New To Group, Thinking of Switching from Endo (nick) to GP (DeVries)

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I'm glad to find this group. I was diagnosed w/ Hashi's several years

ago. Switched from completely clueless endo (Emilia Popa in Dallas,

oh, stay away...!) to Dr. nick in Dallas, who said he

treated by symptoms as well as #s initially and used T3 but after a

while I'm wondering if he may a bit too conservative for me. (And I

understand the importance of watching bone density, since I'm

borderline osteoporotic, but what good is all that bone density if you

can't get off the couch?!)

First question: He just switched me to Armor last week (90 mg from 137

mcg Synthroid) and I've had a couple of good days and some not so

great ones. I know T3 has a very short half-life but that it takes

several weeks for stuff to show up in your bloodwork (is that TSH

mostly?). I remember when I started Synthroid for the first time

feeling really great for 2-3 days during the adjustment period. If

Armor is going to work for me, should I know it within a few days or

does it sometimes take weeks? (I'm splitting my dose am & afternoon.)

I kinda don't want to wait until our next scheduled visit to tackle

this if it's already clear 90mg of Armor isn't going to do it for me.

Feel like I've already wasted so much time feeling crappy lately.

Second question: I had two sizable nodules when I began treatment w/

Dr. nick and they have shrunk considerably with the Synthroid (TSH

currently 0.62). Now that cancer has been ruled out, do I still need

an endo. to follow b/c of the nodules or can I switch to a GP?

Last question (sorry this is so long!): In considering a new doctor

(or a new, more specific agreement w/ nick), do y'all think this

would be a good set of treatment goals to present to a Dr.?

- rule out (or treat for) anemia (by checking ferratin)

- rule out (or treat for) adrenal insufficiency (by 24 hr. saliva or

urine cortisol)

- be open to using T3

- regularly run FT3 and FT4 (currently nick runs FT4 and totT3 and

TSH)

- having done these things, treat primarily according to symptoms

until *I* say I feel well, keeping in mind of course my age,

reasonable expectations, the balance between undertreating and risking

bone loss/heart damage, etc. (assuming I'm also eating well,

exercising, all that stuff).

Thanks so much!!!!

Gail

(Dallas)