Re:Ter/Jody/Chris Labs Back, Itching, ATD's - To

November 24, 2002

Hi , Jody, Pam, Terry -

This is a group effort and we're all on the same wavelength here.

I'm sure each one of us is very grateful that someone else can cover

when the others can't.

- You asked: >>>>Can I break the tabs and take 3/4 quarter

till I can pick up the 5 mgs? <<<<

Certainly - a lot of people get scared when we suggest breaking a

pill in half, much less fourths. My main point was to keep the THREE

TIMES A DAY DOSING. If you take 7.5 mg 3 times a day, it's the

easiest way to reduce from 30 mg, without using a gram scale and

getting down to mini-shards. This will give you 22.5 mg, and even

though it is a fairly large drop from 30 mg a day, it's the even

spacing, and " do-able " pill-splitting that will help overcome this.

As Jody said, if you are intent on reducing the meds, then that is

your business. We can't just tell you to go ahead and do this

because there might be some jerk out there who is just waiting to

pounce on one of us for " dispensing medical advice without a

license " - so you must understand our reasons behind our wording.

I have had occasions where I KNEW I needed a dose reduction, but was

unable to get tested for a couple of days. IF you decide to do this

reduction, MAKE SURE you get tested with a Free T4 either tomorrow or

the next day WITHOUT FAIL.

Since it usually takes a few days for your thyroid to acknowledge the

change in dose, you can probably get a head start this way. I don't

think a dose change will have that much of an impact on your test

results if you don't let more than a day or two go by before you test.

BUT YOU MUST FIND A WAY TO GET THE RESULTS RIGHT AWAY - CAN'T

EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH.

HOWEVER, if your Free T4 level is still on the high side, you must go

back to 30 mg a day for a while longer. Otherwise you will go hyper

again. DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF REDUCING THE DOSE TOO SOON, FOR

WHATEVER REASON.

If you test lower, then you made the right move.

If the hives continue this bad, you might want to consider PTU. I

was unable to tolerate one but have done quite well on the other ATD.

Is this old fart an endo? If your GP will run the right testing for

you on Tuesday, AND get the results to you, then you're better off

staying with the GP for a while. Eventually you'll find the right

doc, or combo of docs. I have 2 different GPs I see on a regular

basis, and also, one endo I who consult about once a year. All three

of them allow me to self-medicate, and I decide when I need testing.

I'll look for some links to justify the Free T's -

Best Wishes,

Chris

----------

Diagnosed with Graves' May 1979

On tapazole since May 1979

Age 53 - menopause at 46

Currently on 6 mg/da Tap, 30 mg/da inderal

Latest testing:

8/6/02 -- FT4 - 0.99 (0.71 - 1.85), FT3 - 4.4 (2.2 - 4.0)

9/9/02 -- FT4 - 1.1 (0.7 - 2.2 ), FT3 - 5.4 (1.5 - 4.1)

9/30/02 -- FT4 - 1.3 (0.7 - 2.2), FT3 - 4.7 (1.5 - 4.1)

11/12/02--FT4 - 0.9 (0.7 - 2.2), FT3 - 3.6 (1.5 - 4-1)

------------------

November 24, 2002

The best I can do is agree with Pam. IF you reduce dose before tests, you

run the risk of not finding out the right answers. Best thing to do is move

the test date to Monday AM, demanding the right tests, or going through an

alternative testing provider (there's one online, where you can order

whatever you want to pay for--can't remember the name, anybody???).

For me, I find it dangerous to make assumptions about the way I feel

relating to the meds I'm on. A few months ago, I was SO sure I was going

hypO, desperately wanted to reduce my tap, but the tests came back--and I

was still hyper! Had I reduced then, I might be in bad shape now.

Yes, trust your body--but verify!!!

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 00:55:57 -0800

> To: graves_support >

> Subject: Re: Re:Ter/Jody/Labs Back, Itching, ATD's - To

>

> Terry...Chris.. or ??? ...are you here this weekend ? You experienced Tap

> users :-)

November 24, 2002