee boy for 3 nights. I just hope I don't spoil their fun being so worn out. We all need to get away though.

Thanks Dawn so much for your messages. Gotta run and get breakfast and shower before church.

God bless

Jen

From: blondiethefirstuk <whitbywitchuk@...>Subject: Re:Newly diagnosedthyroid treatment Date: Saturday, July 5, 2008, 10:28 PM

Oh you poor luvSo sorry you have had such a bad time, it does take it out of even aperson who is completely well.You need lots or r and r. Pamper yourself as much as you can, keep away from stress (I know notalways possible but do your best). Do thyroid problems as well as heart problems run in your family too?God blessDawnx

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen, it sounds like you have had a pretty rough time of things

lately and stress, depression or grief can all make you feel quite

ill physically, nevermind having asthma and hypothyroidism as well.

As you said, things can only get better, and I certainly hope so for

you and for me too, because I am in a similar situation to you having

recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

Heart disease also runs in my family and my father died in his 60's

from it, and I also had a heart attack 6 years ago and suffer from

chronic angina. Thyroid problems also run in the family too, and I

had suspected for a while now that I had it, so it was not too much

of a surprise to be diagnosed.

Like you I am struggling with tiredness, depression etc. and feeling

pretty rough most of the time. The angina seems to feed of the

thyroid problem, and vice versa, so I am feeling ill most of the time

at the moment and its hard to cope with it all. I hope that once I

am on the correct dose of thyroxine I will start to feel a lot

better, but I am only on 50mcg and the doctor is very cautious about

increasing it,testing me every 3 months and only increasing by 25mcg

at a time. I know he has to be careful because of my heart, but I

seem to be getting worse quicker than he increases the dosage.

I also take a statin, which I understand is a wonderdrug for heart

disease and plays a big role in preventing another heart attack. What

are the concerns that you and others have about taking this?

Hope you start feeling better soon.

Lynne

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne

Yeah, it's been some start to 2008 from here on in it can only get better. At least I have Australia to look forward to in December, a month in the sun with my brother, sister-in-law and my new nephew. I just hope I am feeling better by then or I won't be going far.

I'm fine with taking the statin if it's going to prevent some of the troubles my family have had, it's just one pill at night when I take the montelukast for my asthma.

I'm on 50mcg of levothyroxine at the mo with a blood test in 2 months time. I'm also being referred to some professor in Dundee to try and find a better med to control my high blood pressure which is obviously even more important now with this damned hypothyroidism.

I remember a few years ago reading about hypothyroidism and at the time wondering if I could have it but then like lots of things it just slipped from my mind.

I hope you start feeling better soon. If you want to email me off list feel free to do so. It may help us seeing as we seem to be at the same stage in treatment. It's jenmuir1968@...

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne

Is it possible you could see another doctor who knows about thyroid disease and who is willing to give you a trial of combination therapy. If you are not converting the t4 into T3 - you ARE going to feel pretty rough, and not get your health back, especially if your own doctor will not budge from using levothyroxine only.

Most NHS doctors will only ever increase Levothyroxine by increments of 25 mcgs, so this is not surprising, but with you having Angina, it is right that a doctor is cautious. However, he should be made aware that untreated/under treated hypothyroidism can cause heart problems too - and you do need to be on the right dose of thyroid hormone replacement sooner rather than later. Levothyroxine is absolutely fine for the majority of sufferers, but it does not suit everybody.

Do you know if your father also had a thyroid problem or autoimmune disease?

Statins can cause sufferers of high cholesterol many, many problems, and perhaps you could ask your doctor to give you a preparation that is NOT one of the statins - there are some and doctors can prescribe these. The best thing (and safest) supplements you can take for high cholesterol and high BP are high dose CoEnzymeQ10 (such as 300 mgs) and also high dose non-flushing Niacin (Vitamin B3) 350 mgs - or more. It is possible that some of your symptoms are related to this "wonderdrug" for heart disease - but I doubt your doctor will tell you this.

Luv - Sheila

I also take a statin, which I understand is a wonderdrug for heart disease and plays a big role in preventing another heart attack. What are the concerns that you and others have about taking this?Hope you start feeling better soon.LynneNo virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.5/1537 - Release Date: 06/07/2008 05:26

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

Don't let the hypothyroidism put you off travelling to Australia. I

felt like absolute rubbish late last year and couldn't walk more

than 100m without tiring, but I travelled overseas to a developing

country. I just made sure that I didn't need to walk very far and I

had a great time!

P

>

> Hi Lynne

>  

> Yeah, it's been some start to 2008 from here on in it can only get

better. At least I have Australia to look forward to in December, a

month in the sun with my brother, sister-in-law and my new nephew. I

just hope I am feeling better by then or I won't be going far.

>  

> I'm fine with taking the statin if it's going to prevent some of

the troubles my family have had, it's just one pill at night when I

take the montelukast for my asthma.

>  

> I'm on 50mcg of levothyroxine at the mo with a blood test in 2

months time. I'm also being referred to some professor in Dundee to

try and find a better med to control my high blood pressure which is

obviously even more important now with this damned hypothyroidism.

>  

> I remember a few years ago reading about hypothyroidism and at the

time wondering if I could have it but then like lots of things it

just slipped from my mind.

>  

> I hope you start feeling better soon. If you want to email me off

list feel free to do so. It may help us seeing as we seem to be at

the same stage in treatment. It's jenmuir1968@...

>  

> Jen

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jen,

I was very sorry to read about your thyroid and other health problems.

I live in Australia. I was also very sorry to read that you stood on

a stonefish. They are not ONE of the world's most poisonous fish.

They are THE most poisonous fish in the world!!!!

http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/students/focus/sverruc.htm

I know of someone who accidentally kicked one and said it was the most

excruciating pain they had ever experienced.

P