Sorry, another newcomer needs help

November 19, 2002

Hi everyone. My name is Cindy and I am new to the group.

Any help or advice you can give me would be most appreciated.

I had been on synthroid for about 12? years. A couple years ago the doctor

started lowering my dosage, and then finally took me off of it. I had been

getting tested constantly, (no, at that time I wasn't one to question what

tests, even if I'd had a clue as to what they were) In April I'd had a Nuclear

scan? and it showed normal. In June? my rhumatologist questioned my swollen

neck and sent me to our family doctor and the result later was a diagnosis of

thyroiditis. She had talked to a specialist and I was told that the Bextra I was

on should burn it out (but it didn't). At my physical last month the doctor

said she'd been in contact with a specialist in Omaha again, and wanted to run a

specialty test. Got the tests back after a few weeks and it was positive for

Graves. When the Dr. walked in she started out by saying " It is highly unusual

to have thyroiditis and Graves Disease at the same time. " (She should have

known a long time before that, that I was never textbook material) Can anyone

explain her comment? Is there any truth to it?

Anyway we were right at the point of maybe trying to find a new family doctor

when all of this started, but now, although I am just not comfortable with her,

I don't know if it is wise to change at this time? (I'm sure some of it is my

fault--I let her intimidate me) I'd really hate to drive 150 miles to a

specialist if I don't have to.

I just started taking PTU's on Monday, 2 - 50mg 3 x daily. I had a WBC taken

beforehand and she wants me in there for another in 4 weeks. My concern is when

I asked if I needed to be concerned about my liver (I had hepatitis 21 years

ago) she said her concern was for the white blood cells? I was also told to

continue staying on Inderal until she said to stop them.

I have been reading the posts for the last week and I really hate to admit it

but boy, the tests results and language are waaaaaaaaaaaaay over my

head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know we just got a bill so that's the only reason I know

I had a T3 Uptake, T-4, and Tsh-Hs done August 29!

The posts have been very helpful to me. Even just knowing that someone else is

having the same symptoms etc. is a BIG relief to me. I THOUGHT something was

wrong the day I SCREAMED like a maniac at my son for some silly reason, but when

it happened again, I KNEW there was something wrong.

Can someone tell me what tests I should be sure to have while on PTU'S? She

said after 6 months of being on this we will talk about the radioactive

thingamajig. Yikes! I AM concerned about my liver--do I have to be?

Thank you to all of you who have posted in the past week, for letting a stranger

" learn " from you when she was spooked!

Cindy

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