Lab

[Guest guest]

Well, my last mercury-filled filling is gone, but what a long and

painful process it turned out to be. I am finally free of the

throbbing pain after having a root canal done on that tooth.

Finally, the throbbing from the root canal went away and I now have

the permanent crown in place and no discomfort.

I had complained about depression while all of this was going on and

hadn't had my lab tests done. I now have the latest from blood drawn

at the end of September:

FT3 4.6 (Range 2.3 - 4.2)

FT4 1.4 (Range 0.8 - 1.8)

TSH <0.004 (Range .35 - 5.50) (Says new reference range, but doesn't

show a new reference range, just says new reference range for 3rd

generation TSH has replaced the 2nd generation test.)

Since my blood tests don't show hypothyroidism, I am ruling out that

as the cause of my depression and as each day goes by, free of

throbbing pain, I am beginning to see that the depression may have

been caused by the dental situation.

I have been taking 5HTP for about 3 weeks, which I started after

reading that someone, here, was trying it. That may also be a reason

why I am feeling much less depressed than I had been. I am being

more consistent with my exercise program, I am less irritated by

simple daily chores, my surroundings seem less unacceptably shabby

and now look simply shabby, I am less irritated by people and I have

more energy to get on with some of the things I want and need to do.

I am going to continue with the 10mg of Methimazole and 40mg of

Inderal for the next three months unless symptoms pop up that

indicate I need to have labs done sooner. I will have the FT3, FT4

and the TSI done. I made sure I would have the TSI on the lab slip

so I could get a good idea of whether the Armour did cause the

dramatic rise from 248 to 730% from April to August. I imagine if

there has been a dramatic drop, then the Armour must have been

causing the dramatic rise.

I asked my GP two questions; whether he would allow long-term use of

ATD's and whether he uses the disappearance of the antibodies to

indicate remission. He said that it would depend on whether problems

arose, such as liver or WBC problems, if long-term use of ATD's would

be acceptable. He said he does use the antibodies as an indicator

for remission, but did not know much about it when it came to the

numbers. When I tried to share with him what I learned, here, he was

unreceptive. My overall experience with him has been, though, that

we will be able to discuss any issue that comes up and he will accept

some input from me.

I feel positive that things are going well, right now.

I have come to some level of acceptance of the fact that I have a

chronic disease. I am very aware that this disease is very complex

and needs a lot of studying to reach understanding about it, but I am

also aware that it is not the worst thing that could happen to a

person. I don't feel sorry for myself as much as I just wish that I

could go back to having my health as the best thing about myself. I

am not an attractive person, I have no talents nor riches. At one

time, I did have my health and a body that I thought could be fine-

tuned by exercise, nutrition and mind-control. Now, I have to be

constantly alert for unexpected twists and turns in the road that may

lead to battle with dragons and monsters. Today, I accept the

challenge. Tomorrow, I may be depressed, again.

54 (soon to be 55 - October 21). Diagnosed 8-20-02. Tried natural

remedies for three months. Thyroid hormones still very high.

December 7, started on ATD's. (Had been on Inderal from the very

beginning to control 114 resting pulse). April 11, tried BRT with

Armour. Antibodies rose from 248 to 730%. Stopped the Armour.

Continued on with 10mg Methimazole, 40mg Inderal. (Some say that

betablockers are " addictive " and struggle to free themselves from

them. My experience shows that some people need them longer than

others do. I feel my body will signal when it is time to stop the

Inderal. My pulse is steadily going down and I don't experience the

discomfort of a pounding heart when I regularly take the Inderal).

As I indicated, I will continue with the 10mg Methimazole, 40mg

Inderal until either symptoms show a need for a blood test or I have

the blood test done in January of 2004.

Lab tests have shown that I have a severe case of Grave's Disease.

Except for my episodes of depression, I have been one of the lucky

ones for whom the ATD's are working, albeit very slowly. I don't

want to destroy my thyroid, so I am very glad. I realize, though,

that not everyone is as fortunate as I am. If, for whatever reason,

destroying the thyroid seems to be the only alternative, then that is

the way that you must go. Not only is this disease complex, but the

inner workings of everyone who is afflicted by it, are also very,

very complex, and only that person can decide what they must do to be

able to feel good, again.