help with blood test results

[Guest guest]

twinspl1 wrote:

>

>

> After a TT in 2002, I have been on every strength of synthroid until

> my doctor switched me to Cytomel. ...

What exactly does this mean? What was the highest dose you tried? What

happened to cause your doctor to switch to Cytomel alone?

> ... My latest blood results are after

> being on Cytomel 50 mcg once a day (no more synthroid) for 6 weeks.

>

> T4 0.50 (6.09-12.23)

> TSH 2.03 (0.34-5.60)

> FTI 0.20 (5.93-13-13)

> T3Uptake 34.7 (32.00-48.40)

>

> My dr. increased my Cytomel to 50 mcg twice a day. I have read that

> you should increase Cytomel slowly. Shouldn't I be on T4 medication

> also? Every time I question my dr. she looks at me like I am crazy....

> Very frustrating...........Any opinions/thoughts are very much

> appreciated.

I think you may be risking your life or at least permanent damage and

should get a new doctor. But, that is just a layman's speculation.

Treatment with pure T3 is rather unusual except in extreme

circumstances. You haven't given us any reason to think you are one of

those extreme exceptions.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Thanks for responding Chuck. I also appreciate your email of today re: new

members FAQ. Thanks. I have gone from .88 to .175 Synthroid since total

removal of thyroid. He put me on Cytomel after my telling him that I can't lose

weight, tired all the time, just never feeling right since TT. I felt that he

was just trying something new to see if I would feel better, but now I am

questioning not get any T4 hormone.

Chuck B <gumboyaya@...> wrote: twinspl1 wrote:

>

>

> After a TT in 2002, I have been on every strength of synthroid until

> my doctor switched me to Cytomel. ...

What exactly does this mean? What was the highest dose you tried? What

happened to cause your doctor to switch to Cytomel alone?

> ... My latest blood results are after

> being on Cytomel 50 mcg once a day (no more synthroid) for 6 weeks.

>

> T4 0.50 (6.09-12.23)

> TSH 2.03 (0.34-5.60)

> FTI 0.20 (5.93-13-13)

> T3Uptake 34.7 (32.00-48.40)

>

> My dr. increased my Cytomel to 50 mcg twice a day. I have read that

> you should increase Cytomel slowly. Shouldn't I be on T4 medication

> also? Every time I question my dr. she looks at me like I am crazy....

> Very frustrating...........Any opinions/thoughts are very much

> appreciated.

I think you may be risking your life or at least permanent damage and

should get a new doctor. But, that is just a layman's speculation.

Treatment with pure T3 is rather unusual except in extreme

circumstances. You haven't given us any reason to think you are one of

those extreme exceptions.

Chuck

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Cytomel is normaly given in addition to the T4.However,I did find the following

on the web where only cytomel was being prescribed:

http://www.drlowe.com/QandA/askdrlowe/t3.htm

Puneet

Meg Jordan <twinspl1@...> wrote:

Thanks for responding Chuck. I also appreciate your email of today re: new

members FAQ. Thanks. I have gone from .88 to .175 Synthroid since total removal

of thyroid. He put me on Cytomel after my telling him that I can't lose weight,

tired all the time, just never feeling right since TT. I felt that he was just

trying something new to see if I would feel better, but now I am questioning

not get any T4 hormone.

Chuck B <gumboyaya@...> wrote: twinspl1 wrote:

>

>

> After a TT in 2002, I have been on every strength of synthroid until

> my doctor switched me to Cytomel. ...

What exactly does this mean? What was the highest dose you tried? What

happened to cause your doctor to switch to Cytomel alone?

> ... My latest blood results are after

> being on Cytomel 50 mcg once a day (no more synthroid) for 6 weeks.

>

> T4 0.50 (6.09-12.23)

> TSH 2.03 (0.34-5.60)

> FTI 0.20 (5.93-13-13)

> T3Uptake 34.7 (32.00-48.40)

>

> My dr. increased my Cytomel to 50 mcg twice a day. I have read that

> you should increase Cytomel slowly. Shouldn't I be on T4 medication

> also? Every time I question my dr. she looks at me like I am crazy....

> Very frustrating...........Any opinions/thoughts are very much

> appreciated.

I think you may be risking your life or at least permanent damage and

should get a new doctor. But, that is just a layman's speculation.

Treatment with pure T3 is rather unusual except in extreme

circumstances. You haven't given us any reason to think you are one of

those extreme exceptions.

Chuck

---------------------------------

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starting at 1¢/min.

[Guest guest]

Meg,

You wrote:

> ... I have gone from .88 to .175 Synthroid since

> total removal of thyroid. He put me on Cytomel after my telling him ...

The nominal full replacement dose for an _average_ weight adult female

is 200 mcg. Unless you are a young child or older than my mother, you

were significantly under treated and never reached an effective level.

If you have a weight problem, you were WAY under treated. Instead of

Cytomel, he should have first tried a higher dose of Synthroid, at least

at 200 mcg.

Incidentally, Synthroid for humans comes in 12 different doses ranging

from 25 to 300 mcg. If you include the animal versions, it goes up to

800 mcg. That is why I could not understand how you could have been on

every strength of Synthroid.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

If you have no thyroid gland, then you especially need Armour. You must take

enough, do not treat to TSH. Then you have to give yourself what you needed in

the first place b4 TT.

http://www.geocities.com/thyroide

http://www.optimox.com

I wonder how these docs graduate from med school?

gracia

After a TT in 2002, I have been on every strength of synthroid until

my doctor switched me to Cytomel. My latest blood results are after

being on Cytomel 50 mcg once a day (no more synthroid) for 6 weeks.

T4 0.50 (6.09-12.23)

TSH 2.03 (0.34-5.60)

FTI 0.20 (5.93-13-13)

T3Uptake 34.7 (32.00-48.40)

My dr. increased my Cytomel to 50 mcg twice a day. I have read that

you should increase Cytomel slowly. Shouldn't I be on T4 medication

also? Every time I question my dr. she looks at me like I am crazy....

Very frustrating...........Any opinions/thoughts are very much

appreciated.

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[Guest guest]

You have to post the lab's reference ranges as the values don't mean much

without them.

Val

From: hyperaldosteronism

[mailto:hyperaldosteronism ] On Behalf Of garrywpt

After getting an initial diagnosis of PA I finally got a copy of my full

blood tests and

wanted to share with people who know more than I do. I don't understand the

numbers or

explanations and hoping to gain insight here. Hope I retyped all of this

correctly:

Sodium = 140 mmol/L

Potassium = 3.8 mmol/L

Chloride = 101 mmol/L

Carbon Dioxide Content = 29 mmol/L

Anion Gap = 10 mmol/L

ANA Tier = Negative

ANA Pattern = Negative

Norepinephrine, Urine = 38 mcg/24 h

Epinephrine, Urine = 7.5 mcg/24 h

Dopamine, Urine = 437 (H) mcg/24 h

Creatinine = 1.3 mg/dL

e-GFR = 63 mL/min/1.73sqm

Volume Urine = 1021 mL

Period Urine = 21.5 hr

Normetanephrine Urine = 288 mcg/24 h

Metanephrine Urine = 121 mcg/24 h

Calcium = 9.7 mcg/24 h

BUN = 13 mcg/24 h

Rheumatoid Factor = Negative

Renin Activity = <0.1 (L)

Aldosterone, Serum = 16.3 ng/dL

[Guest guest]

Dear Garry:

What diagnoses you as a PA patient is the ratio of Aldosterone to Renin.

According to these tests your renin is very low thus making the ratio very

high. Physicians differ in opinion on the ratio being anything over 14 or

others may believe any ration higher than 30 will give a positive diagnosis

for a PA.

However, the numbers may be altered depending on the type of medications you

may be taking. So to make the lab results more understandable, you need to

give a summary of the type of medications you are currently taking and a

little history of your health.

Dr. Grim will also post his opinion better once he knows what meds you are

on.

Best of Health to You.

Farah

On Jan 23, 2008 11:15 AM, garrywpt <ggdenny@...> wrote:

> After getting an initial diagnosis of PA I finally got a copy of my full

> blood tests and

> wanted to share with people who know more than I do. I don't understand

> the numbers or

> explanations and hoping to gain insight here. Hope I retyped all of this

> correctly:

>

> Sodium = 140 mmol/L

> Potassium = 3.8 mmol/L

> Chloride = 101 mmol/L

> Carbon Dioxide Content = 29 mmol/L

> Anion Gap = 10 mmol/L

> ANA Tier = Negative

> ANA Pattern = Negative

> Norepinephrine, Urine = 38 mcg/24 h

> Epinephrine, Urine = 7.5 mcg/24 h

> Dopamine, Urine = 437 (H) mcg/24 h

> Creatinine = 1.3 mg/dL

> e-GFR = 63 mL/min/1.73sqm

> Volume Urine = 1021 mL

> Period Urine = 21.5 hr

> Normetanephrine Urine = 288 mcg/24 h

> Metanephrine Urine = 121 mcg/24 h

> Calcium = 9.7 mcg/24 h

> BUN = 13 mcg/24 h

> Rheumatoid Factor = Negative

> Renin Activity = <0.1 (L)

> Aldosterone, Serum = 16.3 ng/dL

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Farah,

Thanks for replying. At the time of the blood work I was on the following

medications:

Lisinopril

Metoprolol

Triamterene

Clonidine

Wellbutrin

Cymbalta

A week or so prior to the blood work I was also on Amlodipine, but stopped. Hope

this

helps.

>

> > After getting an initial diagnosis of PA I finally got a copy of my full

> > blood tests and

> > wanted to share with people who know more than I do. I don't understand

> > the numbers or

> > explanations and hoping to gain insight here. Hope I retyped all of this

> > correctly:

> >

> > Sodium = 140 mmol/L

> > Potassium = 3.8 mmol/L

> > Chloride = 101 mmol/L

> > Carbon Dioxide Content = 29 mmol/L

> > Anion Gap = 10 mmol/L

> > ANA Tier = Negative

> > ANA Pattern = Negative

> > Norepinephrine, Urine = 38 mcg/24 h

> > Epinephrine, Urine = 7.5 mcg/24 h

> > Dopamine, Urine = 437 (H) mcg/24 h

> > Creatinine = 1.3 mg/dL

> > e-GFR = 63 mL/min/1.73sqm

> > Volume Urine = 1021 mL

> > Period Urine = 21.5 hr

> > Normetanephrine Urine = 288 mcg/24 h

> > Metanephrine Urine = 121 mcg/24 h

> > Calcium = 9.7 mcg/24 h

> > BUN = 13 mcg/24 h

> > Rheumatoid Factor = Negative

> > Renin Activity = <0.1 (L)

> > Aldosterone, Serum = 16.3 ng/dL

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

garrywpt wrote:

>

> HI Garry

>

What was this lab's normal range for calcium?

The cocktail of drugs is similar to that I was taking prior to Dx of

PA. I can only say in light of what I've learned about PA (17 yrs, in

stage 4), and from my work in pharmo that the clonidine can rise

pressure by itself if used for very long - it is like an opioid in that

the body adapts and wants more, and makes whatever it is doing " rebound "

backward. It is for very short term BP control - until longer term

treatment can be correctly defined.

The antidepressants ditto - they also have the known effects, speedy, BP

rises, mood and sleep changes, etc. The HCTZ version of Triamterene (or

ameloride version, and with advanced PA, any diuretic sometimes) can

lower K by itself, especially with PA (with which they do not control BP

well if at all, ditto for the ACE - lisinopril, and the BB - metoprolol).

Most of all, if pressure is not controlled (below 120/80) for a long

time your heart and kidneys can start to suffer, vessles, vision, etc.

Stroke and other dangers.

I am unhappy with the SSRI antidepressants, because it was those upon

which we worked in my reseach projects. They seemed to alter so many

functions in so many bewildering ways (different w/different folks), and

upon withdrawal, lots of heart rhythm and other problems. Our subjects

reported not so much a lessening of depression as not caring about it.

I wouldn't take 'em unless no other path existed for depression - and

many do. Exercise is the most effective - in trials by a long win over

any drug. Natural activity walking around - 8-10,000 steps per day on

the pedometer - was better than short, hard gym workouts.

Diet and life situation-repairs won too. The drugs seem like a lazy,

risky business to students of drug efx.

You know this, though, I am sure,

Dave

>

> Farah,

>

> Thanks for replying. At the time of the blood work I was on the

> following medications:

>

> Lisinopril

> Metoprolol

> Triamterene

> Clonidine

> Wellbutrin

> Cymbalta

>

> A week or so prior to the blood work I was also on Amlodipine, but

> stopped. Hope this

> helps.

>

>

> >

> > > After getting an initial diagnosis of PA I finally got a copy of

> my full

> > > blood tests and

> > > wanted to share with people who know more than I do. I don't

> understand

> > > the numbers or

> > > explanations and hoping to gain insight here. Hope I retyped all

> of this

> > > correctly:

> > >

> > > Sodium = 140 mmol/L

> > > Potassium = 3.8 mmol/L

> > > Chloride = 101 mmol/L

> > > Carbon Dioxide Content = 29 mmol/L

> > > Anion Gap = 10 mmol/L

> > > ANA Tier = Negative

> > > ANA Pattern = Negative

> > > Norepinephrine, Urine = 38 mcg/24 h

> > > Epinephrine, Urine = 7.5 mcg/24 h

> > > Dopamine, Urine = 437 (H) mcg/24 h

> > > Creatinine = 1.3 mg/dL

> > > e-GFR = 63 mL/min/1.73sqm

> > > Volume Urine = 1021 mL

> > > Period Urine = 21.5 hr

> > > Normetanephrine Urine = 288 mcg/24 h

> > > Metanephrine Urine = 121 mcg/24 h

> > > Calcium = 9.7 mcg/24 h

> > > BUN = 13 mcg/24 h

> > > Rheumatoid Factor = Negative

> > > Renin Activity = <0.1 (L)

> > > Aldosterone, Serum = 16.3 ng/dL

> > >

> > >

> > >

>

[Guest guest]

See my article in our files on the evolution of PA

CE Grim MS, MD

High Blood Pressure Consulting

Clnical Professor of Medicine Medical Colege of Wisconsin

Board certified in Internal Med, Geritrics and Hypertension.

Interests: The effect of recent evolutionary forces on high blood

pressure in human populations.

On Jan 23, 2008, at 11:02 PM, garrywpt wrote:

> Farah,

>

> Thanks for replying. At the time of the blood work I was on the

> following medications:

>

> Lisinopril-This does not work in PA-it can increase renin

> Metoprolol-This does not work in PA-it can decrease renin

> Triamterene-This does not work well in PA-it can increase renin

> Clonidine-this does not work well in PA

> Wellbutrin

> Cymbalta

>

What type of diet were you eating? Salt intake is critical.

What time of day?

Did they have you stand or lie down for x minutes or hours?

[Guest guest]

Dr. Grim, what is the problem with increasing renin, i.e., Lisinopril and

Triamterene?

Val

From: hyperaldosteronism

[mailto:hyperaldosteronism ] On Behalf Of Grim Clarence

> Lisinopril-This does not work in PA-it can increase renin

> Metoprolol-This does not work in PA-it can decrease renin

> Triamterene-This does not work well in PA-it can increase renin

> Clonidine-this does not work well in PA

[Guest guest]

It may distort the aldo renin ratio. Which was what we were talking

about.

CE Grim MS, MD

High Blood Pressure Consulting

Clnical Professor of Medicine Medical Colege of Wisconsin

Board certified in Internal Med, Geritrics and Hypertension.

Interests: The effect of recent evolutionary forces on high blood

pressure in human populations.

On Jan 24, 2008, at 9:30 AM, Valarie wrote:

> Dr. Grim, what is the problem with increasing renin, i.e.,

> Lisinopril and

> Triamterene?

>

> Val

CE Grim MS, MD

High Blood Pressure Consulting

Clnical Professor of Medicine Medical Colege of Wisconsin

Board certified in Internal Med, Geritrics and Hypertension.

Interests: The effect of recent evolutionary forces on high blood

pressure in human populations.

[Guest guest]

HI. I just got my sons blood work back. He is in the red on selenium

and zinc. I have been supplementing these for a while now. The test

file is under " ElijahB " tests in the files section along with his other

tests. I dont really understand how he can be low in these when I have

supplemented them 4 x a day for over 2 months. Any input would really

be appreciated.I know mercury wont show in blood as we havn't done a

round in a few weeks. I did take him off supplements for 4 days just

before this test as Dr ordered but could that really make such a

difference?