Question - this is new to me

[Guest guest]

Hi. It's the weekend so wait a few more hours and people much more

knowledgable than I will chime in.

Sorry in advance if this is a stupid

> question.

Don't worry. Just keep asking.

But I have alot of questions. I had a

> thyroid anti-body blood test. My doctor said that one should be 2

> and I'm 70.

Always get copies of all your labwork, whether done by your DO or an

endo. If your dr.'s office won't mail it to you then pick it up. Get a

3-ring binder and a hole puncher (or whatever works for you) and save

your records there.

The other should be below 2 and I'm 2. What does this

> mean. I may not be giving you enough info but this is all I have.

This way whenever you need help interpreting results you can also include

the exact name of the test and the ranges for your labs. Not all labs

have the same ranges.

He also wanted me to get the thyroid scan done and I told him NO WAY.

Ultrasound should give you all the information you need, as well as

appropriate antibody testing.

> I've recently been though several operations ranging from back

> surgery to gallbadder surgery and was able to recoop very well using

> naturalpathic means. I don't want any more radiation. My doc thinks

> that may be what trigger graves in the first place. I understand

> that I may have to use some meds, but I will also do what I can

> myself.

We've had members here who have successfully gone the naturopathic route

but this is not a do-it-yourself proposition. You need a holistic MD (or

DO) or naturopath who has had extensive experience treating thyroid

disorders. Most of us here who have had positive results getting

euthyroid have done so with anti-thyroid drugs, either PTU or methimazole

(commonly referred to by the brand name Tapazole). Of the 3 methods of

dealing with this that your endo is likely to mention - RAI, surgery, or

ATDs - ATDs are the most benign, least invasive, and many people are able

to be off them totally or on a low maintenance dose within 12-24 months.

Has your DO put you on beta-blockers? I bypassed them - went straight

onto Tap - but that was unusual and not recommended if you're not going

to start on ATDs in the very very near future. Once you're on ATDs you

will be able to start weaning off them but they are, in the interim and

into ATD treatment, quite possibly a lifesaver, and I mean that

literally.

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

[Guest guest]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Hash: SHA1

D Alderman wrote:

>

> My doc thinks

> that may be what trigger graves in the first place.

The use of Iodine in sterilisation or contrast dyes is a known trigger.

Some here become quite conscientious in minimising their dietary Iodine

intake, although personally I don't notice any effect.

> I understand that

> I may have to use some meds, but I will also do what I can myself.

I believe Pam has an alternative approaches discussion group going, I

think it is on Yahoo.

Herbal treatments (mainly Bugleweed) are available for mild cases, but I

don't see the advantage over methimazole type drugs myself, except

perhaps for very low doses as the pills are usually TOO big for

maintenance doses if you choose to use antithyroid drugs long term.

> Do you know of any informed Endo in Phoenix??

Not personally, but thyroid-info.com have a top doc's list.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQE+vn33GFXfHI9FVgYRAjdxAKDDqh8EUo3s2+Lg9wV/KkZ8UPs9ewCcCm9l

mjXZ0OlGTD1h3XtUbqukTto=

=y5XS

-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[Guest guest]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Hash: SHA1

D Alderman wrote:

>

> (It may be totally unrelated)Do you have problem with bad

> leg c amping??

I assume there is a missing " r " for some reason

I get leg cramps, mainly on stretching.

I kind of grew up thinking everyone got these when they stretch their

muscles, but I think they are a lot more common with thyroid imbalance.

> If so, what do you do to cope? Anyone?

Standing up works for the kind of cramp you get on stretching the

muscles, the muscles need to get back to working properly as a pair, so

using them usually relieves the pain very quickly <honest - it takes a

little bravery to try it the first time, I disclaim all responsibility

if you fall over and hurt yourself).

I also get cramp when doing short walks in my calves when hypothyroid,

haven't found out how to solve them, but they aren't as painful, and go

away when I sort the hypothyroidism.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQE+v2LeGFXfHI9FVgYRAliZAJ9yuzBAxz4yWDhuLsPvhjQY1qzO0wCfQVaF

psr638KjC7h4pKfTP/f//V0=

=HWig

-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[Guest guest]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Hash: SHA1

D Alderman wrote:

>

> Do you think that could have anything to do with contributing to the GD?

Possible but I doubt it, not all salt is Iodised, and uniodised salt is

not especially rich in Iodine.

Craving salt, however can be related to other dietary or health issues,

so more likely to be a symptom than a cause.

Triggers for Graves are believed to include exposure to Iodine, and

stress. But there is a lot still to learn, and genetics/family is a big

factor which is still poorly understood.

> What is considered a mild case of GD?

For the purposes of chosing herbal treatments over conventional

antithyroid drugs, mild would mean that the hyperthyroidism is mild (the

eye problems are a different issue).

The main risk if the hyperthyroidism is not controlled quickly are due

to heart issues, so mild would probably be something like resting heart

rate below 90, and otherwise fairly reasonable health.

Some people arrive here without previously having been aware they were

" ill " , but just through having had an unusual blood test result from

routine check-ups.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQE+v24rGFXfHI9FVgYRAnBPAJ42x2ei+21FtLQV3qWFn/Mw9nND/gCeJfaN

vSKTWDIvhikqieIR6jkaUO0=

=OuVt

-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[Guest guest]

You guys are great!! I will be going

> back to my D.O. today. He has suggested beta-blockers. Are you

> saying thats the normal starting place?

Yes. I went straight to ATDs but should have been on beta-blockers in the

several months between the initial diagnosis and starting ATDs. Why I

didn't was because I didn't understand the severity of the condition and

was dealing with incompetent endos.

He also talked briefly about

> thyroid meds, but to be honest I was kind of blown away at the appt.

> and didn't obsorb all that he was saying.

It does take time to absorb everything, especially for science-impaired

people such as myself.

The only prescription he

> gave me was for the bad leg cramps (Quinine Sulf), nasty stuff. I

> took it once and had a bad reaction.Any suggestions for the cramps

> in the interium?

You need more help than this suggestion but it may help if these are the

same kinds of cramps I had once: stretch your leg with toes pointing

towards you and massage the calf.

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

[Guest guest]

WW, I saw one doctor in the last month (over Graves but I wound up going to

an Endo instead of him) and I mentioned to him that I always had leg cramps.

Looong before Graves tho. He suggested drinking tonic water cause it has

quinine in it. I know you had a reaction to prescription medicine with

quinine but maybe it was due to one of the other ingredients? If you can

tolerate tonic water try that for your leg cramps.

All the best,

Pat

[Guest guest]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Hash: SHA1

D Alderman wrote:

>

> I appreciate the continued info. I was wondering about

> how genetics played in GD. I know from what you and other have said

> that it's a gray area.

We did our own survey a long time ago. The family connection is the

dominant cause identified, the problem was early attempts to find the

genes responsible found different candidate genes in different parts of

the world.

There was some suggestion it might be a mutation in part of the cell

death sequences that cause specific immune cells not to die correctly

last year, but I don't know if this panned out.

The archive also has some discussion of work in Tulane, suggesting it

may be a viral particle passed mainly from mother to child, but nothing

seems to have come from this group recently.

> My mother had thyroid issues as a child and

> was treated with meds. The doctor evenually felt she was fine and

> ended treatment. She has always had trouble gaining weight and she is

> a very hyper personality, a worrier.

My mother was a dreadful worrier.... hmm

> Single mother of 4. Very

> stressful life. She currently has some of the same symtoms I have.

> Leg cramps and hand temors. I've asked her to get blood tests.

I still want to know what the best way of persuading family members to

get a test is, and also to be more militant with their doctors, since

little happens here but patients make it happen for themselves.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----

Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQE+v+pNGFXfHI9FVgYRAszBAKC0xFadEsP/mbY9bFYS1CCRSGs+sQCfWBy3

VpvhhHXB0dU5rfQ4Zs2+3JM=

=4mov

-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[Guest guest]

Hi WW,

Theres a couple other things you can do for those leg cramps outside of tonic

water. I saw where you said that you get them mostly at night. Wear socks.

Wear socks even to bed. I have had leg cramps for so many years and toe

cramps too. I get them at night and sometimes during the day. If my feet

are cold, I'm more likely to get them. If I go in a pool where there is a

quick change in temperature, I get a leg and toe cramps in the pool. I also

am one of the ones that gets them on stretching. When I'm waking up and

strech my legs out alittle, it can trigger a leg cramp.

The other thing I was doing that really helped was taking a calcium magnesium

supplement. It took alittle while of consistently taking them for them to

have a benefit --was after a few weeks but then I didn't get leg cramps

hardly ever while I was on it. The only thing is, don't take the calcium

magnesium at the same time as you take your PTU. Should be taken 4 hours

after...I learned that on this list. Fay was that you? It can interfere

alittle with the PTU.

All the best,

Pat