Re: Thyroxine - block and replace-Terry

[Guest guest]

Hi Terry

Thanks for your reply. If only we could switch doctors..it's not

that simple in the UK, although we are going tomorrow (Monday) to try

and get some answers to what is going on here. This has been ongoing

now since about 1994, the recent re-lapse happened earlier in the

year but no-body has been monitoring him. It was only recently when

I joined this group I realised how dibilitating Graves can be and how

proper treatment is absolutely crucial. We were all set to go

blindly go along the RAI route until I joined this group. It was

and her story which stopped that in its tracks. Thank goodness

for people like her (and you of course) otherwise we would be none

the wiser.

I will ask for copies of all the lab reports since this re-lapse. If

I am allowed them (which I doubt) then I will post them on here.

Failing that I'm packing up and leaving for the US!!

Jemima

> Hi Jemima,

>

> Any chance you could switch to a doctor who knows what he's doing?

This one

> sounds dangerous to your health! 400 mg. of PTU is a high dose,

even for

> starting out very hyper. The protocol is generally to start

reducing the

> dose, slowly and gradually, as your thyroid levels normalize. The

objective

> is to NOT let you go hypothyroid! I've never heard of ANYONE being

put on

> B & R until they are stable on a maintenance dose of PTU or Tapazole.

> Certainly not after only 4 weeks of treatment, when the thyroid

levels

> haven't even stabilized!

>

> You should be tested for FT4 every 4 weeks, FT3 too at first to see

if it

> follows the FT4 numbers or not (this test is more expensive, so for

> instance, my doctor runs it 2x a year now that we're sure it tracks

along

> with the FT4). Your dose should be gradually reduced, so that you

can

> maintain FT levels in the upper-normal range. The objective is to

never go

> hypo, and never again go hyper!

>

> Jemima, you need to post your latest labs and if you can, along

with it the

> history of your labs so we can see what's happening and give more

specific

> advice.

>

> > From: " sindydolljemima " <dominantlady2002@a...>

> > Reply-To: graves_support

> > Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 11:10:48 -0000

> > To: graves_support

> > Subject: Thyroxine - block and replace

> >

> > After being fine for a few weeks on 400mg PTU the doctor decided

to

> > introduce 50 micrograms of Thyroxine. Apparently known as block

and

> > replace but I'm not quite sure what the objective is. I

understand

> > the theory of block and replace but it is actually having a

profound

> > affect on his whole body. Irritability, eccessive sweating

> > especially whilst sleeping, anxiety and generally most of the

> > syptoms experienced whilst hyper (before PTU). He wants to stop

> > taking the thyroxine but I don't think stopping cold turkey will

do

> > any good especially as being on 400mg PTU was sending him slightly

> > hypo ~ tired lethargic, sleepy etc..and his next appointment is

in 8

> > weeks.

> >

> > I've suggested an urgent appointment on Monday with the local

doctor

> > who can perhaps (if we're lucky) can get some advice from the

> > consultant. In the meantime..carry on with PTU and thyroxine.

> > Please back me up on this..anyone..or advise the best course of

> > action.

> >

> > Thank you

> >

> > Jemima

> >

> >

> >

> > -------------------------------------

> > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and

is not

> > intended to replace expert medical care.

> > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new

treatments.

> > ----------------------------------------

> > DISCLAIMER

> >

> > Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the

endorsement of

> > the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to

emails.

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------

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

> > --------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I'm not familiar withe the Mediboard Terry but I will check it out.

We couldn't see the doctor today, the appointment is still 8 weeks

but he has been told to take the thyroxine every other day for 2

weeks and then introduce it every day. Apparently some people are

sensitive to it..oh well..

Jemima

> >> Hi Jemima,

> >>

> >> Any chance you could switch to a doctor who knows what he's

doing?

> > This one

> >> sounds dangerous to your health! 400 mg. of PTU is a high dose,

> > even for

> >> starting out very hyper. The protocol is generally to start

> > reducing the

> >> dose, slowly and gradually, as your thyroid levels normalize. The

> > objective

> >> is to NOT let you go hypothyroid! I've never heard of ANYONE

being

> > put on

> >> B & R until they are stable on a maintenance dose of PTU or

Tapazole.

> >> Certainly not after only 4 weeks of treatment, when the thyroid

> > levels

> >> haven't even stabilized!

> >>

> >> You should be tested for FT4 every 4 weeks, FT3 too at first to

see

> > if it

> >> follows the FT4 numbers or not (this test is more expensive, so

for

> >> instance, my doctor runs it 2x a year now that we're sure it

tracks

> > along

> >> with the FT4). Your dose should be gradually reduced, so that you

> > can

> >> maintain FT levels in the upper-normal range. The objective is to

> > never go

> >> hypo, and never again go hyper!

> >>

> >> Jemima, you need to post your latest labs and if you can, along

> > with it the

> >> history of your labs so we can see what's happening and give more

> > specific

> >> advice.

> >>

> >>> From: " sindydolljemima " <dominantlady2002@a...>

> >>> Reply-To: graves_support

> >>> Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 11:10:48 -0000

> >>> To: graves_support

> >>> Subject: Thyroxine - block and replace

> >>>

> >>> After being fine for a few weeks on 400mg PTU the doctor decided

> > to

> >>> introduce 50 micrograms of Thyroxine. Apparently known as block

> > and

> >>> replace but I'm not quite sure what the objective is. I

> > understand

> >>> the theory of block and replace but it is actually having a

> > profound

> >>> affect on his whole body. Irritability, eccessive sweating

> >>> especially whilst sleeping, anxiety and generally most of the

> >>> syptoms experienced whilst hyper (before PTU). He wants to stop

> >>> taking the thyroxine but I don't think stopping cold turkey will

> > do

> >>> any good especially as being on 400mg PTU was sending him

slightly

> >>> hypo ~ tired lethargic, sleepy etc..and his next appointment is

> > in 8

> >>> weeks.

> >>>

> >>> I've suggested an urgent appointment on Monday with the local

> > doctor

> >>> who can perhaps (if we're lucky) can get some advice from the

> >>> consultant. In the meantime..carry on with PTU and thyroxine.

> >>> Please back me up on this..anyone..or advise the best course of

> >>> action.

> >>>

> >>> Thank you

> >>>

> >>> Jemima

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>

> >>> -------------------------------------

> >>> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and

> > is not

> >>> intended to replace expert medical care.

> >>> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new

> > treatments.

> >>> ----------------------------------------

> >>> DISCLAIMER

> >>>

> >>> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the

> > endorsement of

> >>> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to

> > emails.

> >>> ----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> > ------------

> >>> --------

> >>>

> >>>