ATDs / Barb and All

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb,

I HAVE been following along, but you have been doing so well, I had no real

reason to

reply. ( grin )

I DO relate to the rapid decrease in dose in the beginning only. But I was

on a huge dose

( 1200 mg) , so it is logical that if we were each given a big dose for our

individual

needs, then once the stored thyroid hormone is used up... they say 4 to 8

weeks, THEN we

would be able to head to the maintenance dose we will need to be on for

awhile. THEN as

the antibodies are reduced, we are able to reduce even more slowly as we

need a bit less

PTU.

So my guess would be that you are now seeking that magic maintenance dose.

What you want

to avoid now is starting to go up and down. That causes even more problems

than being

slightly hypo. I mean slightly. Not swollen, puffy, in constant pain, and

suicidal. Big

difference. I have been on both sides of that fence. Slightly hypo is really

not so bad.

It just makes time seem to drag on. ;-(. Don't be worried about the term "

hypo hell "

which seems to have taken on a life of its own, and is used freely by

patients that have

not really ever been truly hypo.

Hypo hell is when a patient has been made hypo and left there for years, all

the while

they are told they a normal. Now after the first few years... that really IS

hell.

When we are adjusting any thyroid dose, there is a lag time, and if done

properly ... safe

and slow, we will be very slightly hypo here and there. This really is not a

big deal.

Though it does involve more reading or watching TV. :-) But do not let this

unknown cause

you fear.

They say we need two full weeks minimum for the dose to be reflected.

BUT>>> I never felt for sure how a dose was going to make ME feel for

exactly 3 1/2

weeks. Funny , but over the years I DID find this exact amount of time

always kept

popping up. After awhile I was able to know to wait it out.

You may find something similar. ???

THIS is NOT frustrating !

Being HYPO and needing adjustment of replacement hormone is FRUSTRATING.

Each dose

adjustment must be waited out a full EIGHT weeks, to know for sure. Now add

in the time

for them to get blood drawn( lab appointment) wait for results, wait for

doctor

appointment, or the endless wait for the doctor to call them, and the whole

drug store

thing... then add the arguing with the doctor that you really do not feel

right... and on

and on... See how the time adds up for someone with no thyroid ?

They can very easily spend three years making the adjustments we can make

with anti

thyroid drugs in six months.

PLUS.. no doctor can refuse to prescribe us enough thyroid hormone to be

able to function.

Nope... 3 1/2 weeks is NOT frustrating. ( this time ' might be two weeks for

you, but

never less ... and you will get to the standard four week thing pretty soon

)

=Pam L =

..