Posted by froggyanna on May 31, 2003, at 16:50:52
In reply to First post.... hello everyone!, posted by danelor on May 30, 2003, at 9:37:51
Hi Dane,Great first post! Thanks for talking about your thyroid situation and about how uninformed a lot of doctors are about this aspect of our health. I just got off the phone with my 24-year-old daughter (birthday today!) who, at my urging, "got her thyroid tested," and what were the results? She's fine..... Yes, well, according to WHO? I asked her if she knew the numbers. No, they just told her over the phone (it's an HMO). I told her to call the office and get a copy of her test results, then to mail it to me so I can look at it, and then I would let her know if any information is missing (if they didn't take all the tests that they should have). She's doing great in her life and her career, but..... she's tired a lot! I told her that she needs to find a doctor who isn't just "thyroid-by-the-numbers" and I gave her some idea of what the numbers need to be. And that she might not feel great even if the numbers are really good and that a good doctor would really work to fine tune the meds she takes so that she CAN feel good.
My own situation is that I have Hashimoto's Disease (thyroid antibodies). I have been taking Levoxyl for a little over a year and Synthroid for many years before that. I've only just discovered that I probably need to be taking Cytomel as well as Levoxyl (or a combination of both T4 and T3, like Thyrolar) (or a natural alternative, like Armour). Something. I just found a new doctor who ordered all the tests for me, and I will be seeing him in about 10 days to go over the results. He told me that T3 is sometimes *just* the little boost that people need to get their thyroid back in order and help them feel NOT depressed and NOT tired and NOT depressed BECAUSE they are tired, etc., etc., etc.
I also have ADD and have just begun treatment for that. (I've written alot about it in other threads.) I'm not quite at the point where I've got the ADD licked, but rather than doing too much juggling with the psychoactive meds at this point, I'm going to just keep doing what I'm doing now and wait to see how my thyroid treatment helps me. Once I've got that stabilized (if that's possible), then I'll re-address the dosages for Straterra or Wellbutrin or anything else I'm taking.
I think that a lot of people who are having trouble with all the meds they are taking due to side effects, or who just can't seem to get the right combination, might want to do the same as you are -- look into the possibility that their thyroid function is out of whack before they keep struggling with other approaches. Cuz if your thyroid is working well, it's really like a new lease on life!! I felt that myself at one point a few years ago, and I want to get that back!
Good luck with all you're doing,
frogganna
poster:froggyanna
thread:230182
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230454.html