Re: Re: I,m Back - needing support!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Carma, no not your meds. When you are hypothyroid, then we look for 3 lots of labs , the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) the Free T3 and the Free T4. these will tell us if you are on sufficient meds .......so you don't have a thyroid gland?? Was it because of the Graves?? Graves is when you are hyPERthyroid, Hashimoto's you are hyPO thyroid, just the opposite, so you would not have had Hashi's

My guess is you are not being treated correctly. Most people without a thyroid gland do better on Armour.

I take tramadol as well, quite a strong dose, am not going to attempt to go off it, am tapering down the muscle relaxant. You obviously have some major health issues for which you will need to continue to take your meds. I am hoping the Armour will reduce my joint aches and pains or at least improve them.

Have a look at the websites I gave you, take your time. there's a lot of info don't try to remember it all at once, just a little a day. Get those 3 lab results for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4. you also need the lab ranges, these will be in brackets after the result. Post them here and we'll take it from there.....lots of knowledgeable people on this site, plenty of people to help, ask lots of questions and don't feel embarrassed to ask, we all started in the same place.....................Meleese in Oz xxx

----- Original Message -----

From: Carma

I think I can confront her. I am embarrassed to admit that I am not sure exactly what my diagnosis is. I know I take .15 mg Synthroid.

I'm not sure you meant for me to list all my meds but here they are:

I'm not sure what tests my doctor has run on me but I will sure find out as soon as I see her. In 1993 I had radio Active Iodine treatment to have my thyroid removed. At that time they discovered I also have graves disease. I've never heard of Hashimoto's disease, but I'll find out about that too. Thanks for the sites to look up as well, I will do that in the morning. All I have left to say Is THANKS SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>> Hello Carma. By law your doctor cannot refuse to give you your test results.It is illegal for her to do this.Do you feel strong enough to face her and tell her this?? Otherwise it is may be time for you to find a new doc.> > I too was on a cocktail of meds, but since starting Armour am gradually reducing the doses of what I take. I am almost completely off the muscle relaxants, the anti-depressant will be the next to go. > > What meds are you on at present?? to find a doctor who may be more understanding go here> > www.armourthyroid.com > > These doctors will prescribe Armour if you want them to and hopefully will be better able to help you. Your doctor is keeping you very ill.> > we really need those results.TSH, Free T3 and Free T4. Kick and scream to get them if you have to. Also have you had an antibodies test to determine if you have Hashimoto's Disease? I am presuming you are hypothyroid. You CAN get well but it means educating yourself and maybe even self-treating if you have to> > Go here> > http://www.thyrophoenix.com/> > > www.stopthethyroidmadness.com> > http://thyroid.about.com/> > Lots of great info..................Meleese in Oz xxx> > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Carma > > > I have been out of commission for a few months, but I am back, at least stong enough to write. When I joined last December, I was on the verge of a total nervous breakdown. I am not sure what to do now. My doctor tells me my thyroid counts are where they should be, and that is all she will tell me. I now take over 20 different medications a day. I spend my time locked in my home most of the time afraid to go out. I am going with my sister this next week to California to visit another sister that has heart problems. The trip has me terrified, but I have to go. It may be the last time I see her. I'm not sure if there is anything anyone can do for me. I have suffered from depression all my life and no solution has happened yet. Am I missing something, or are my doctors? I guess what I need more than anything is support. I have a real hard time talking to people face to face, so I hope this group will help. > > > a..>

[Guest guest]

I see a lot of meds there that mask low thyroid symptoms ....

Lets run through timing .... when do you take the Synthroid in relation to food and all the other stuff?

You had RAI for Graves... did they tell you how much of the gland was still functioning, or did they say it was all gone? Hashi's probably isn't an issue here... but we do need to see what your labs are... what they are testing and how things look...

With your gland gone, or mostly gone... taking Synthroid alone isn't the best route.... But we'll get into that more as we go. (I had my gland destroyed by RAI, it's all gone, I was in thyroid storm due to a receptor defect)... so I had to deal with this stuff too....

Topper ()

On Mon, 08 May 2006 09:52:51 -0000 "Carma" writes:

I think I can confront her. I am embarrassed to admit that I am not sure exactly what my diagnosis is. I know I take .15 mg Synthroid.

I'm not sure you meant for me to list all my meds but here they are:

CURRENT MEDICATIONS

DOSE

FREQUENCY

Aspirin (heart)

81 mg

Take in AM

Metformin (Diabetis)

500 mg

Take twice daily

Tiazac (heart)

360 mg

1 capsule in AM

Estradiol (Hormone)

1 mg

One tab. In AM

Synthroid (Thyroid)

..15 mg

Take in AM

Lisinopril (Heart)

10 mg

Take twice a day

Potassium

20 mcg

Take twice a day

Ibuprofin (Arthritis)

600 mg

Every 6 hours

Topral XL (Heart)

40 mg

Take 3 times a day

Crestor (Cholesterol)

20 mg

Take one at bedtime

Lasix (Heart)

40 mg

Take twice a day

Lanoxin (Heart)

..25 mg

Take one pill daily at noon

Tramadol (Arthritis)

50 mg

2tabs every 4 hours prn

Coumadin (Blood thinner)

5mg

1 daily

Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc/Vit. D

1500 mg. calcium

daily

Stool Softener

2 tabs PM

Multivitamin

2 tab daily

Zoloft (Depression)

50 mg

1 tab PM

Skelaxin (Muscle Relaxer)

400 mg

1 tab bedtime prn

Sonata (Sleeping)

5 mg

Bedtime prn

I'm not sure what tests my doctor has run on me but I will sure find out as soon as I see her. In 1993 I had radio Active Iodine treatment to have my thyroid removed. At that time they discovered I also have graves disease. I've never heard of Hashimoto's disease, but I'll find out about that too. Thanks for the sites to look up as well, I will do that in the morning. All I have left to say Is THANKS SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

There is the first ooops....

You need to take Synthroid ( and other T4 synthetics) on an empty stomach.. that's an hour before eating in the morning... or four hours after eating... .then waiting another hour to eat.

That one change.... taking your Synthroid an hour before you eat in the morning... should help... it takes four to six weeks to see the full affect from any changes... but it will be a good first start.

Some folks with hectic morning schedules, that can't wait an hour between waking and eating, set their alarm to go off during the night, take their dose and go back to sleep... so that they can eat right away when they get up and then scoot out the door to start their day.

There is a lot of stuff to learn and lots of folks here to help... we all started out as dummies so don't you go thinking you're the only one!!!

I went for 8 years taking my Synthroid with vitamins right after a meal.. cuz no one told me that was WRONG.... now I know better....

Topper ()

On Mon, 08 May 2006 16:20:54 -0000 "Carma" writes:

Thanks! I take the Synthroid 1/2 hour after eating in the am. (about an hour after getting out of bed). I'm not sure how much of my thyroid is gone. I assume all of it but I will find out. I am so glad You are here. This site and additional links from this site are amazing. I finally feel a ray of hope. Hope you don't mind putting up with a real dummy. I will get my lab results to you as soon as I see my doctor. My next appointment isn't for a month. Thanks again!!!

[Guest guest]

The question would be... where is Carma?

I'm near Minneapolis Minnesota....

Topper ()

On Mon, 08 May 2006 17:12:58 -0000 "" writes:

Would it be possible for someone from this group to go to the doctor with Carma? It sounds to me like she needs someone strong to help her out. I am in Las Vegas NV. I would go if I am in her area. Anyone else?

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I realize this was quoted material, but this drives me

crazy when they say things like this..;.

> Antidepressants such as Elavil, Ludiomil, and Zoloft

The reason it drives me crazy is that I am on two

antidepressants, not the ones mentioned but how the

heck am I supposed to know if the chemicals in the

ones I take are alike or dissimilar to the ones named

in the list?

GRrrrrr!

Tammy