The THYROID Thread

[dischick4778]

Jenn, glad your endo visit went well.

My rad. onc. and the endo both believe that if you have 2 clean scans then the blood testing and sonos are fine. My rad. onc. says she will only do another scan at the 5 year mark I think.

Also if you want to TTC again, you should really limit your radiation exposure anyway. With a scan you have the radiation exposure even though its a lower dose etc.

And Christine said this was true too, when I asked, the rad. onc. and endo both told me that the blood tests and sono together are just as good as a scan. The results of both would be about the same.

You will feel so much better when you go from 200 to 175. I definetly felt more normal and less high strung.

Also...is this a 6 month sono? My endo wanted to put me on the 6 months of blood testing and the one year of sono. I told her, no I still want the sono too at 6 months. I am with you on the better safe than sorry stuff and since you also have a rare variant like me, I think I would still ask for the 6 month sono too, because you have yourself covered both ways, blood and pictures etc.

My first clean scan was this past July. I assumed because of how bad they told me the cancer was that I would at least have two scans. I am happy since we do want another child and the diet is terrible. But I also want to know that I'm ok and cancer free.

We have been doing blood every 2-3 months since my surgery in summer 2010. This will be the longest stretch of not seeing my endo, she told me to return late April for the sono. That will be the first sono since my scan this past July.

My anti bodies are still high, but the number drops every blood test. Currently they are in to 700s. She says as long as the number continues to decrease I should not worry.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well I spent a lot, too much time getting the phone run around and constant holding today.

I cancelled my bp check at the endo today because of the flu symptoms I still have plus no transportation.

Then I scheduled my neck sono for Jan. 9th, and then I will have to do the blood work and Jan. 16th I have the wonderful pelvic sono and next week I have the new specialist to address other pelvic issues I am having.

Then my reg. 6 month endo visit is Jan. 23.

I decided to go back to the regular imaging center instead of the hosp. since the girl I liked in the hosp. is on maternity leave. I guess I am back to Ms. Hurry Up and a Little Grumpy, Non Social sonographer, sigh.

Sorry, I am venting. I am just glad I went to Disney as I knew all this was coming up. Also if the next biopsy I am having for my other issues, not the thyroid stuff, comes back as cancer, which the one dr. said she doesnt think it is, but doesnt know yet, then I will most likely hear that news while my dh is in China again. Sigh. I guess it should be easier to hear the 2nd time around?? I am going to be doing alot of praying for sure.

 

[Christine]

luvmarypoppins--good luck with all of that and keep us posted. What other problems are you having (or are they personal)?

I had my endo appt. on Tuesday. Said it was time for the neck sonogram. I asked if he had a specific place he wanted me to go to and he said it didn't matter. Last time I had it done at the hospital. The tech was very nice but I HATE setting foot in the hospital. It's very psychological for me. So I'm just going to a radiology center and YAY they had Saturday appointments so it's January 7th for me.

Just waiting on the TSH and thyroglobulin results now.

 

[mrsklamc]

Waiting is awful.

LMP, how was your trip?

 

[kimmie]

lovemarypoppins--please feel free to vent any time! Please tell us how your trip was.

You all have listened to me

I have been busy trying to get things straighted out. Not really liking my endo, but I went to my gp today and atleast felt like he was listening to me He is testing the T3 for me. THANK YOU! That's all I was asking for! I can't stand this big fat stomach and 8 lb weight gain in 5 weeks! I have been watching what I eat and exercising. The endo told me its because I am getting older...really? Also said that I am too impatient...maybe so, I almost had to laugh in her face! She did check my level of TSH it was 0.56, but she did not test the T3. I am taking .125 of Synthroid now, not generic. Now she tells me it will take time to build up ..blah blah blah..My doctor now put me on Lexapro for my anger issues!

So thanks for letting me vent

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well after I posted that the wonderful endo called me back. Gosh, this lady is great. Although sometimes I think she blows off my symptoms too. I told her about the stuff with the new bp med. She said its not related. Hmm, she said I could have some of those symptoms. I dont believe her and she is the one who told me last time, you are so sensitive etc. Anyway I am going on Tues. for the bp check. The side effects are slight digestive issues which I have at times etc.

Christine - I am having alot of symptoms. Probably tmi. I guess its a gyn. pelvic or bladder problem or something related to the mesh the other surgeon put in etc. I am going to tell this dr. I want the least amount of testing possible to get the most accurate diagnosis etc. And I will tell her if she needs to talk to my other drs./surgeon etc, then do it.

Micayla - the trip was good. I said a few comments a couple pages back. The last morning we had plumbing problems with the room so that was scary. Glad we were checking out. Met 3 disers, Teena (BC greeter),Ray Sharpton and Lisa, from the Breast Cancer thread. I did a dining report.

Loved the decorations. Liked the story tellers,joyful noise gospel singers, and of course the osborne lights and candelight processional with Michael W. Smith.

Ate Alot!! (Oh and Jenn - I would skip Rose and Crown). We did Chefs, GF Cafe, Hollywood Brown Derby, Kona, Captains Grille, Cape May,Liberty Tree Tavern, Tutto and Cosmic Rays.

I also think, (although I might be crazy) that we saw Justin Bieber at the BC way after midnight on Dec. 3rd. I dont know if he taped the parade that day or the day before.

We booked the BC again for May 17-23. Nothing like spending your b day and anniv. with Mickey and hanging out at Storm Along Bay.

 

[mrsklamc]

Oh yes, now that you mention it I do remember. I saw something last night that made me wonder if the aquarium got fixed, and I wondered if that had worked out for your trip.

 

[Christine]

.My doctor now put me on Lexapro for my anger issues!

So thanks for letting me vent

Watch out for some weight gain on Lexapro. This one is notorious for causing that.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Oh yes, now that you mention it I do remember. I saw something last night that made me wonder if the aquarium got fixed, and I wondered if that had worked out for your trip.

We skipped the whole living seas. I dont know, a whole week and we never got over there, just too much to do and my dh is like a def. non commando person. Like I am on vacation, if we get to a park by lunch fine, need to check my e mails etc. I guess I always deal with that aspect. But since he works his butt off and pays for the trip I dont say all that much.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

kimmie - so sorry you are dealing with all this stuff too. I am sorry you are having endo issues. I think that is the key, that you find one you like, you will deal with him/her for a really long time.

I dont go to anyone around here, I go to the univ. which is farther from my house, but worth it. Although in the metro area, less than 30 min is not far. (Jenn can relate).

Good your gp is on board and willing to do the testing. Mine is clueless. I wouldnt trust him with anything.

I am sure the weight gain is frustrating too. I honestly have never gained any weight. I acutaly lost over 60lbs, due to the cancer, coma and bowel obstruction. I think I have put about 30 plus back on.

Also sorry you are dealing with the anger issues. I was really high strung, but it was due to the high synthroid dose (200), now I am at 175 and its so much better for sure. Hope you can work all this out too.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Christine - I know what you mean about the psych stuff. I try to put it out of my mind. But I know I am suppose to have that eye surgery in April, so its back "there" again.

I still dont know how to deal with all this long term. I guess we need your expert advice!!

But I am sure its never out of your mind either, even long term? But you are inspiring to all of us.

Wishing you all the best with your upcoming testing too!

 

[dischick4778]

So my endo called me this week, after receiving my blood results she wants to lower my synthroid now instead of waiting until April. She lowered it to 188. And also lowered my calcitriol. She says my calcium is too high now. I guess these are good changes. She also said "this lower dose will make you feel a lot better" - she must be referring to my anxiety and anger issues. Well, hopefully she is right, my husband will be thrilled.

Hope everyone is doing well with the holidays coming up and not stressing out too much. I'm off from work til January 3rd so that is helping a lot. Just enjoying the time with my son and getting ready for Christmas.

 

[kimmie]

Hi dischick! Glad to hear you are feeling better!

I have had anger issues too. I think I am feeling better now. I think my anger was when I was hypo. It has been in the last few days that I am beginning to feel more "normal". I am really glad to be on brand name synthroid. The generic was just not right for me.

Does anyone have any way to drop some weight? I have been trying but it just sits there!

My endo says it will come off, but I think it is here to stay

 

[Christine]

Hi dischick! Glad to hear you are feeling better!

I have had anger issues too. I think I am feeling better now. I think my anger was when I was hypo. It has been in the last few days that I am beginning to feel more "normal". I am really glad to be on brand name synthroid. The generic was just not right for me.

Does anyone have any way to drop some weight? I have been trying but it just sits there!

My endo says it will come off, but I think it is here to stay

kimmie,

Some of the weight will just fall off on its own when your thyroid hormones regulate enough and your TSH gets to normal. Whenever I was REALLY hypo, I would put on about 10 lbs and by the time I got down to a normal TSH it was just gone and I didn't have to do anything.

As far as regular weight issues, which at 47, I certainly struggle with but nothing terrible, the best thing for me was to start logging EVERYTHING I ate into SparkPeople. MyFitnessPal is supposed to be even better so I may try that next time I do this. Anyway, just log everything you eat into it and be honest. Over a 2-3 week period of time, see how many calories you are eating. You will probably be surprised. Most people eat way more than they think. I was hungry a lot but found I was eating about 2500 calories a day, sometimes more. Well, no wonder I was 15 lbs heavier than I wanted to be. It sure would have been easy to blame my "thyroid". Once I saw where I was going wrong, I started to tweak my eating. Not really dieting but cutting back. Then as I got used to that, I got way more strict. After a few weeks, I got my intake down to about 1700 calories per day. A "good" day was 1500 calories but I couldn't often acheive that (I don't do well without food). Around this time, I added in about 30 minutes on my treadmill. It took me weeks but I really ramped up the intensity without adding on much time. The weight began to roll off.

I started this in January, had maybe lost 2-3 lbs by February. By April I had lost about 15-18 lbs. That doesn't sound like much but I really didn't have a lot of weight to lose. I ended up at about 134 lbs at 5'8". I felt to thin so I started adding food back in. I feel best at around 143. Of course, I have gone passed that now so I will probably get myself under control in January again. Seems to be a good time for me.

 

[kimmie]

Thanks Christine!

I know I should start writing down everything I eat because I am "watching it" but probably consume more calories than I think.
I am ready to get back back in the gym too!

I was hoping that some of this weight would drop off soon.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[mrsklamc]

It's counter intuitive but some people (me included) gain when hypER...your body is constantly stimulated so it constantly stimulates you to eat.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

dischick - glad you got your synthroid lowered. My dh was so happy too. I freak out alot less now. Dh went grocery shopping for us when I was sick last week Of course he got so many of the things wrong. I didnt even do my usual flying off the handle at him. I just kind of laughed. We both did, I said, see I knew you wouldnt get it right! Glad you get some time off. Do you know anything about the LIU area in Brooklyn. My ds is thinking about the nursing program there. He would get alot of scholarships, but I dont know if that is a good/safe area etc??

kimmie - I hope you get your weight issues resolved. I really dont even think about my weight. It went down 60lbs. but that was post cancer and post coma and post bowel resection. Now I have gained 30 lbs. of that back. I have stayed about the same for a year. I wont say how much I weigh. Suffice to say its alot. The drs. have never said anything about it. Only the stomach surgeon. He just said to watch it.

Well I went to the endo today for the bp check. The nurse said it was good and she ran the number by the endo and she liked it too, so she told the nurse to have me keep taking the new med. I didnt even have to see her.

So now thurs. its the new specialist for some of my other issues. We will see what happens. I guess I would just like some dr. to figure out whats going on and give me some answers. I think she will wait and see too as I will tell her I am already scheduled for a biopsy and sonogram mid Jan.

 

[mrsklamc]

I think I may try this rice milk the next time I have to do the diet: http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/09/do-it-yourself-homemade-rice-milk.html

I will have to re read the thyca guidelines about rice though. I think they say to use basmati rice or something like that.

 

[Christine]

Finally got a call back from my endo today on my labs.

Tg = NEGATIVE. That always calls for a .
TSH = 0.6. My endo said he wouldn't mind seeing it around 0.3. Now, I've been at that before on this dosage so not sure why it's a little "up" these days. Funny, I was sort of sure that he was going to tell me my TSH was very low. I've been feeling kind of panicky, shaky, and just off. I was hoping I was too hyper but NOPE, I think I'm suffering anxiety. I also have not been sleeping well since early November. I'm in one of these insomnia ruts and I think it's got to be perimenopause (I will be 48 next week). It's tough surviving on 5 hours of sleep and working full time.

My Basic Metabolic Panel came out good so I guess all my organs are humming along.

Just wish I felt better. I've got a terrible case of "golfer's elbow" that is really flared up. No, I won't go to the doctor either but I did something to it this past weekend and my hand on the affected arm was turning blue if I held it in certain positions too long. I guess the inflammation was affecting the circulation. Anyway, I iced for awhile and that scary symptoms seems to have disappeared.

I really HATE being a wreck over the holidays.

DD is home from college and just figured out she was 0.5 points off from meeting her target GPA so she may get suspended. Grrrrrr....

 

[kimmie]

Oh Christine I hope you start feeling better soon.
Can you take melatonin? I take some at night just to help me relax. It really does work. They have a slow release that is supposed to keep you relaxed all night. I was waking up almost every hour! It is better now.

Perimenopause can be a real pain but so is menopause! lol
Take a deep breath and try to enjoy your family.