Re: Confused after Endo Appt Today

[Guest guest]

My initial reaction is... Why was she on the good list?I am SURE Val and Nick would have something to say about this!There are many things I would like to comment on, but I know Val and Nick will do it better than me, so I won't say anything.:-)T.

 

Saw Mattison, MN endo listed on the "good docs" file for NTH. Although she was very open minded, took me seriously, treated me with respect, and ordered all the labs I asked for, (including RT3 which she seemed to know a fair amount about), she pointed out several things I did not know and I'm a bit worried now. I will post my concerns, and I'm sure it will get long, but hopefully Nick or Val or someone can help answer some of my questions.

First, she said that when you are taking either hydrocortisone or thyroid (and in my case both so it's a "double whammy" as she put it), you have to be concerned about bone loss. I'm only 30 and also have only been taking these meds for a year/year-and- a-half, she sounded very concerned about this. She also said if you take thyroid too long and get too far into the "hyper" spectrum, you are at increased risk for hair loss (which I thought was more hypo), heart failure (very scary), and arrythmias which can lead to stroke. She said these are the "silent symptoms" that we don't know are happening even if we feel great.

I told her I'm not planning to be on HC forever, but the thyroid I probably would have to, and she seemed to be VERY concerned that I was taking 4 1/2 grains of it. I told her I worked up to it very gradually (over the course of a year) and that I was only taking that much because I still had many hypo symptoms. I said that was why I started looking in to RT3 and she had definitely heard about the RT3 issue, but it doesn't sound like she would prescribe something like Cytomel because she said we need T4 in our meds too. In fact, she said the reason so many docs prescribe T4 only meds is because the ratio in them of T4 to T3 is 90% to 10% and that dessicated thyroids like Armour or Thyroid-S mimic the pig ratio which is 75% to 25%. Does that make sense to you? If she is right, why would any of us take anything other than Synthroid? Also, am I doing some real harm to myself by taking 4 1/2 grains? Since she has never heard of Thyroid-S, it sounds

like she would put me on Armour (which is regulated as she reminds me) and would lower my dosage a lot.

She also went over her further concerns about me taking a steroid (especially during pregnancy which I hope will happen in 2010), and how I will need to take 3-6 months to wean off of it, and I had heard only 2 weeks on this board. And what if I need it during pregnancy, will it harm the baby? She did remind me that I should have a medic-alert bracelet on since if I got in a car accident or something I would not survive without the HC. That's scary. Oh, she also said how basically my thyroid and adrenals are both "asleep" right now because of the fact that I am taking so much in through meds (30mg HC and 4 1/2 grains Thyroid-S) that it will be hard to "wake them up."

Now I'm more confused than ever. Help please!

 

Amy

[Guest guest]

Hehe, sounds like me. Sometimes my hubby has to just remind me to keep my mouth

shut even though he knows I have many opinions on things, and let the other

people do the talking for a change.

I would still love to know your opinions if you would like to give them! I will

check in later on. I have to leave for church choir practice now.

Amy

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> Saw Mattison, MN endo listed on the " good docs " file for NTH.

Although she was very open minded, took me seriously, treated me with respect,

and ordered all the labs I asked for, (including RT3 which she seemed to know a

fair amount about), she pointed out several things I did not know and I'm a bit

worried now. I will post my concerns, and I'm sure it will get long, but

hopefully Nick or Val or someone can help answer some of my questions.

>

>

>

> First, she said that when you are taking either hydrocortisone or thyroid (and

in my case both so it's a " double whammy " as she put it), you have to be

concerned about bone loss. I'm only 30 and also have only been taking these

meds for a year/year-and- a-half, she sounded very concerned about this. She

also said if you take thyroid too long and get too far into the " hyper "

spectrum, you are at increased risk for hair loss (which I thought was more

hypo), heart failure (very scary), and arrythmias which can lead to stroke. She

said these are the " silent symptoms " that we don't know are happening even if we

feel great.

>

>

>

> I told her I'm not planning to be on HC forever, but the thyroid I probably

would have to, and she seemed to be VERY concerned that I was taking 4 1/2

grains of it. I told her I worked up to it very gradually (over the course of a

year) and that I was only taking that much because I still had many hypo

symptoms. I said that was why I started looking in to RT3 and she had

definitely heard about the RT3 issue, but it doesn't sound like she would

prescribe something like Cytomel because she said we need T4 in our meds too.

In fact, she said the reason so many docs prescribe T4 only meds is because the

ratio in them of T4 to T3 is 90% to 10% and that dessicated thyroids like Armour

or Thyroid-S mimic the pig ratio which is 75% to 25%. Does that make sense to

you? If she is right, why would any of us take anything other than Synthroid?

Also, am I doing some real harm to myself by taking 4 1/2 grains? Since she has

never heard of Thyroid-S, it sounds

> like she would put me on Armour (which is regulated as she reminds me) and

would lower my dosage a lot.

>

>

>

> She also went over her further concerns about me taking a steroid (especially

during pregnancy which I hope will happen in 2010), and how I will need to take

3-6 months to wean off of it, and I had heard only 2 weeks on this board. And

what if I need it during pregnancy, will it harm the baby? She did remind me

that I should have a medic-alert bracelet on since if I got in a car accident or

something I would not survive without the HC. That's scary. Oh, she also said

how basically my thyroid and adrenals are both " asleep " right now because of the

fact that I am taking so much in through meds (30mg HC and 4 1/2 grains

Thyroid-S) that it will be hard to " wake them up. "

>

>

>

> Now I'm more confused than ever. Help please!

>

>

>  

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, and she did agree to test my ferretin, which I have never had tested, so

that part is good, but she couldn't test my sex hormones because my cycles are

always irregular and I haven't had mine now for 6 weeks, so she said she would

have no way of knowing what the labs mean. She's probably right on that. I

stopped taking BC last June because I know it's not good for me (I had many

estrogen-dominance symptoms and also my mom was diagnosed with estrogen-dominant

breast cancer a year ago). I don't think I'm pregnant though... I think it's

just further proof that my hormones are out of whack! I really want to get that

aspect of all of this straightened out so that when my hubby and I ARE ready to

have kids we actually have a chance.

Amy

>

> Saw Mattison, MN endo listed on the " good docs " file for NTH.

Although she was very open minded, took me seriously, treated me with respect,

and ordered all the labs I asked for, (including RT3 which she seemed to know a

fair amount about), she pointed out several things I did not know and I'm a bit

worried now. I will post my concerns, and I'm sure it will get long, but

hopefully Nick or Val or someone can help answer some of my questions.

>

> First, she said that when you are taking either hydrocortisone or thyroid (and

in my case both so it's a " double whammy " as she put it), you have to be

concerned about bone loss. I'm only 30 and also have only been taking these

meds for a year/year-and-a-half, she sounded very concerned about this. She

also said if you take thyroid too long and get too far into the " hyper "

spectrum, you are at increased risk for hair loss (which I thought was more

hypo), heart failure (very scary), and arrythmias which can lead to stroke. She

said these are the " silent symptoms " that we don't know are happening even if we

feel great.

>

> I told her I'm not planning to be on HC forever, but the thyroid I probably

would have to, and she seemed to be VERY concerned that I was taking 4 1/2

grains of it. I told her I worked up to it very gradually (over the course of a

year) and that I was only taking that much because I still had many hypo

symptoms. I said that was why I started looking in to RT3 and she had

definitely heard about the RT3 issue, but it doesn't sound like she would

prescribe something like Cytomel because she said we need T4 in our meds too.

In fact, she said the reason so many docs prescribe T4 only meds is because the

ratio in them of T4 to T3 is 90% to 10% and that dessicated thyroids like Armour

or Thyroid-S mimic the pig ratio which is 75% to 25%. Does that make sense to

you? If she is right, why would any of us take anything other than Synthroid?

Also, am I doing some real harm to myself by taking 4 1/2 grains? Since she has

never heard of Thyroid-S, it sounds like she would put me on Armour (which is

regulated as she reminds me) and would lower my dosage a lot.

>

> She also went over her further concerns about me taking a steroid (especially

during pregnancy which I hope will happen in 2010), and how I will need to take

3-6 months to wean off of it, and I had heard only 2 weeks on this board. And

what if I need it during pregnancy, will it harm the baby? She did remind me

that I should have a medic-alert bracelet on since if I got in a car accident or

something I would not survive without the HC. That's scary. Oh, she also said

how basically my thyroid and adrenals are both " asleep " right now because of the

fact that I am taking so much in through meds (30mg HC and 4 1/2 grains

Thyroid-S) that it will be hard to " wake them up. "

>

> Now I'm more confused than ever. Help please!

>

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

> First, she said that when you are taking either hydrocortisone or thyroid (and

in my case both so it's a " double whammy " as she put it), you have to be

concerned about bone loss. I'm only 30 and also have only been taking these

meds for a year/year-and- a-half, she sounded very concerned about this. She

also said if you take thyroid too long and get too far into the " hyper "

spectrum, you are at increased risk for hair loss (which I thought was more

hypo), heart failure (very scary), and arrythmias which can lead to stroke. She

said these are the " silent symptoms " that we don't know are happening even if we

feel great.

That is B*llSH*T about thyroid meds causing bone loss. Do normal, healthy people

with good levels of thyroid hormones have bone loss?? GRHH!! If you go to

drlowe.com and type in osteoporosi, you'll get a good take on this one!

HC only causes bone loss if you take more than your body would normally make.

Something to do with calcium being dumped in urine or somethign like that. There

IS an issue that when one takes HC, you DO lower your own adrenal output a bit,

which lowers testosterone and THAT is more likely what causes bone loss in some

people But you can easily take care of this by using topical testo gel.

>

> I told her I'm not planning to be on HC forever, but the thyroid I probably

would have to, and she seemed to be VERY concerned that I was taking 4 1/2

grains of it. I told her I worked up to it very gradually (over the course of a

year) and that I was only taking that much because I still had many hypo

symptoms. I said that was why I started looking in to RT3 and she had

definitely heard about the RT3 issue, but it doesn't sound like she would

prescribe something like Cytomel because she said we need T4 in our meds too.

In fact, she said the reason so many docs prescribe T4 only meds is because the

ratio in them of T4 to T3 is 90% to 10% and that dessicated thyroids like Armour

or Thyroid-S mimic the pig ratio which is 75% to 25%. Does that make sense to

you? If she is right, why would any of us take anything other than Synthroid?

Also, am I doing some real harm to myself by taking 4 1/2 grains? Since she has

never heard of Thyroid-S, it sounds

> like she would put me on Armour (which is regulated as she reminds me) and

would lower my dosage a lot.

Again, you can allay a LOT of your fears (if not all) by going to drlowe.com. He

has a paper called a Critique on T3 Only Therapy or something to that effect

which addresses all these issues and explains why they are ALL incorrect!

If you feel good on this dose, don't let her change it. I would definitely not

see this doc again as she doesn't know much about thyroid. :-(

> She also went over her further concerns about me taking a steroid (especially

during pregnancy which I hope will happen in 2010), and how I will need to take

3-6 months to wean off of it, and I had heard only 2 weeks on this board. And

what if I need it during pregnancy, will it harm the baby? She did remind me

that I should have a medic-alert bracelet on since if I got in a car accident or

something I would not survive without the HC. That's scary. Oh, she also said

how basically my thyroid and adrenals are both " asleep " right now because of the

fact that I am taking so much in through meds (30mg HC and 4 1/2 grains

Thyroid-S) that it will be hard to " wake them up. "

Sigh. Get a copy of " Safe Uses of Cortisol. " Many of his patients took HC while

pregnant. I am pretty sure your body needs a lot of cortisol while pregnant and

taking what you NEED will not hurt anything and will likely help.

As for being on thyroid forever, uh, if you're hyp, you will be on meds forever,

it's a fact of life! Even if low cortisol isn't medically accepted,

hypothyroidism certainly is. What the heck is wrong with this doctor? Your

thyroid went to sleep on it's own or you wouldn't have started taking thyroids

meds in the first place, I'm sure!

About the bracelet, in gneral, we don't need them, but I've actually wondered

about that one becuase if our adrenals don't work well anyway, maybe they won't

make enough if we're in an accident. So I guess it wouldn't hurt by it's not

necessary like people with 's. Actually, I did get into a car accident

while on 20 mg HC and my adrenals certainly kicked in, i can tell you that, lol.

Felt better than I had in months! No low cortisol symptoms that night, that's

for sure!

Kathleen

[Guest guest]

bone loss is associated with high dose HC. Not the doses we take here.

You don't get hyper from taking thyroid for too long. That's dumb logic...do

diabetics getting cured by taking insulin? No.

Junk the endo..that's my vote. They usually live on misconceptions like these

that won't get you well.

I had an endo agree to give me Armour but he wanted to keep the dose so dern low

I felt like dog pile. And he kept badgering me to change to synthroid because

armour was bad.

It's not hard to wake up the glands...that's why you wean off these things if

and when you need to. I don't know if you should use HC during pregnancy or not,

but going into pregnancy with bad adrenals and a mis-regulated thyroid is a bad

idea. I now have a hypothyroid child because I carried her while hypothyroid and

untreated. You end up using the baby's hormones from their adrenals and thyroid

in the latter part of the pregnancy, and they are born with challenged glands.

So I'd check into that. If you can take them or not...etc. I know you can take

the thyroid hormone and should. Not sure about the HC.

yeah..Junk the endo

>

> Saw Mattison, MN endo listed on the " good docs " file for NTH.

Although she was very open minded, took me seriously, treated me with respect,

and ordered all the labs I asked for, (including RT3 which she seemed to know a

fair amount about), she pointed out several things I did not know and I'm a bit

worried now. I will post my concerns, and I'm sure it will get long, but

hopefully Nick or Val or someone can help answer some of my questions.

>

> First, she said that when you are taking either hydrocortisone or thyroid (and

in my case both so it's a " double whammy " as she put it), you have to be

concerned about bone loss. I'm only 30 and also have only been taking these

meds for a year/year-and-a-half, she sounded very concerned about this. She

also said if you take thyroid too long and get too far into the " hyper "

spectrum, you are at increased risk for hair loss (which I thought was more

hypo), heart failure (very scary), and arrythmias which can lead to stroke. She

said these are the " silent symptoms " that we don't know are happening even if we

feel great.

>

> I told her I'm not planning to be on HC forever, but the thyroid I probably

would have to, and she seemed to be VERY concerned that I was taking 4 1/2

grains of it. I told her I worked up to it very gradually (over the course of a

year) and that I was only taking that much because I still had many hypo

symptoms. I said that was why I started looking in to RT3 and she had

definitely heard about the RT3 issue, but it doesn't sound like she would

prescribe something like Cytomel because she said we need T4 in our meds too.

In fact, she said the reason so many docs prescribe T4 only meds is because the

ratio in them of T4 to T3 is 90% to 10% and that dessicated thyroids like Armour

or Thyroid-S mimic the pig ratio which is 75% to 25%. Does that make sense to

you? If she is right, why would any of us take anything other than Synthroid?

Also, am I doing some real harm to myself by taking 4 1/2 grains? Since she has

never heard of Thyroid-S, it sounds like she would put me on Armour (which is

regulated as she reminds me) and would lower my dosage a lot.

>

> She also went over her further concerns about me taking a steroid (especially

during pregnancy which I hope will happen in 2010), and how I will need to take

3-6 months to wean off of it, and I had heard only 2 weeks on this board. And

what if I need it during pregnancy, will it harm the baby? She did remind me

that I should have a medic-alert bracelet on since if I got in a car accident or

something I would not survive without the HC. That's scary. Oh, she also said

how basically my thyroid and adrenals are both " asleep " right now because of the

fact that I am taking so much in through meds (30mg HC and 4 1/2 grains

Thyroid-S) that it will be hard to " wake them up. "

>

> Now I'm more confused than ever. Help please!

>

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

1st of all,I don't think u should knock some ones doctor,its not

anyones place to do that. Second I think she is right! I am in

amazement at some of the doses of meds u r all on. I just learned the

hard way,yet again,as I lost 32 percent more of my bone,per dexta scan.

I had great improvement a year and a half back and turned things around

from my previouse scan which showed severe osteoporosis,I am 44. Well

that improvement happened with 30-45mgs of armour thyroid and vitamin

d. Now after being on cynomel for only 7 months,and only 25 to

37mcgs a day,I screwed myself! All the while my free t3 and t4s where

right where they should be. And a reverse t3 of 12,that I was working

on. Though I never went any higher than 37mcgs,I learned its not for my

body to push anything. I also stopped my lb loss since going on

cynomel. I was averaging 2lbs a month by just excersise. I would tell

anyone here,if u have any doughts,do a bone scan. Deb

--aliano

[Guest guest]

I did not knock her endo. If you read my reply I knocked my OWN endo and with

very very good reason. I did not give the entire details of my dealings with him

but beleive me....he deserves knocking.

And again..my own doc...or was...

She asked for an opinion of whether or not the endo she saw was correct with the

things she was saying. She isn't correct. That's my opinion. That's what I said.

To dump the endo..that is not slandering, name calling or " knocking " the endo.

It's merely saying this doctor is not giving you entirely truthful information

and you may need to look elsewhere for help. Obviously this is her choice.

Obviously you have your opinions and I have mine. That's what a discussion group

is for...discussing.

Jan

>

> 1st of all,I don't think u should knock some ones doctor,its not

> anyones place to do that. Second I think she is right! I am in

> amazement at some of the doses of meds u r all on. I just learned the

> hard way,yet again,as I lost 32 percent more of my bone,per dexta scan.

> I had great improvement a year and a half back and turned things around

> from my previouse scan which showed severe osteoporosis,I am 44. Well

> that improvement happened with 30-45mgs of armour thyroid and vitamin

> d. Now after being on cynomel for only 7 months,and only 25 to

> 37mcgs a day,I screwed myself! All the while my free t3 and t4s where

> right where they should be. And a reverse t3 of 12,that I was working

> on. Though I never went any higher than 37mcgs,I learned its not for my

> body to push anything. I also stopped my lb loss since going on

> cynomel. I was averaging 2lbs a month by just excersise. I would tell

> anyone here,if u have any doughts,do a bone scan. Deb

> --aliano

>

[Guest guest]

Yes this board allows opinions. And I do nto thnk it si fair to blame T3

treatment for bone loss. It could have been MANY htings and until I see

PROOF in a study which I have NOT seen I wil continue to say T3 onyl

treatment is VERY safe and effective. Apparently you did not listen to

the Stop the Thyroid Madnes Talk Shoe call in last week wher ewe

discussed long term use of T3 onyl treatment wiht Dr Lowe whom I

consider a formost expert in this treatment. He said it si safe to stay

on forever. And also the doses we are taking are NOT excessive, he takes

150mcg a day. HYPO will destroy your bones. And it is quite possible oyu

have underdosed T3 to cause this issue.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

[Guest guest]

Jan I wasn't reffering to u. Someone here who is not u,that harped

right on this. Again was not u. Deb

--aliano

[Guest guest]

Val I am all for t3,and dr lowe,however trust me I am not under dosed,

what caused this bone loss was being in the graves hyper state,that

swung into hashis hypo. I will continue with a small dose of

cynomel,however my issues is,I don't think everyone on this grp,needs

such large doses of cynomel to clear rt3 or for any reason. Some

do,some don't. I respectively do not agree with the large doses as a

one size fits all. It is not right for everyone,and can be

dangerouse. Deb

--aliano

[Guest guest]

Deb, I don't think everyone here *is* on a large dose. I am pretty sure that

many are on 50 less. But that doesn't mean that it's bad if a person does happen

to need a larger dose -- like Dr. Lowe's 150 mcg. He talks about tissue

resistance and that many needing larger doses is due to the tissues not

absorbing it properly, so their high blood values become meaningless. And if

you're in that situation, then it's not high in your tissues and not going to

hurt you, right? In your case, if you had Graves, then yes, it was getting into

your tissues and your thyroid levels were too high.

>

> Val I am all for t3,and dr lowe,however trust me I am not under dosed,

> what caused this bone loss was being in the graves hyper state,that

> swung into hashis hypo. I will continue with a small dose of

> cynomel,however my issues is,I don't think everyone on this grp,needs

> such large doses of cynomel to clear rt3 or for any reason. Some

> do,some don't. I respectively do not agree with the large doses as a

> one size fits all. It is not right for everyone,and can be

> dangerouse. Deb

> --aliano

>

[Guest guest]

Wel I agree not all need large doses but then that depends what you call

large. Some doctors thing 20mcg is a large T3 dose. I consider myself on

a large dose at 125mcg, seems most DO need around 75 -100mcg thogh to

feel well and overcome hypothyroid symptoms. By monitoring POULSE an

temps no one shoudl get into a dangerous hyperthyroid state on T3

medications. BUT that depends on how well and properly they are

monitoring their vitals.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

[Guest guest]

She did warn me about pulse and that it can start pulsing so fast that it can

cause heart failure or a stroke. My pulse today was 68. I think she said

something about 90 being too high.

She also ordered an ACTH test for my adrenals. Will that give me any useful

info or is that just a traditional doc's only way to test cortisol levels but

really it won't help...?

Amy

>

> Wel I agree not all need large doses but then that depends what you call

> large. Some doctors thing 20mcg is a large T3 dose. I consider myself on

> a large dose at 125mcg, seems most DO need around 75 -100mcg thogh to

> feel well and overcome hypothyroid symptoms. By monitoring POULSE an

> temps no one shoudl get into a dangerous hyperthyroid state on T3

> medications. BUT that depends on how well and properly they are

> monitoring their vitals.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

>

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

>

[Guest guest]

Oh and she said T3 does not cross the placenta... is that true?

Amy

>

> Wel I agree not all need large doses but then that depends what you call

> large. Some doctors thing 20mcg is a large T3 dose. I consider myself on

> a large dose at 125mcg, seems most DO need around 75 -100mcg thogh to

> feel well and overcome hypothyroid symptoms. By monitoring POULSE an

> temps no one shoudl get into a dangerous hyperthyroid state on T3

> medications. BUT that depends on how well and properly they are

> monitoring their vitals.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

>

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

>

[Guest guest]

AMy, I would post that question as a new post to make sure it gets seen. I asked

Val about whether you need t4 while pregnant and if I remember, she said she

believed that was old school, but please post again. I believe there was another

pregnant woman on this group doing t3 only and HC and she was doing just fine.

And about the pulse, 68 is fine, many would tell you it is too low unless you

are in really excellent shape.

Kathleen

> >

> > Wel I agree not all need large doses but then that depends what you call

> > large. Some doctors thing 20mcg is a large T3 dose. I consider myself on

> > a large dose at 125mcg, seems most DO need around 75 -100mcg thogh to

> > feel well and overcome hypothyroid symptoms. By monitoring POULSE an

> > temps no one shoudl get into a dangerous hyperthyroid state on T3

> > medications. BUT that depends on how well and properly they are

> > monitoring their vitals.

> >

> > --

> > Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

> >

> > http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

> >

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

> > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kathleen I appreciate your reply. I will post a separate message

about HC during pregnancy. It is something I want to make sure I have VERY

clear since I am self treating and plan to get pregnant later this year if

possible. When it is just my body, I'm a little more willing to take risks with

trying new meds, etc. but when I think about bringing a new life in to the world

I want to be VERY careful.

As for the pulse... I thought that was a little low. I did it the other day and

it was 80/min. so I was surprised to hear 68, especially since the nurse took it

right after she had burst in to the waiting room, startled me, introduced

herself, and then walked me quickly to the room, talking the whole time. Not to

mention I was slightly nervous for meeting with an endo for the first time and

psyching myself up for talking her in to all the labs I wanted I was sure it

would be racing but it wasn't. I am in better shape than I used to be, but not

an " athlete " by any means so it wouldn't be that!

Amy

> > >

> > > Wel I agree not all need large doses but then that depends what you call

> > > large. Some doctors thing 20mcg is a large T3 dose. I consider myself on

> > > a large dose at 125mcg, seems most DO need around 75 -100mcg thogh to

> > > feel well and overcome hypothyroid symptoms. By monitoring POULSE an

> > > temps no one shoudl get into a dangerous hyperthyroid state on T3

> > > medications. BUT that depends on how well and properly they are

> > > monitoring their vitals.

> > >

> > > --

> > > Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

> > >

> > > http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

> > >

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

> > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks to ALL for your replies on this today! Even if some are conflicting

opinions with each other, I appreciate them nevertheless. I will post in a

couple days when I have my lab results and I guess from there, if needed, I will

continue self treating. I plan to get off of the Thyroid-S and start Cynomel if

that's what my labs suggest. I will stick with the HC for now but will need to

figure out later how all that factors in to concieving. I know my sex hormones

are off too, but maybe that will straighten itself out once I get my thyroid

straightened out...

Amy

>

> Saw Mattison, MN endo listed on the " good docs " file for NTH.

Although she was very open minded, took me seriously, treated me with respect,

and ordered all the labs I asked for, (including RT3 which she seemed to know a

fair amount about), she pointed out several things I did not know and I'm a bit

worried now. I will post my concerns, and I'm sure it will get long, but

hopefully Nick or Val or someone can help answer some of my questions.

>

> First, she said that when you are taking either hydrocortisone or thyroid (and

in my case both so it's a " double whammy " as she put it), you have to be

concerned about bone loss. I'm only 30 and also have only been taking these

meds for a year/year-and-a-half, she sounded very concerned about this. She

also said if you take thyroid too long and get too far into the " hyper "

spectrum, you are at increased risk for hair loss (which I thought was more

hypo), heart failure (very scary), and arrythmias which can lead to stroke. She

said these are the " silent symptoms " that we don't know are happening even if we

feel great.

>

> I told her I'm not planning to be on HC forever, but the thyroid I probably

would have to, and she seemed to be VERY concerned that I was taking 4 1/2

grains of it. I told her I worked up to it very gradually (over the course of a

year) and that I was only taking that much because I still had many hypo

symptoms. I said that was why I started looking in to RT3 and she had

definitely heard about the RT3 issue, but it doesn't sound like she would

prescribe something like Cytomel because she said we need T4 in our meds too.

In fact, she said the reason so many docs prescribe T4 only meds is because the

ratio in them of T4 to T3 is 90% to 10% and that dessicated thyroids like Armour

or Thyroid-S mimic the pig ratio which is 75% to 25%. Does that make sense to

you? If she is right, why would any of us take anything other than Synthroid?

Also, am I doing some real harm to myself by taking 4 1/2 grains? Since she has

never heard of Thyroid-S, it sounds like she would put me on Armour (which is

regulated as she reminds me) and would lower my dosage a lot.

>

> She also went over her further concerns about me taking a steroid (especially

during pregnancy which I hope will happen in 2010), and how I will need to take

3-6 months to wean off of it, and I had heard only 2 weeks on this board. And

what if I need it during pregnancy, will it harm the baby? She did remind me

that I should have a medic-alert bracelet on since if I got in a car accident or

something I would not survive without the HC. That's scary. Oh, she also said

how basically my thyroid and adrenals are both " asleep " right now because of the

fact that I am taking so much in through meds (30mg HC and 4 1/2 grains

Thyroid-S) that it will be hard to " wake them up. "

>

> Now I'm more confused than ever. Help please!

>

> Amy

>