Introduction

[Guest guest]

Ahhhh, the wonderful up and down thing with Hashimoto's! We just love the confusion of it. If the gland never gets eaten alive by the antibodies, then it goes on a roller coaster ride for yrs to come (encouraging huh?). I take Armour, and I news on the Thyrolar from Forest Pharmaceuticals is that production won't be into full swing again until sometime in the fall because of a change of some sort in production methods. I made the change to the Armour myself a yr ago, the end of this month. I have Hashi's too, and my antibodies are in the thousands, so they may have been pummeling away at my thyroid for yrs and me not knowing it until around 6 months ago, when I finally ordered my own labs and tested it myself. I was on Synthroid, then Levoxyl for 10 yrs before that, getting sicker and sicker. I never quit my job, just kept going like a robot. It was about 4 yrs ago that I started getting ill, though I'd done fine on the synthetic treatment for a few yrs before that. I'll never know how high the antibodies got before that, as I was rather ignorant about that part of it until a couple of yrs ago. I worked on doing my own investigation for the last 3 to 4 yrs, then started seeking support on various thyroid group sites, and it has has been astounding at what help I've gotten from the Groups, including this one. It is very rare when someone does not need thyroid hormone for the rest of their lives with this disease because the antibodies are formed to thyroid and they continue to destroy it until they accomplish their goal. All the various forms of thyroid diseases have come from various breaks in different chromosomes, as an accident waiting to happen, brought into being by various physical, emotional, and mental stressors, EBV being one of them. It is also quite common to go into adrenal fatigue or exhaustion, particularly when life stressors have been very heavy and the thyroid disease has been very chronic. It's sort of one of those things where it's which came first, the chicken or the egg. That's why all the inserts on various thyroid meds always say that, before thryoid treatment, have the adrenal glands checked to see if that could be at the bottom of it being brought into being. They believe that, when the antibodies are formed, viruses, stressors, pollutants, mercury, and other chemical sensitivities may be responsitble. There are so many angles to this, I would think it might be impossible to figure out exactly how we "came down" with it. I still don't feel completely well, and feel worse sometimes than at other times, but I would probably be dead, if I hadn't gone and started my own treatment, as the doctors in my area just don't know enough about how to treat it, and I have no insurance either, so that's another cause of that. I do some people who have good doctors, but it seems that the ones who feel their best have had a doctor who not only puts them on natural dessicated thyroid, but also balances the other hormones and substances, like all the adrenal things, with the female hormones and testosterone, cortisol, DHEA, progesterone, estrogens, and the like, plus a good diet and supplements. Some people have more trouble converting T4 to T3 than others, then other people can convert it, but the antibodies in the blood can keep the T3 from entering the cells and working properly. If the thyroid hormone is blocked at the receptors at the entrance to the cells, it floats around in the bloodstream, unused. Thus, the false thyroid hormone lab readings, of a higher Free T3, and the Free T4, in this case, is usually lower than it. My labs show a suppressed TSH, at .005, a Free T4 between the mid to upper range, and a Free T3 just over the top of normal. I have to take them with a grain of salt though, because of the very high antibodies of Hashi's, both antithyroglobulin and antithyroidperoxidase. I've recently gotten some info that says that, because I have both major antibodies, I may also have had Graves Disease. That would fit, because I had such a prolonged period of time where I was hyperthyroid, eating anything I wanted to, but very skinny, nervous, and bipolar, at that time for several yrs. Meanwhile, I had doctors diagnosing me with everything except the right thing, feeding me tranquilizers, antidepressants, and the like, without ever running any of the thyroid tests on me. The story is more detailed and longer than that, so I'll stop here. The vitamins you may want to take are the antioxidants, plenty of the B vitamins, especially more than usual of B5, B6, B12, folic acid, and selenium (for conversion of T4 to T3). There are many more, but I can't think of them at this moment. Oh yes, never take your iron with thyroid meds, take it 4 hrs apart. Same applies to calcium. Take thyroid meds one hr before eating, or 2 to 4 hrs after eating. Armour can be taken sublingually, so it's not as much of a problem for this.

Introduction

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the group, and it was suggested that once a person joins an introduction should be made.

Well, I don't want to overwhelm anyone with my laundry list of maladies, but I'm happy to provide a brief rundown on how I arrived at a diagnosis of Hashimoto's.

I'm 40 years old next Friday. I was looking forward to this birthday several months ago. Things are looking less exciting now. :0/

At any rate, I was very active when I was younger. I played tennis regularly, rode my bike everywhere, and was into body building for a period.

At the age of 27 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis after undergoing a knee surgery. I began gold treatments and Feldene.

At that time, I was barely able to walk and even touch my face with my hands... the joints most affected were knees and elbows.

My days of playing tennis were over.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Suzy! Great intro, thanks!

There are a few others here with RA too. My dad

has it too. Interesting about the Methotrexate. I

know he took/takes that. How are you feeling

now that you don't take that or the Prednisone?

One doctor (holistic) said that EBV (Epstein-Barr

Virus, right?) can cause Hashimotos. And Candida,

which mentioned before. I can't find that

reference from him though, I just did a search...

it's Dr. Langer. Maybe he threw that

theory out.

My former Western medicine GP who missed my

thyroid diagnosis until I was in the hospital told

me that EBV is quote " crap. " In other words, it

doesn't exist, it's never been proven. I haven't

researched much more on it since then.. of

course, I don't have much faith in her either.

Anyway, a hearty welcome to you! I admire your

determination and am looking forward to hearing

more about your holistic therapies.

~

> Hello everyone!

>

> I'm new to the group, and it was suggested that once a person joins an

> introduction should be made.

> Well, I don't want to overwhelm anyone with my laundry list of

> maladies, but I'm happy to provide a brief rundown on how I arrived at

> a diagnosis of Hashimoto's.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , I'm in NYC too and am so happy you found care

you're happy with. Who are you seeing?

-Hillary

---- Original message ----

>Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 08:54:33 -0700

>

>Subject: introduction

>To: <Thyroiditis >

>

> Hello. I am new to this group. I have Hashimoto's

> Disease and am taking 72

> mcg/day of sythroid. I discovered that I have

> thryroid disease while trying

> to get pregnant. Despite a TSH of 6 and my

> complaints of a tight throat (it

> felt like I was wearing a turtle neck) my doctors

> didn't diagnose me or send

> me to an endocrinologist for quite a while. After

> the third visit within a

> year complaining about my throat when I finally

> asked the doctor to PLEASE

> feel my throat he said, " Oh, your thyroid is quite

> enlarged. " A visit to

> the endocrynologist quickly gave me the diagnosis of

> Hashimoto's Disease.

>

> I have been on a gluten free diet even before the

> diagnosis. I figured out

> that I was allergic to gluten a few years earlier.

> Avoiding it made me feel

> much better.

>

> I think that I my Hashimoto's Disease began as

> Graves disease a number of

> years ago. I lost a lot of weight and had trouble

> sleeping for a while. I

> now have trouble loosing weight and though I am not

> over weight, I am

> bothered by a few extra pounds that I cannot drop.

>

> I am 40 years old. I live in New York City with my

> husband and our newly

> adopted daughter originally from China who is now 16

> months old. My husband

> and I are both artists.

>

> I am happy to be part of this group.

>

>

>

> *Note: Information is freely exchanged on this board

> based on patient experiences, and should not be

> considered a medical recommendation.

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Cammie,

I thought I might recommend a great book about thyroid disorders that

I have been reading. It is called the Thyroid Solution by Ridha

Arhem, MD. There is a chapter dedicated to the effects of thyroid

disorders on other problems like Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome. I am still going through everything, as far as trying to

find a doctor to treat me and what not. I have officially as of last

week been diagnosed with Hashimoto's and now Polycycstic Ovarian

Syndrome. My GYN thought it was highly unlikely that I had PCOS

because of my very regular mentrual cycles, but after an ovarian

untrasound there were a number of cyscts found in my left ovary. As

far as the Hashimoto's disease goes, I have all the symptoms of being

hypothyroid, but my tests show that presently I am euthyroid. I am

trying to find a doctor who will treat my thyroid, at least

empirically. Any how, this book has given me a ton of insight into

the function of the thryroid, not only the effects of thyroid

imbalance on the body, but what it does to your mental state as well.

I had no I dea that the state of depression I has in could be related

to the thyroid. Reading this book has given me a slew of things to

discuss with my doctor, and some more options on tests that he can do

in order to find if I have at least low grade hypothyroidism.

Hopefully you get the book, and find it helpful to you. Have a good

weekend.

Scharisse

> Hi, I'm Cammie. I am new to this. I am a 56 year old woman. I have

just

> seen my endo once and had tests run, but have not yet gone back for

> results. I do have questions maybe someone here could answer. I

picked

> copies of my test results. I have a mildly small thyroid gland with

> small nodules on the right and left lobe and a 1cm hypoechoic

nodual in

> the right aspect of the isthmus. My thyroglobulin was high, 64.7.

> Otherwise I think the tests fell into the normal range. I have been

> diagnoised with Fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,

I

> have no engergy, have gained alot of weight and hurt all over.

> If anyone here could help me understand what all this means I'd be

> grateful. Thanks, Cammie

[Guest guest]

BTW.. I forgot to mention that it also dicusses high colesterol in

relation to thyroid disorders and a ton of other stuff. I wish I

knew about this book when I started this journey. Take care!

> > Hi, I'm Cammie. I am new to this. I am a 56 year old woman. I

have

> just

> > seen my endo once and had tests run, but have not yet gone back

for

> > results. I do have questions maybe someone here could answer. I

> picked

> > copies of my test results. I have a mildly small thyroid gland

with

> > small nodules on the right and left lobe and a 1cm hypoechoic

> nodual in

> > the right aspect of the isthmus. My thyroglobulin was high,

64.7.

> > Otherwise I think the tests fell into the normal range. I have

been

> > diagnoised with Fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, high

cholesterol,

> I

> > have no engergy, have gained alot of weight and hurt all over.

> > If anyone here could help me understand what all this means I'd

be

> > grateful. Thanks, Cammie

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome, a.

No, that definitely does not sound right!! A TSH of 6.02

with an enlarged thyroid? What exactly is this doc waiting

for? I would bet your T4 is on the low side too. Pulling you

off your meds with no reason is rather reckless, IMHO. I'd

find a new doctor for sure. Sometimes we have trouble on

this list because we have symptoms and normal labs, but

you have symptoms and clearly hypo labs?? This isn't a

controversial thing.

By the way, you also have a right to a copy of all your tests.

I always insist on mine.

~

>

> Hello everyone! I'm new and decided to post an introduction.

>

> I'm 25 years old and was just diagnosed with Hashi's this week. I've

> been hypo for about five years now, but it has always been easily

> controlled with a small dose of synthroid. Unfortunately, last year I

> selected an HMO for my medical plan and they were less than helpful

> with the whole thyroid thing, and they ended up pulling me completely

> off my meds.

[Guest guest]

Hello there

I just joined and wish to do an introduction and because of what the

group is based on, I reckon I'll just tell you about my disease.

I'm 52 years old, overweight, diabetic, and I am on beta-blockers with

a diuretic.

I was told I had asthma once when I was a kid and went to the ER but

was never on treatment for it.

I've never smoked but do have GERD and I think they affects my asthma.

I'd had some problems since around July and kept puttine them off and

dealing with them only when they came along. I managed okay until the

morning of November 9, when I woke up wheezing like I never remember

wheezing before. I couldn't hardly breathe and couldn't take a deep

breath, etc. I went to the immediate care clinic that day and the

doctor said I had allergies. She prescribed Allegra and I told her

Allegra never seemed to help me but Zyrtec did. She wasn't impressed

and didn't change the script. Oh yeah, I had been taking guafenesin

the expectorant to loosen up mucus but it didn't seem to help. I

never saw mucus, I just heard it in the noise from my throat when I

would lay down. At least, I thought it was mucus.

I've been to another doctor twice since then. At first he put me on

Avanex but I was back in a week because it didn't seem to help. He

gave me one of those spirometer tests and said I wasn't any better

than the first time. Well, duh. This time he gave me Singulair,

Albuterol, and Symbicort. I didn't take the Symbicort for about a

week because I'm petrified of drugs with black box warnings and though

Symbicort itself doesn't have a warning like that, it contains

Fometerol which does. And the instructions talked about the people

dying in some large study, and then a Cordell-Hull piece said 90% of

asthma deaths are because of the medicine, and then the FDA came out

against Serivent and that other one. So I waited then decided to take

the Symbicort.

I can't tell any of this is helping much. They seems to help then all

of a sudden it seemed I was back where I began. Some things have

changed but I am still out of breath after a few steps.

I will tell you more and ask questions later.

I am VERY GLAD you folks are here. It looks like an active, helpful

group.

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group Nogjog. This is a real informative group. I love it here.

Cheryl Burton ncicheryl@...

To: asthma Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 7:28:52 AMSubject: Introduction

Hello thereI just joined and wish to do an introduction and because of what thegroup is based on, I reckon I'll just tell you about my disease.I'm 52 years old, overweight, diabetic, and I am on beta-blockers witha diuretic.I was told I had asthma once when I was a kid and went to the ER butwas never on treatment for it.I've never smoked but do have GERD and I think they affects my asthma.I'd had some problems since around July and kept puttine them off anddealing with them only when they came along. I managed okay until themorning of November 9, when I woke up wheezing like I never rememberwheezing before. I couldn't hardly breathe and couldn't take a deepbreath, etc. I went to the immediate care clinic that day and thedoctor said I had allergies. She prescribed Allegra and I told herAllegra never seemed to help me but Zyrtec did. She wasn't impressedand didn't change the

script. Oh yeah, I had been taking guafenesinthe expectorant to loosen up mucus but it didn't seem to help. Inever saw mucus, I just heard it in the noise from my throat when Iwould lay down. At least, I thought it was mucus.I've been to another doctor twice since then. At first he put me onAvanex but I was back in a week because it didn't seem to help. Hegave me one of those spirometer tests and said I wasn't any betterthan the first time. Well, duh. This time he gave me Singulair,Albuterol, and Symbicort. I didn't take the Symbicort for about aweek because I'm petrified of drugs with black box warnings and thoughSymbicort itself doesn't have a warning like that, it containsFometerol which does. And the instructions talked about the peopledying in some large study, and then a Cordell-Hull piece said 90% ofasthma deaths are because of the medicine, and then the FDA came outagainst Serivent and

that other one. So I waited then decided to takethe Symbicort.I can't tell any of this is helping much. They seems to help then allof a sudden it seemed I was back where I began. Some things havechanged but I am still out of breath after a few steps. I will tell you more and ask questions later.I am VERY GLAD you folks are here. It looks like an active, helpfulgroup.

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome. I think we can all relate to what you are going

through and your frustration with doctors. IMO you should be on

prednisone right now to get you breathing asap, and start nebulizer

treatments. Honestly I would probably be going to the ER if I were

you. It sounds like you may have seen an allergist but maybe you

should try seeing a pulmonologist for a different perspective on your

asthma.

GL and feel better,

>

> Hello there

>

> I just joined and wish to do an introduction and because of what the

> group is based on, I reckon I'll just tell you about my disease.

>

> I'm 52 years old, overweight, diabetic, and I am on beta-blockers with

> a diuretic.

>

> I was told I had asthma once when I was a kid and went to the ER but

> was never on treatment for it.

>

> I've never smoked but do have GERD and I think they affects my asthma.

>

> I'd had some problems since around July and kept puttine them off and

> dealing with them only when they came along. I managed okay until the

> morning of November 9, when I woke up wheezing like I never remember

> wheezing before. I couldn't hardly breathe and couldn't take a deep

> breath, etc. I went to the immediate care clinic that day and the

> doctor said I had allergies. She prescribed Allegra and I told her

> Allegra never seemed to help me but Zyrtec did. She wasn't impressed

> and didn't change the script. Oh yeah, I had been taking guafenesin

> the expectorant to loosen up mucus but it didn't seem to help. I

> never saw mucus, I just heard it in the noise from my throat when I

> would lay down. At least, I thought it was mucus.

>

> I've been to another doctor twice since then. At first he put me on

> Avanex but I was back in a week because it didn't seem to help. He

> gave me one of those spirometer tests and said I wasn't any better

> than the first time. Well, duh. This time he gave me Singulair,

> Albuterol, and Symbicort. I didn't take the Symbicort for about a

> week because I'm petrified of drugs with black box warnings and though

> Symbicort itself doesn't have a warning like that, it contains

> Fometerol which does. And the instructions talked about the people

> dying in some large study, and then a Cordell-Hull piece said 90% of

> asthma deaths are because of the medicine, and then the FDA came out

> against Serivent and that other one. So I waited then decided to take

> the Symbicort.

>

> I can't tell any of this is helping much. They seems to help then all

> of a sudden it seemed I was back where I began. Some things have

> changed but I am still out of breath after a few steps.

>

> I will tell you more and ask questions later.

>

> I am VERY GLAD you folks are here. It looks like an active, helpful

> group.

>