diana

Gosh, Jan, I'm so sorry this took so long for me to answer. For some
reason, in my news reader, it wasn't showing this as a new message, so I
didn't get it until now, while skimming through old stuff. I do apologize,
and I do appreciate you answering me.
Anyway, to answer some of your questions....
Yes, my doctor always runs T3s and T4, and Free t3's and 4's, etc. I didn't
even have to ask, so that's a good thing. However....he only goes by T3 and
T4 most of the time. He ignores my TSH. When my T3 and T4 levels are
within range, he refers to me as euthyroid, even if my TSH is still <0.01
and I still feel like crap. I know that most people would be ok with this,
but I'm not. My TSH has went up only twice during my treatment, when it
reached 1.5 and I felt perfect....and then later when it went hypo at around
5 point something (I have labwork copies, but would have to dig them out to
be sure of the numbers) When my TSH was at 1.5 everything was wonderful, I
felt like a new person. T3 and T4 were in range, couldnt have asked for a
better scenario. However, he lowered my meds because based on my weight
gain alone, he thought I was going hypo. In my opinion, I needed the weight
back that I had lost while hyper, so I didn't mind it. After he dropped my
meds in half, my TSH went back down, and has never been anything other than
<0.01 since then. People keep saying....well, ignore that, and try and get
your T3 and T4 back to the range that it was when your TSH was 1.5 and you
felt good, and you should feel fine because you don't feel symptoms from
TSH. Well, I have been there at least twice, almost exactly, and still felt
horrible. I do believe I still have symptoms from my TSH. After this
happened my doctor was suddenly onto the "you have graves disease, so your
TSH has to be suppressed" Well, then why wasn't this so when it got up
to 1.5? LOL Doesn't make sense to change the story half way through
treatment just cause you don't have an explanation, ya know?
I am clueless as to what to do now.
I started treatment about a week before my wedding three years ago, and have
been having a rough time practically the entire time. I would like to feel
at least half way decent so that I can enjoy my husband and he can enjoy
me - bless his heart, he has been so patient through all the rage, crying,
emotional wreck episodes, and through the not feeling good and not getting
out of bed periods, and even through the cranky get away from my periods
LOL. Gotta love him I would just like to be able to give him the good
side of me lol
Diana (sorry for the long-windedness)

quality

of

jan

Hi Diana!


No problem! Just worried about ya, so glad you answered!

didn't

and


I'd rather he ignore the TSH than the others though. Too often doctors will
do TSH only and that can cause more problems. Wonder why he doesn't pay
more attention to the Ft3 and Ft4??


this,


Right, quite often Graves patients are.

<...........After this

I've been told that before myself. Matter of fact this is the quote: "Most
Graves' patients run a low TSH because of the TSH receptor antibodies we
produce" . I seem to be doing that myself, but I feel better.

Well, then why wasn't this so when it got up

Good point! LOL

It's too bad the doctor doesn't hear you when you explain this to him and
treat you accordingly. I think that would help you a lot. Can't he meet
you in the middle somewhere, how you feel and where he thinks your labs
should be?

Sounds like you have a supportive husband! That helps a lot!

Take care and wish you well and hope you get it under control!
Jan

diana

Gosh, Jan, I'm so sorry this took so long for me to answer. For some
reason, in my news reader, it wasn't showing this as a new message, so I
didn't get it until now, while skimming through old stuff. I do apologize,
and I do appreciate you answering me.
Anyway, to answer some of your questions....
Yes, my doctor always runs T3s and T4, and Free t3's and 4's, etc. I didn't
even have to ask, so that's a good thing. However....he only goes by T3 and
T4 most of the time. He ignores my TSH. When my T3 and T4 levels are
within range, he refers to me as euthyroid, even if my TSH is still <0.01
and I still feel like crap. I know that most people would be ok with this,
but I'm not. My TSH has went up only twice during my treatment, when it
reached 1.5 and I felt perfect....and then later when it went hypo at around
5 point something (I have labwork copies, but would have to dig them out to
be sure of the numbers) When my TSH was at 1.5 everything was wonderful, I
felt like a new person. T3 and T4 were in range, couldnt have asked for a
better scenario. However, he lowered my meds because based on my weight
gain alone, he thought I was going hypo. In my opinion, I needed the weight
back that I had lost while hyper, so I didn't mind it. After he dropped my
meds in half, my TSH went back down, and has never been anything other than
<0.01 since then. People keep saying....well, ignore that, and try and get
your T3 and T4 back to the range that it was when your TSH was 1.5 and you
felt good, and you should feel fine because you don't feel symptoms from
TSH. Well, I have been there at least twice, almost exactly, and still felt
horrible. I do believe I still have symptoms from my TSH. After this
happened my doctor was suddenly onto the "you have graves disease, so your
TSH has to be suppressed" Well, then why wasn't this so when it got up
to 1.5? LOL Doesn't make sense to change the story half way through
treatment just cause you don't have an explanation, ya know?
I am clueless as to what to do now.
I started treatment about a week before my wedding three years ago, and have
been having a rough time practically the entire time. I would like to feel
at least half way decent so that I can enjoy my husband and he can enjoy
me - bless his heart, he has been so patient through all the rage, crying,
emotional wreck episodes, and through the not feeling good and not getting
out of bed periods, and even through the cranky get away from my periods
LOL. Gotta love him I would just like to be able to give him the good
side of me lol
Diana (sorry for the long-windedness)

quality

of

jan

Hi Diana!


No problem! Just worried about ya, so glad you answered!

didn't

and


I'd rather he ignore the TSH than the others though. Too often doctors will
do TSH only and that can cause more problems. Wonder why he doesn't pay
more attention to the Ft3 and Ft4??


this,


Right, quite often Graves patients are.

<...........After this

I've been told that before myself. Matter of fact this is the quote: "Most
Graves' patients run a low TSH because of the TSH receptor antibodies we
produce" . I seem to be doing that myself, but I feel better.

Well, then why wasn't this so when it got up

Good point! LOL

It's too bad the doctor doesn't hear you when you explain this to him and
treat you accordingly. I think that would help you a lot. Can't he meet
you in the middle somewhere, how you feel and where he thinks your labs
should be?

Sounds like you have a supportive husband! That helps a lot!

Take care and wish you well and hope you get it under control!
Jan

diana

He does pay attention to the T4 and T3, but for me personally, I'd rather
him pay more attention to the TSH. I know for most people, TSH doesn't
really matter, but it seems to be the only thing directly bothering me.
I asked him to try block and replace therapy, and he said he wouldn't do it
because he felt it was not good to overtreat, and then replace. Then again,
this is the same doctor who rolls his eyes everytime I mention any
vitamins/minerals, etc. He doesn't seem to put much stock in the fact that
thyroid patients are usually deficient in several things, and he also
doesn't seem to think that vitamins and things will help. He basically says
"you can take a multi if you want," while rolling his eyes the whole time,
grrrrr. I am trying to find a new doc, who takes these sort of things into
the picture, since we are one giant unit that works as a whole, I think it
needs to be dealt with that way.
Thanks for listening!
Diana

diana

He does pay attention to the T4 and T3, but for me personally, I'd rather
him pay more attention to the TSH. I know for most people, TSH doesn't
really matter, but it seems to be the only thing directly bothering me.
I asked him to try block and replace therapy, and he said he wouldn't do it
because he felt it was not good to overtreat, and then replace. Then again,
this is the same doctor who rolls his eyes everytime I mention any
vitamins/minerals, etc. He doesn't seem to put much stock in the fact that
thyroid patients are usually deficient in several things, and he also
doesn't seem to think that vitamins and things will help. He basically says
"you can take a multi if you want," while rolling his eyes the whole time,
grrrrr. I am trying to find a new doc, who takes these sort of things into
the picture, since we are one giant unit that works as a whole, I think it
needs to be dealt with that way.
Thanks for listening!
Diana

jan

AND the FT3 and FT4??

but for me personally, I'd rather

I understand that and the whole picture needs to be looked at, especially if
you're not feeling well the way he's presently medicating you. In his
defense the TSH usually follows whatever the FT3 and FT4 shows, and TSH runs
about 6 wks behind.


it

again,


that


says

Now that is just silly!

I am trying to find a new doc, who takes these sort of things into


Sounds like he's obstinate with you, and that isn't good. You need to go to
someone you're totally comfortable with. Good luck in finding a good one.
Sometimes it takes a few tries!

Jan

jan

AND the FT3 and FT4??

but for me personally, I'd rather

I understand that and the whole picture needs to be looked at, especially if
you're not feeling well the way he's presently medicating you. In his
defense the TSH usually follows whatever the FT3 and FT4 shows, and TSH runs
about 6 wks behind.


it

again,


that


says

Now that is just silly!

I am trying to find a new doc, who takes these sort of things into


Sounds like he's obstinate with you, and that isn't good. You need to go to
someone you're totally comfortable with. Good luck in finding a good one.
Sometimes it takes a few tries!

Jan

diana

yeah, he does the Ft3 and FT4 as well. He's very good about that. He also
runs CMP panels anytime I want. It's the things that lean more towards
alternative meds that he won't touch......tests for candida, test for
vitamin and nutrient levels, and things like that. He's a specialist in
endocrinology, and internal medicine, so it's shocking to me that he fails
to believe that nutrients can't make a difference lol.
As far as my TSH lagging behind.....it hasn't moved at all in about a year
and a half.....although my T3 and T4 (and Free T4 and Ft3) have been up and
down too. Seems meds are not affecting my TSH at all anymore. It does
however affect my T3 and T4.
Oh well, I guess I'll keep on truckin'
Diana

diana

yeah, he does the Ft3 and FT4 as well. He's very good about that. He also
runs CMP panels anytime I want. It's the things that lean more towards
alternative meds that he won't touch......tests for candida, test for
vitamin and nutrient levels, and things like that. He's a specialist in
endocrinology, and internal medicine, so it's shocking to me that he fails
to believe that nutrients can't make a difference lol.
As far as my TSH lagging behind.....it hasn't moved at all in about a year
and a half.....although my T3 and T4 (and Free T4 and Ft3) have been up and
down too. Seems meds are not affecting my TSH at all anymore. It does
however affect my T3 and T4.
Oh well, I guess I'll keep on truckin'
Diana