Re: Introduction

[Guest guest]

He and I discussed juicing, and he did say that it was a very good way to get nutrition, which wasn't news to me. I have a Champion juicer, and it's a real pain to use and clean. So, I just ordered the Jack LaLanne juicer. Marcie Jan wrote: My discussions on diet with him never went beyond that. For myself, a low grain diet works well. And I do better with rice, oats and corn than I do with wheat. > > >> >

> Sara,> > >> > > It is great to hear of a doctor that has taht long-term mindset in> > > getting you well.> > >> > > Does Dr. talk about diet? I am wondering if I am doing > the> > > right thing with eating a lot of salads/veggies and protein and> > > limiting grains/sugar. Would you know?> > > > > > Tina

[Guest guest]

I’ll have to post in another message

about our visit with Dr R yesterday. He saw my husband and daughter.

I just wanted to add that he is just so gosh darn thorough. He spent a

lot of time with both my daughter and my husband. He just covered all the

bases.

He went over ’s symptoms.

She is having problems sleeping which is new. Instead of just assuming

that it was thyroid, he went over what he calls “sleep hygiene”, avoiding

caffeine, etc. He said that he went to a conference if you are very

sensitive to caffeine, it can take 36 hours for it to clear out of your

system. Also MSG can cause insomnia in some folks. He asked if she

has been anxious or stressed, etc, etc.

Like I said just so thorough!!

Kim

From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of rgrprop

Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008

11:10 PM

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject:

Re: Introduction

One thing Dr. made very clear to me right

from the start was

that it was going to take time to get better, I had to follow the

regimen, and I'd better be prepared and committed. He did this in a

very kind and sincere way, but was very serious. I said, OK I'm

ready. So far, I've progressed exactly like he's said.

It takes a lot of time to recover from being so sick. Many things

must be treated properly at the same time, and there must be plenty

of time between evaluations to see how all the " gears " have started

to mesh. We read of too many physicians on this board who are testing

too quickly, like every few weeks, after meds are adjusted. Folks can

swing wildly as one isolated thing after another is adjusted, rather

than a slow, complete balancing and adjustment of all things

together. If your friend has doctor-hopped looking for a fast

turnaround of her health, she's going to be constantly disappointed.

If you choose to go with Dr. , you have to do what he says

and be prepared to spend the time to get well. As his wife says about

what he tells everyone, " I don't make up the rules. The rules are the

rules. " He's got a biochemistry background and he's done research in

hormones. He knows what it takes to get well. No quick fixes.

*climbs down off soapbox*

Sara

> > > > Kate,

> > > > I am sorry to say I disagree. Dr. Hotze and company run the

> > > standard

> > > > blood tests but don't put much weight on them - they prefer

to look

> > > > at symptoms. On my first visit, I left with 7 perscriptions

(Armour

> > > > Thyroid, HC, Pregnenolone, Testosterone, Progesterone,

DHEA,

> > > > Nystatin, Dyflucan)! They did not have any test results to

go

by,

> > > > just based on how I felt. I have been on the HC for 18

months. When

> > > > I called because I was still having a lot of anxiety, they

would

> > & g t; > suggest supplements. I tried them and didn't really

notice a

> > > > difference. When I hurt my back and called them to see what

to do

> > > > about anti-inflammatories, they suggested increasing

HC a

little

> > > and

> > > > suggested 2 supplements. I noticed when I increased the HC,

I

felt

> > > a

> > > > little calmer. So on my own, I increased it a little more

and

felt

> > > a

> > > > litle more calm. I called and told them and they were

stumped

and

> > > > said that my doctor doesn't like to increase HC! I

mentioned

that I

> > > > could then increase my Armour Thyroid whereas when I was on

the

> > > > lowest dosage of HC, I could not. Again, stumped! When the

HC

> > > > started bothering my stomach (their information did not say

to take

> > > > with food and they verbally told me to take all hormones on

an

> > > empty

> > > > stomach!), they said to decrease the dosage by 2.5 mg and

take

> > > > Prilosec. They gav! e me an RX for blood work to check T3,

T4,

> > > > ferritin etc. and I confirmed they were sent the results.

When I

> > > > called, they said he would call me to discuss the results

in

2

> > > weeks

> > > > and I never heard back! Hence, I am looking for a new (not

so

> > > > pricey!) doctor. I so don't like to say bad things about

HHWC

> > > > because they do help people but they don't seem to

understand

the

> > > > root problems of adrenals and thyroid and how to fine-tune.

> > > >

> > > > My ferritin is low: 25 (10-232) and my Free T3 is high 603

(230-

> > > > 420). WOuld you know wht that means?

> > > >

> > > > I had a spectracell test done through a local chiro and my

B12 is

> > > > fine though my zinc and B2 were low. My D was in range.

> > > >

> > > > Tina!

> > ; > ---------------------------------

> > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo!

Mobile. Try it

now.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Are these basal temps taken first thing in

the morning before moving around or your temps during the day?

From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of Tina Chapek

Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008

3:28 PM

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject:

Re: Introduction

Jan,

Thank you for the insight.

No, I didn't take anything before hand - it was a fasting test.

T4, Free: 1.5 (0.8 - 1.8)

T3 Uptake: 32 (22-35)

T4 (thyroxine) Total: 9.6 (4.5 - 12.5)

Free T4 Index (T7): 3.1 (1.4 - 3.8)

T3, Free: 603 (230 - 420)

T3 Reverse: 31 (11 - 32)

Can beet root powder provide ferritin (iron?)?

Interesting enough, my temps have been on the higher side, close to

98.4/98.6. Have only averaged them for 2 days now so need more data

but they are higher than normal, yay!

Thanks so much,

Tina

>

> Putting you on all of those hormones without first testing is a

huge red flag. Testosterone in particular is a huge red flag. It is a

listed controlled substance. The doc could lose his

license. . . . .if he were not politically very well-connected. For

thyroid, looking beyond the test results with good documentation,

will fly. I am not sure that this extends to testosterone.

>

> From a purely practical point of view, many hypo/hashi folks have

difficulty tolerating a variety of hormones and supplements that they

need. So, it is foolhardy to start them on a full protocol.

>

> Most folks need their ferritin between 50 and 100 or more to even

start feeling well. Low ferritin can impact your ability to tolerate

thyroid hormone. The solution is iron supplements and lots of mooo,

oink, ba-a-a-a, and Cluck-Pikaw! Chelated ferrous bisglycinate such

as Solgar Gentle Iron is easier on the stomach than some others.

>

> If he failed to flag your ferritin below 50, he flat dropped the

ball.

>

> As for the Free T3, did you take your meds before the blood draw?

If so, how long before? What was your Free T4?

>

> Your report confirms what I have said when asked about Hotze, " I

know of docs who will help you more and charge you less. "

>

>

[Guest guest]

Amen about the MSG - I get wired and can't sleep if it slips in via

Chinese food or some other source.

> > > > > Kate,

> > > > > I am sorry to say I disagree. Dr. Hotze and company run the

> > > > standard

> > > > > blood tests but don't put much weight on them - they prefer

> to look

> > > > > at symptoms. On my first visit, I left with 7 perscriptions

> (Armour

> > > > > Thyroid, HC, Pregnenolone, Testosterone, Progesterone,

DHEA,

> > > > > Nystatin, Dyflucan)! They did not have any test results to

go

> by,

> > > > > just based on how I felt. I have been on the HC for 18

> months. When

> > > > > I called because I was still having a lot of anxiety, they

> would

> > > & g t; > suggest supplements. I tried them and didn't really

> notice a

> > > > > difference. When I hurt my back and called them to see what

> to do

> > > > > about anti-inflammatories, they suggested increasing HC a

> little

> > > > and

> > > > > suggested 2 supplements. I noticed when I increased the HC,

I

> felt

> > > > a

> > > > > little calmer. So on my own, I increased it a little more

and

> felt

> > > > a

> > > > > litle more calm. I called and told them and they were

stumped

> and

> > > > > said that my doctor doesn't like to increase HC! I

mentioned

> that I

> > > > > could then increase my Armour Thyroid whereas when I was on

> the

> > > > > lowest dosage of HC, I could not. Again, stumped! When the

HC

> > > > > started bothering my stomach (their information did not say

> to take

> > > > > with food and they verbally told me to take all hormones on

> an

> > > > empty

> > > > > stomach!), they said to decrease the dosage by 2.5 mg and

> take

> > > > > Prilosec. They gav! e me an RX for blood work to check T3,

> T4,

> > > > > ferritin etc. and I confirmed they were sent the results.

> When I

> > > > > called, they said he would call me to discuss the results

in

> 2

> > > > weeks

> > > > > and I never heard back! Hence, I am looking for a new (not

so

> > > > > pricey!) doctor. I so don't like to say bad things about

HHWC

> > > > > because they do help people but they don't seem to

understand

> the

> > > > > root problems of adrenals and thyroid and how to fine-tune.

> > > > >

> > > > > My ferritin is low: 25 (10-232) and my Free T3 is high 603

> (230-

> > > > > 420). WOuld you know wht that means?

> > > > >

> > > > > I had a spectracell test done through a local chiro and my

> B12 is

> > > > > fine though my zinc and B2 were low. My D was in range.

> > > > >

> > > > > Tina!

> > > ; > ---------------------------------

> > > > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo!

> Mobile. Try it now.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>