Re: Question regarding TSI/Elaine

[Guest guest]

Hi Clair,

You don't have to be in remission to start block and replace. You just have

to be past the initial 6-8 weeks of ATDs, a time when the thyroid hormone

stored in your gland has all been released.

An ideal time is when you start to become hypothyroid. Then you have the

options of: 1) adding thyroid hormone, following the B & R protocol, or 2)

lowering

your PTU dose as you suggested. The advantage of B & R is that it slows your

thyroid gland down more while providing more stable thyroid hormone levels. The

disadvantage is that you're on more meds than you would be if you simply cut

the dose of PTU. Take care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much! So essentially at this point because I am not " in

remission " I am still not ready for the 2nd medication in my BRT

regiment to be added? So I should lower my PTU dose so I don't go

hypo while working on going into remission? I imagine that the next

lowest dose I would take would be 100mg per day (I am on 150mg right

now). But how would I get that dose to work so it's 3x a day? With

50mg pills, I can't see how to spread it out nor do I see how

splitting the pills would work out right either? Would it be 25mg-

50mg-25mg? Or should it be equal doses?

Sorry for all the questions... Thanks for your help!!

Clair

Diagnosed in 1995

Remission after BRT 1997

Relapse diagnosed 10/02

50mg PTU 3x a day since 10/02 as part of BRT

> Hi Clair,

> Your FT3 and FT3 are on the low end of the normal range, and many

people feel

> best with levels near the high end of the range. This could account

for your

> symptoms. You may need your meds adjusted.

>

> Quest Diagnostics is one of the top reference labs in the country.

Your

> results show that you still have a high TSI level, meaning that

you're not in

> remission. TSI are thyroid antibodies produced by your immune

system.

> TSI directly activate thyroid cells, causing them to produce and

release

> excess thyroid hormone. Without your ATD, you would be

hyperthyroid.

>

> The Performance Characteristics indicate that the test is used by a

small

> segment of the population and there isn't a need for the FDA to

establish testing

> guidelines. Many tests remain in this category. It also means that

there

> isn't a commercial kit for this test that would require permormance

testing by

> different labs to evaluate it.

> Take care, Elaine

>

>

>