Labs... and still having difficulty finding a doctor.

[Guest guest]

Hi again, I am the one who was abruptly stopped form PTU by endo #2

(400 to 0). After 10 days off of the PTU, today, they told me that I

should continue to stay off until July 10th when they can do the

thyroid uptake scan. The endo aparently decided that I need the

uptake scan because of my increased palpatations. We had previously

agreed to an ultrasound (thanks for reminding me about that) and

continuing on PTU after 10 days. Today is the day that I was

orginally scheduled to continue on the PTU so I started it this

monring. The nurse has implied that they will not treat me if I

continue on the PTU and do not have the uptake scan. It seems ironic

to go to a place of healing that contains so much stress for me.

Part of me considers just following their orders but my intuition is

still with the PTU, I am very torn about what to do. I cannot find a

physician who is willing to treat me with ATD's, except the one who

orginally prescribed it for me (thank God) and he is 5 hours away in

another state (Alabama, I live in Pensacola, FL). I had intended to

go back there every 5 weeks but due to a demanding work schedule,

have not been able to do that. I have classic Grave's disease

including the eye protrusion. My lab test have not been consistent

due to my " search " .

FEB. 2003

Free Thyroxin 6.3 (High limit 5.5)

T4 13.8 (normal 4.5-12.0)

T3 " normal " (59-174)

TSH 0.020 (normal 0.50 - 4.70)

APRIL 7, 2003

Anti-TPO Thyroid Peroxidase (Microsomal) 305 (normal <100)

TSH 3rd generation <0.003 (normal 0.35-4.94)

JUNE 19, 2003 - after 10.5 weeks of 400mg/day PTU

T3 113 (70-170)

Free T4 0.04 (0.7 - 1.9)

TSH 4.11 (<3.3)

Since June 19th, I have only taken 125mg PTU, could I be back near

hyper levels again? It appears to me that my body responded to the

PTU, is this a good sign that I could go into remission? The endo

thinks that PTU is too high risk for the WBC problems and because it

causes liver problems. He excitedly described several events of

persons who ended up in the ER due to PTU. ALthough each case was

preceeded by " forgot to take their medication... " . I am a strong-

willed, determined person, but it is getting difficult to face the

stress of these people who consider me a problem patient. Was my

disease too far advanced intially that I should just give up and have

the RAI? I have been misdiagnosed for at least 3 years, been on

Toprol XL for 1.5 years due to the strange PVC's that suddenly

occured. The current endo #2 told me to stop the Toprol also (after

1.5 years).

Sorry for being so lengthy... Thanks for all of your help.

Lucy