Another Thyroid Thread.... (Redux)

[e3rdpower]

Well, I met with my third, and hopefully, last endo today. He's just what I was hoping to find. He listened, didn't talk down to me, and offered understandable answers to my questions. He seems to more closely monitor his patients levels if they aren't yet stable. Plus, he uses an online portal for posting my labs and communication. I just felt a lot more confident talking to him than I did the other two docs. He's not going to push me toward RAI, which is a huge relief.

On a related note, my skin has been really itchy lately and my palms red so he's running some liver tests. sure hope nothing is wrong on that count.

That sounds lovely. I do like my endo, but have yet to find one with online communication like that. It sounds awesome.

[Red Rock]

Well, it's been a while since you have seen me on this thread. I hope all of you are getting the attention of those that need your attention. Go Patients!

I'm feeling like I'm at my wits end almost. It's been good that I have not had to come here to complain or get advice etc. However, at my last endo appt. , now about 2 months away previous. He told me to cut my dose in half, so from 10mg to 5 mg once a day. I have since lost a job, become more brain foggy, not remembering, short attention span, some bone aches and lost over or at least 5 pounds. I'm sure there is more. My next appointment isn't until the 20th which will not be here soon enough. I can't wait to tell him to put me back at 10 mg so I can be myself again.

Those that have had to deal with doctors experimenting with your chemistry. Now I understand fully. It's no fun for sure. I have told my hubby that the night before my next appointment to give myself a full 10 mg. he says to wait until I go see him. Aargh! Not sure how I will make it.

Anyway, that is what is happening in my life these days. Hope to be a better person again after my appointment. Thanks for listening.

Red Rock

[Grits]

I don't think I have weighed in on this thread yet, but do have thyroid issues myself. Please call and leave a message for your doctor that your symptoms have worsened dramatically (be specific) since the medication change, and that you, at the very least, need to go back on the old dosage until another treatment is devised and plan to do so unless you hear back with a different treatment option. At my practice I leave messages with the doctor's nurse. If you did better on 10mg, then start doubling your dose and get a refill request sent in if you don't have enough to last until the 20th. No need to wait until the 20th to take action if you are suffering.

[shootingstar]

Red Rock, I hope you get better!

[indysteel]

((((Red Rock)))). I'm with Grits. Call your doc and see if you can, in the very least, get blood drawn sooner rather than later to see where your levels are so that you can make an appropriate dosing change. I'm sorry about your job, too. Hang in there and keep us posted.

I'm telling you; better health through chemistry is tough. I've played around with my own Methimazole dosing (reducing not increasing) because, quite frankly, if I waited for my bloodwork and a doctor's order, I'd feel lousy most of the time.

[Red Rock]

Thanks for your input Grits and Indy. I put in a call to the endo early this am after reading your responses. Still have not heard anything from them yet.

[redrhodie]

My endo appt. went well. She thought everything seemed right on, but ordered an ultrasound just in case there's something hiding. So, I'm getting that done tomorrow. She also ordered more blood tests. My GP never tested for antibodies, so it will be good to know if this is Hashi's. The other problem with my blood doesn't seem to be thyroid related, but she thought it may just be my body recovering from the radiation treatment.

I may never need to go back to her, but she was great. She answered all my questions and put my mind at ease. She also pointed out that I was already hypo at my blood test in 2011, but being under 6, it was "normal " by the old tsh standards. I need to talk to my gp about that.

Hope you're all feeling better!

[indysteel]

I hope the ultrasound and antibodies don't reveal anything further. But yikes! A TSH of 6 as the upper end of the standard is higher than I've otherwise seen--even for the old standard.