Re: Elimination of Triggers for Grave's & Depression

[Guest guest]

Hello, Elaine,

Thanks for the information. Now, the question is whether I should

pursue this just because I sneeze four times a day and often have a

stuffy nose? Can I afford to wait until I have another TSI test in

January? I am curious to see the results of the TSI test with the

only change being the elimination of Armour. If I add in Seldane,

for example, now, I won't know if it is the elimination of Armour or

the addition of Seldane. Can I afford to be a guinea pig in this

whole experience?

Change of subject: Depression

The extremely high antibody level of 730% has not seemed to have an

extreme impact on how I am doing. I am feeling pretty good

physically, actually, although I am becoming aware that I am not

doing so well psychologically. It took me a while to realize that

my state of mind is not good because I have battled depression all

of my life. In other words, I can't tell if it is the Grave's

making me see the world in a bad light or if it is the chronic

depression. I gave up taking an antidepressant, Desipramine, in

order to protect my heart. I have read of some people trying 5-HTP,

so I added that in, but that has not had any effect. I am now

contemplating taking SAMe.

I feel I am physically able to exercise, again, and have made a lot

of " false " starts, but I can't keep anything positive going. All I

want to do is eat and sleep. I HAD given up Aspartame and sugar and

now, I have gone back to Equal in my caffeinated coffee and eating

sweet buns. It doesn't seem to matter that I know these things are

not good for me. I do well for a little while, then I go back to

doing what I want to do.

I feel isolated from the professional community of counselors

because I had one bad experience after another with seeking help

from them. One of them seemed to think that watching Poppins

was going to give me insights on how to deal with my niece and

nephews. She got quite upset and terminated the sessions when I

told her that I didn't get anything useful out of watching it.

Another one informed me that the reason I had a hard time

remembering my childhood was because my life was so very boring.

The only person who really helped me was the psychiatrist who

recognized that my depression came from within me and prescribed the

antidepressant. Since it may be damaging to my physical health, it

is difficult to decide to go back to it to solve these psychological

problems.

In recent weeks, my doctor has decided that I was asking for too

many blood tests and may stop writing lab slips for me. My

naturopath sees no value in mercury detox nor NAET nor any other

idea that she thinks I got from the internet. This means I may need

to find another doctor and another naturopath and a new counselor.

I don't feel like searching for any of the above.

Since I feel like whining, I might as well add that the removal of

the last mercury filling has gone badly, to the point where I may

need a root canal. Root canals are another thing that some people

say are detrimental to the health, but I don't feel like living with

a throbbing tooth while I hunt down someone knowledgeable in

alternative procedures.

It has all suddenly become much too complex for me to deal with

successfully.

Moody, today.

> Hi ,

> If you're exposed to allergens and react to them, your immune

system is

> stimulated. Drugs that help block steps in the allergic response

like Seldane or

> nasal steroids prevent or reduce the immune system's reaction.

This helps lower

> antibody production. When your immune system is stimulated, like

with a

> vaccine or exposure to antigens, antibody titers rise. Take care,

Elaine

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Pam L.

I like the lines to divide topics.

I was thinking that I may be hypo, too. I am due to have my levels

of FT3 and FT4 checked around the first of October. That will be 4

weeks with taking 10mg Methimazole by itself; no Armour.

I didn't have a FT3 last time. FT4 for August 16 was 2.2 with a

range of .8 to 1.8. That indicated I was a tad on the hyper side of

things. That was done when I was still taking Armour.

I got caught up in the idea of BRT because I wanted more of a chance

to achieve remission and I wanted my thyroid to have a nice

vacation. Both my doctor and naturopath suggested Armour as the

replacement thyroid hormone. Are you suggesting that Synthroid or

something else may have been a better choice? Even if you

say " yes " , I don't think I will go back to BRT. I like the idea,

now, of keeping things simple.

___________________

You indicated: " For example: I find any artificial sweetener to be a

worse trigger for me than sugar. "

I don't find either to be a trigger for any change in the way I feel

except GUILTY! I'm going to take that to mean that I can continue

with them, in moderation, until I DO feel as if they are having a

detrimental effect.

____________________

The tooth is one that I need to keep. I had thought I should

sacrifice it for the benefit of the whole body. I don't really want

to do that. Thanks for making it sound like a common sense decision

to go ahead with the root canal.

____________________

You said > " Sounds like you are starting to 'get it' kiddo ! "

Yeh, with help from people like you, Elaine and all of the others

who try to help, I am starting to 'get it " , I guess. Maybe all I

need is a an adjustment to my medication to help me see a brighter

day coming. I hope so.

Thanks for all of your valuable comments.

[Guest guest]

Hello, ,

I think that is great advice - to take one step at a time. First, I

do need to get this tooth to stop throbbing. It is definitely

tiring, if not depressing.

I have a lab slip that my doctor had given me previously. I don't

want to use it until around the first of October, though. I want to

get a true reading of what 10mg of Methimazole is doing. I don't

feel that two weeks on Methimazole by itself is enough to give me a

true reading. The results might show hyper only because the Armour

hasn't left my system. That will definitely be my next step.

After that, I will try to convince my doctor to give me lab slips for

tests that I will pay for myself. His objection was on behalf of the

insurance company, not for any other reason.

You are absolutely right. Thanks so much.

[Guest guest]

Hello, Fay,

Yes, I have called the insurance company and they indicated they are

only concerned with whether the tests are medically necessary. I

wrote a letter to my doctor to tell him what they said. I indicated

that I feel the tests are medically necessary since there are health

consequences from being hyper and hypo and the medication can't be

adjusted without the lab tests. I haven't heard back from him, as

yet. I only sent the letter to him on Monday.