Labs-Elaine

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I think that sounds like a great plan. By the end of 20 days your levels

should be right where you want them. And this will help you avoid the

problems associated with big dosage jumps. You should be all set by Christmas

Day. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Hi Elaine,

I appreciate your suggestions on dosages, since I'm adjusting on my

own what my endo says. My old labs are in the e-mail below. My most

current are (12/11/02):

TSH 4.58 with range 0.350-5.500;

FT4 0.63 with range 0.61-1.76;

My endo doesn't think I need FT3, should I get them through another

lab, or can this wait? I got FT3 last on Oct. 8th.

My endo has just suggested 200 mg (100 mg twice per day). I was

already at 200 (I had reduced from her suggestion of 300 in mid-

November), so I just reduced to 150 mg (50 mg 3 times/day.) I was

feeling down in the dumps, and this reduction has helped me

somewhat. I know I'm not helping by all the holiday eating I am

doing, so it's hard for me to judge if I should actually go a little

lower. Can I split a pill in order to reduce by another 25 mg? My

next labs are the middle of January. Hope this isn't too confusing.

I'm really happy with my labs, and my homeopathic md thinks I should

be weaned off PTU sometime in the Spring.

Thanks for all your help,

.

diag. 8/22; on PTU and homeopathic/herbal remedies; doing pretty good

Previous e-mail dated 11/5/02 (or so):

> Hi Elaine,

>

> Thanks for all your help on my labs. I just got some back that my

> homeopathic md ordered. Just to refresh your memory, I also go to

an

> endo (next appt. 11/20). At my last endo appt (10/9), she told me

to

> increase to 450 mg PTU (from 300). I decided to stay at 300 mg

> thanks to lots of good advice. Now, it seems to me that my labs

show

> that I'm normal with FT4 and FT3 (Yeah!), and since TSH takes

awhile

> to catch up, I don't want to go hypo. My homeopathic md thought I

> should wait until I see the endo, and then prorate whatever

decrease

> she gives me into my current dosage of 300 mg. Here's my labs and

> their dates: 1) Nov. 3; 2) Oct 8; 3) Aug. 22.

>

> TSH: 1) 0.011 /range 0.400-5.000; 2) 0.004 /range: 0.350 - 5.5; 3)

> <.002 /range: 0.3-5.0

> FT4: 1) 0.93 /range 0.8-1.8; 2) 1.88 /range: 0.61 - 1.76; 3)

> >6.0 /range: 0.6-2.0

> FT3: 1) 3.20 /range 1.80-4.20; 2) 5.21 /range: 1.80 - 4.2; 3) not

done

>

> My homeopathic md still has your book that I lent her. I told her

I

> needed it back for the hypo symptom lists. I am glad that she's

> interested in reading it though.

>

> Thanks!

> .

> diag. 8/22; on PTU and homeopathic/herbal remedies; doing pretty

good

> except for low energy lately

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Yes, those labs show that you're still hypothyroid. You don't want your TSH

climbing higher than 2, and optimally it should be between 0.4 and 1.0 Your

FT4 is also borderline low, and you want it nearer the high end of the normal

range. It would be have an FT3 with your next labs. You don't need it every

time, but you do need it at least every 2-3 months.

You can break the pill in half if you decide to lower the dose more. Recent

studies show that most everyone can be maintained on 100-150 mg PTU daily.

Higher doses offer no additional benefits, increase the risk of side effects

and cause hypothyroidism. Happy holidays, Elaine