Guest guest Posted October 26, 2003 Report Share Posted October 26, 2003 Hello everyone... I've been lurking here for a while now and this is my first post. Here's a quick background: I am female, 42, ex-smoker, vegetarian, obese, living in Glasgow Scotland, single, no kids. First diagnosed with Graves' in 1992 after having been very ill for 2 years with various wrong 'diagnoses' (including IBS) by several different GPs. Treated with block and replace therapy by local National Health Service endo for 1 year. Don't know if I was officially in remission, but was euthyroid for over 3 years after that. Hyper again and consulted a Medical Herbalist prior to seeing endo. For next 3 years, kept largely euthyroid by herbal medicine, with endo monitoring levels but all the while denying the efficacy of the herbs (?!?!). 18 months ago for some unknown reason, the herbs stopped working. I became increasingly hyper again and unwell. I asked the endo to try block and replace again and am now reaching the end of my 18 months on that regime, having been stable and euthyroid throughout. For 10 years my endo has been trying to get me to have RAI, and I've been refusing. To 'test' remission, he has offered me only the radioactive thyroid uptake scan, which I have refused. I am now in the position of not knowing what happens next and I have some questions which I hope someone here can help me with.... Can you give me details of any UK endos in NHS or private sector who are sympathetic to long-term treatment with ATDs? Is is possible to privately have a TRab or similar test done in UK so I know if I am actually in remission or just euthyroid? (Endo refuses to do this). How slowly should I aim to drop from 40 mgs Carbimazole per day (the block) with 150 mcgs replacement Thyroxine, to a low maintenance dose of just the ATD. I know it depends on my levels and symptoms, etc. However, I'm looking for a `ball park' figure, to help me negotiate with my endos who will tell me to just stop the meds and see if my thyroid levels go back up. Any info you can give me about the above will be gratefully received. Thanks for your help in this… and thanks for being there all of you, as you have been a fantastic source of info and inspiration since I started visiting here! Joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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