PTU for TPO

[Guest guest]

Re: --PTU for TPO

Thanks, .

So do you think that you are in, or near, remission? Did you try to reduce the

PTU and have a problem? (Just wondering about the BRT.)

Hi ,

Concerning remission--probably not yet. I've been hyper since July '03 (possibly

following an infection that made me throw up in the mornings for about a

week--wondered if I was pregnant at 48!--and I had plenty of other triggers). I

started PTU in Sept. and went hypo quickly. I've been on 100 mg most of this

year but it took a while for my endo to agree I was hypo at 2.8 TSH. I added the

Synthroid (50 mcg) May 1 and my numbers have been great since.

When I saw the endo in July she said she planned to start tapering my PTU in the

fall, which would be just a year. I've since written to her about wanting

antibody tests--as I currently understand it I need to test TSH receptor

blocking and stimulating antibodies and TPO (the endo tested something for

autoimmune thyroid disease when I first came in, which may mean I have a TPO

score to compare with). I hope she'll do some reading and agree to do the

testing; otherwise, I'll have to do it another way, as I see no point in

decreasing blind. Among my hyper symptoms were bone loss, heart problems, and

lots of Graves' rage, none of which I want to revisit!

I'd like to believe that I have a good chance at remission because I was doing

so much wrong supplement-wise (kelp in particular, plus zinc and lots of immune

boosters; there was also mucho stress and the miserable death of my Dad in

2000). But I've had " moderate " TED since last October, and I'm not sure whether

I could be in remission despite the eye symptoms. Plus it seems to take many

people 18 months at least.

Best wishes,

B.

[Guest guest]

Well, I wish you the best, . It sounds like you are doing very well

to me.

I am eager to hear about the results of your antibody tests!! Do you know

if you get the TBII whether that means that you get results of both TSI and

the blocking antibodies, or do you need to get TSI separately (in

addition)? This has been swimming around in my head. I want to make sure,

as I want to be forearmed when I next go to the endo.

P.S. If you don't mind me asking, what made you decide on BRT, rather than

simply reducing on the PTU? I am currently on 25mg PTU, so not sure if I'd

be better off at a higher dose with addition of synthroid, as long as my

Abs are still present.