Re: Labs

[Guest guest]

Holly -

It may be that you just don't feel right because of the change in lab

results. Congrats on the great FT4 numbers - terrific! Changes in the labs,

like going from higher level to lower level can make you feel like you're

hypo, even if your values are normal. The body's has to readjust to the new

" normal " so to speak. Give it a little more time and see how you feel. I've

had this very same thing happen - swore I was hypo and turned up normal in

everything. Then a few weeks later, I'd feel different (sometimes better,

sometimes just different!) I had similar symptoms to your when my FT4 went

down and now since January, my TSH has gone from .01 to 2.34. Talk about

feeling hypo! I'm still feeling that change.

Hope all your yucky symptoms go away soon - definitely get excited about the

normal values, though!

Labs

>Got my lab results today after thinking I was hypo, and they're in the

>normal range-or at least FT4 is:

>

>FT4 1.22 range .61 to 1.76

>TSH .011 range .35 to 5.50

>

>Now, to figure out why I don't feel just right...I was perfect about three

>weeks ago with my goiter basically gone and everything. Now it's bigger,

>got the ol' headache, tired, teeth grinding, etc. I thought I'd be a

little

>more excited about being in the normal range finally!

>

>Holly

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

Hang on!!! It could be 3 weeks ago when you were feeling good, you were at

YOUR normal range then, maybe your FT4 came down from that period when you

felt good to a point where it has put you off again.

The next time you feel GOOD, call and request labs for THAT day, just tell

them you are not feeling right...get a reading on your labs on a GOOD day so

you can see your set point. This is how my labs will be done from now

on,...or maybe not until I have been on new meds for a bit. But I talked my

doctor into seeing how important it is that we do labs when we actually feel

good, so we both know where to shoot for.

Don't you DARE give up hope! Look how far you have come, maybe now you are

at a point where Pam and others have been in taking those little tiny

sections of pills rather than full doses...I don't know. Also remember what

Val had happen, and I think Pam, and someone else that brain fog won't allow

me to remember right now...but that last month before hitting remission they

were all over the place. There are reasons, now comes the fine art of

figuring the reasons out.

Take care,

Jody

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[Guest guest]

Thanks, . Another symptom I'm having is just being kind of blah, so

that may why I'm having trouble getting too excited as well. But, I've been

waiting for this for a long time - 9 months. I need to remember that!

Holly

Labs

>Got my lab results today after thinking I was hypo, and they're in the

>normal range-or at least FT4 is:

>

>FT4 1.22 range .61 to 1.76

>TSH .011 range .35 to 5.50

>

>Now, to figure out why I don't feel just right...I was perfect about three

>weeks ago with my goiter basically gone and everything. Now it's bigger,

>got the ol' headache, tired, teeth grinding, etc. I thought I'd be a

little

>more excited about being in the normal range finally!

>

>Holly

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm hanging in there, Jody! And that is a very good idea. I wish I had

done it when I was feeling good. It may be that I need to be a little

higher on the scale. What I really need to do, too, is get copies of my

thyroid labs for the years before I got Graves'. That will be interesting

to see.

Thanks!

Holly

Re: Labs

Hi Holly,

Hang on!!! It could be 3 weeks ago when you were feeling good, you were at

YOUR normal range then, maybe your FT4 came down from that period when you

felt good to a point where it has put you off again.

The next time you feel GOOD, call and request labs for THAT day, just tell

them you are not feeling right...get a reading on your labs on a GOOD day so

you can see your set point. This is how my labs will be done from now

on,...or maybe not until I have been on new meds for a bit. But I talked my

doctor into seeing how important it is that we do labs when we actually feel

good, so we both know where to shoot for.

Don't you DARE give up hope! Look how far you have come, maybe now you are

at a point where Pam and others have been in taking those little tiny

sections of pills rather than full doses...I don't know. Also remember what

Val had happen, and I think Pam, and someone else that brain fog won't allow

me to remember right now...but that last month before hitting remission they

were all over the place. There are reasons, now comes the fine art of

figuring the reasons out.

Take care,

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

<http://messenger.msn.com>

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly,

When I first learned about the necessity of getting copies of my labs for

myself, I went back and got 4 + years worth...I was in shock when comparing

them and the lack of concern and the dependence to the TSH that 3 different

doctors monitored me, keeping me hypo. Unbelievable. You will have an

experience reading them ;-)

Do you make a note to yourself on the days labs are drawn on how you are

feeling, then staple them to the lab copies as they come back? This really

is a HUGE help for us. There is NO way I could remember 7-10 days later how

I felt the day my labs were drawn, and it helps narrow down the levels where

we feel good at much quicker.

Jody

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[Guest guest]

Yee Haw Holly !

Welcome to the mysterious world of finding and holding at you perfect FT4 !

First, I think 's thoughts on getting used to the new level is a big

part of all this.

Then there is the fact.. what will your perfect Ft4 turn out to be ? I think

once we left behind the ucky far ends of the scale, we become even more

aware of the supple differences in only a few numbers. But at least now you

are closer to right, and things will start to sort themselves out even more

for you.

It is possible you could end up finding as small a change as 1.30 or such

will be where you end up. No telling right now.

Personally I found in the past, I aimed for 1.25 to 1.50.

It was some where in there when I had those few WONDERFUL days.

OR>>> perhaps you will start a small trend down, and at your next lab find

you need even less PTU, as your body continues healing. I remember that you

have started working on the nutrition end of this, and that is when I

started needing less and less.

How are you spacing your PTU and how much are you taking now?

Do you know that your T3 always follows right along? Mine always did, so I

didn't have to worry about it, once we saw a consistent pattern.

I think of this, because once I got to the point where I was finding my

'perfect' FT4 , is when the timing and exact amount really started to show

in how I felt through the day. That is when I looked at my 1/4 and 1/2 pills

and started to know which size 'shard' was going to work for the next 8 hr.

.. As there is still a natural change in how even a normal person feels at a

given moment.

It is almost an odd thing. Now with no ATDs I am having to trust my body to

do these things on it's own. Like driving an automatic. At least in the good

old days, with PTU, it was a stick shift and I had more control. :-)

So Holly, I am really happy for you. Now your shifts will be less dramatic,

and you will find that magic place.

-Pam-

[Guest guest]

Holly, your TSH is still low. That could be why your feeling funky. Just my

opinion. I know when mine was still low i felt funky.

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam!

I'm on 10 mg of methimazole once a day. My doc actually told me to take 5

mg 2 times a day, but I found I sleep better when I take the whole thing at

night. As far as T3, he hasn't tested that since November. It seemed to

tag along just fine when I was being tested. I'll ask for it again on my

next labs. It's always good to make sure I'm converting correctly!

So, are you still doing well? When did you have labs last? I wondered if

they stopped monitoring you as frequently after remission.

Holly

Re: Labs

Yee Haw Holly !

Welcome to the mysterious world of finding and holding at you perfect FT4 !

First, I think 's thoughts on getting used to the new level is a big

part of all this.

Then there is the fact.. what will your perfect Ft4 turn out to be ? I think

once we left behind the ucky far ends of the scale, we become even more

aware of the supple differences in only a few numbers. But at least now you

are closer to right, and things will start to sort themselves out even more

for you.

It is possible you could end up finding as small a change as 1.30 or such

will be where you end up. No telling right now.

Personally I found in the past, I aimed for 1.25 to 1.50.

It was some where in there when I had those few WONDERFUL days.

OR>>> perhaps you will start a small trend down, and at your next lab find

you need even less PTU, as your body continues healing. I remember that you

have started working on the nutrition end of this, and that is when I

started needing less and less.

How are you spacing your PTU and how much are you taking now?

Do you know that your T3 always follows right along? Mine always did, so I

didn't have to worry about it, once we saw a consistent pattern.

I think of this, because once I got to the point where I was finding my

'perfect' FT4 , is when the timing and exact amount really started to show

in how I felt through the day. That is when I looked at my 1/4 and 1/2 pills

and started to know which size 'shard' was going to work for the next 8 hr.

.. As there is still a natural change in how even a normal person feels at a

given moment.

It is almost an odd thing. Now with no ATDs I am having to trust my body to

do these things on it's own. Like driving an automatic. At least in the good

old days, with PTU, it was a stick shift and I had more control. :-)

So Holly, I am really happy for you. Now your shifts will be less dramatic,

and you will find that magic place.

-Pam-

[Guest guest]

Looks good! You're in the normal range! Congratulations! Don't worry

about that TSH. It lags behind. The important test is the free T4 and it's

looking good. But, it's on the low end really, so as soon as you get those

muscle cramps again, or any of the hypo symptoms, get labs again. I'm

betting you'll have to lower your dose again soon.

Holly

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

Looks good! You're in the normal range! Congratulations! Don't worry

about that TSH. It lags behind. The important test is the free T4 and it's

looking good. But, it's on the low end really, so as soon as you get those

muscle cramps again, or any of the hypo symptoms, get labs again. I'm

betting you'll have to lower your dose again soon.

Holly

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

Looks good! You're in the normal range! Congratulations! Don't worry

about that TSH. It lags behind. The important test is the free T4 and it's

looking good. But, it's on the low end really, so as soon as you get those

muscle cramps again, or any of the hypo symptoms, get labs again. I'm

betting you'll have to lower your dose again soon.

Holly

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

pelikanwriter wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone,

> Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

> Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

> TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

> T3 108 (86-187)

>

> Last labs were:

> Free T4 .70

> TSH 0.1

> T3 92.8

>

> I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

> the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

> than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

> considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

> same.

Your new results are close to average thyroid function, the old

results were in the hypo direction, which explains the cramps,

and may explain why you feel tired.

Low TSH whilst on drug treatment for Graves is entirely to be

expected, see the algorithmn on www.thyroidmanager.org for drug

treatment of hyperthyroidism. I don't pretend to understand why

the TSH is suppressed but be assured your results look like drug

treatment of Graves.

Your blood tests look very similar to mine, although it took me

ages to get over being over medicated last year. How hypo did

you go? How long did it take to get back here?

[Guest guest]

pelikanwriter wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone,

> Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

> Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

> TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

> T3 108 (86-187)

>

> Last labs were:

> Free T4 .70

> TSH 0.1

> T3 92.8

>

> I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

> the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

> than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

> considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

> same.

Your new results are close to average thyroid function, the old

results were in the hypo direction, which explains the cramps,

and may explain why you feel tired.

Low TSH whilst on drug treatment for Graves is entirely to be

expected, see the algorithmn on www.thyroidmanager.org for drug

treatment of hyperthyroidism. I don't pretend to understand why

the TSH is suppressed but be assured your results look like drug

treatment of Graves.

Your blood tests look very similar to mine, although it took me

ages to get over being over medicated last year. How hypo did

you go? How long did it take to get back here?

[Guest guest]

Thanks Holly. I have " heard " you guys talking about brain fog and I wonder...is

that a symptom of Hypo? I have really noticed that lately and it's driving me

crazy. I can't seem to carry on an intelligent conversation. Can't seem to

find the right words to say what I mean to say. It's very frustrating and I

don't feel like myself at all. I'm usually pretty quick in my thinking. Any

thoughts?

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi...

Here is my take on brain fog... You feel really REALLY stupid !!! And I have

been told by partner that I also act really REALLY stupid !!! It is the most

frustrating thing. I have only felt like that when I was hypo.

Take care,

Katy.

Re: Labs

Thanks Holly. I have " heard " you guys talking about brain fog and I

wonder...is that a symptom of Hypo? I have really noticed that lately and

it's driving me crazy. I can't seem to carry on an intelligent

conversation. Can't seem to find the right words to say what I mean to say.

It's very frustrating and I don't feel like myself at all. I'm usually

pretty quick in my thinking. Any thoughts?

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi...

Here is my take on brain fog... You feel really REALLY stupid !!! And I have

been told by partner that I also act really REALLY stupid !!! It is the most

frustrating thing. I have only felt like that when I was hypo.

Take care,

Katy.

Re: Labs

Thanks Holly. I have " heard " you guys talking about brain fog and I

wonder...is that a symptom of Hypo? I have really noticed that lately and

it's driving me crazy. I can't seem to carry on an intelligent

conversation. Can't seem to find the right words to say what I mean to say.

It's very frustrating and I don't feel like myself at all. I'm usually

pretty quick in my thinking. Any thoughts?

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi...

Here is my take on brain fog... You feel really REALLY stupid !!! And I have

been told by partner that I also act really REALLY stupid !!! It is the most

frustrating thing. I have only felt like that when I was hypo.

Take care,

Katy.

Re: Labs

Thanks Holly. I have " heard " you guys talking about brain fog and I

wonder...is that a symptom of Hypo? I have really noticed that lately and

it's driving me crazy. I can't seem to carry on an intelligent

conversation. Can't seem to find the right words to say what I mean to say.

It's very frustrating and I don't feel like myself at all. I'm usually

pretty quick in my thinking. Any thoughts?

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

OK, that's me! I feel so ssssllllllooooowwww (slow) on the uptake! I guess my

numbers are still on the low end of normal. I would love to feel even a tiny

bit hyper so that I could get my brain back. Is there anything you can do for

this or do you just have to wait it out?

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

OK, that's me! I feel so ssssllllllooooowwww (slow) on the uptake! I guess my

numbers are still on the low end of normal. I would love to feel even a tiny

bit hyper so that I could get my brain back. Is there anything you can do for

this or do you just have to wait it out?

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

OK, that's me! I feel so ssssllllllooooowwww (slow) on the uptake! I guess my

numbers are still on the low end of normal. I would love to feel even a tiny

bit hyper so that I could get my brain back. Is there anything you can do for

this or do you just have to wait it out?

Labs

Hi Everyone,

Well, I finally got my labs. Here they are:

Free T4 1.05 (0.8-2.0)

TSH 0.1 (0.30-4.50)

T3 108 (86-187)

Last labs were:

Free T4 .70

TSH 0.1

T3 92.8

I'm not sure what all this means. My endo wants me to continue on

the 10 mg of methimazole a day. I feel OK. Still feel more tired

than I'd like to , but the horrible muscle cramps have eased off

considerably. Any thoughts? I do wonder why the TSH is still the

same.

Jody, I did get your posts and thank you so much. I'll send you a

private email...

Kristi

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi,

My brain fog is so much worse when I am hypo...and the more hypo I am, the

worse it is. Hubby asked me for a sip of my water the other morning, and I

heard him, then handed him my deodorant! It is one of the most frustrating

things about this disease!

Jody

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[Guest guest]

Kristi,

When you say your numbers are on the low end...which numbers, I can't

remember <brain fog>. If the T3 and T4 are on the low end, that is the hypo

side for them...if our TSH is on the low end that is hyper. They are

opposite in that aspect.

Call and request new labs again now, you don't want to keep going more hypo.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Kristi,

When you say your numbers are on the low end...which numbers, I can't

remember <brain fog>. If the T3 and T4 are on the low end, that is the hypo

side for them...if our TSH is on the low end that is hyper. They are

opposite in that aspect.

Call and request new labs again now, you don't want to keep going more hypo.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Kristi,

When you say your numbers are on the low end...which numbers, I can't

remember <brain fog>. If the T3 and T4 are on the low end, that is the hypo

side for them...if our TSH is on the low end that is hyper. They are

opposite in that aspect.

Call and request new labs again now, you don't want to keep going more hypo.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Well I had my labs done pretty quick when I started feeling like that. The

endo took one look and told me to reduce my meds. You really need to get

your labs done before you make any change. I thought I was going the same

way a couple of days ago but then the fog blew away. Not sure what was going

on there as the week before the doctor had upped my meds again because I was

hyper. I did wonder whether I was feeling like that because my body was

going through an adjustment due to the medication change.

And hey everybody..... I will be going to a **new** endo at the end of this

month. I am hoping that this one will be a little more forthcoming, and

maybe she won't laugh when I ask her about vitamins and minerals. I have a

long list of questions to ask her. I am SO SO excited. Wish me luck !!!

Take care,

Katy.

Re: Labs

OK, that's me! I feel so ssssllllllooooowwww (slow) on the uptake! I

guess my numbers are still on the low end of normal. I would love to feel

even a tiny bit hyper so that I could get my brain back. Is there anything

you can do for this or do you just have to wait it out?