Well Loraleena, You Were Right

[Janeti]

I finally had my appointment with the new endo, and she is very nice. She's not too happy with the size of my thyroid, now I have multiple nodules that she wants biopsied. I had that done once before and it isn't very pleasant. She ordered the free t3 and free t4, which I'm not sure if that has ever been done. Then once she gets the results back, I will begin on meds again.

I am very disappointed with all of the Drs, but thank you for noticing that something didn't sound right. You were the one who made me make this appoinment with the endo. If ever you come out to Long Island...I owe you lunch

[georgie]

Glad you have found a nice Endo. I had Thyroid nodules and they shrank away to nothing after I started Armour. Hope you have noticed yours at this same stage too and get good treatment.

[loraleena]

Glad I could help. Make sure she keeps an eye on your thyroid perosidase antibodies as well, or has she already done that. You may have to refresh my memory. I live in Western Ma. I have never been to Long Island. If you are ever heading up this way let me know! Make sure your doc has you use Armour or Cytomel. Stay away from Synthroid as it often does not help.

[Sugarmag]

Make sure your doc has you use Armour or Cytomel. Stay away from Synthroid as it often does not help.

Hi there, don't mean to jump in here...but just have a question. I was on Armour for about 4-5 yrs, and have recently switched doctors. I've always been very adamant about Armour, and how Synthroid is worthless to me. Anyways, I was on 3.5 grain of Armour, and still having hypothyroid symptoms, but my tsh was under 0.0003, and the rest of the ft3 and ft4 were "ok", somewhat off, but not bad. I explained how the very first doc that put me on Synthroid, and I felt even worse. His response was "Of course you felt like crap, they didn't give you Cytomel with it. You were only treating a tiny portion of your problem." He feels that I need Synthroid and Cytomel, so he can control the T3 and T4 separately. Has anyone had any luck with taking these two together?? He is one of those "armour comes from animals, is hard to regulate the dosage, that's why your t3's and t4's have been all over the place these last few years. You need them treated like separate problems." I'm now on .1 mg of Synthroid and 10mcg of Cytomel. Any suggestions if this might work? Thanks in advance!

(He also suspects adrenal problems and has scheduled me for the acth stimulation test in a few weeks.)

[georgie]

Yes - I have used both Armour and a combination of T4/T3. They felt about the same to me - and is a bit easier to alter the dose with the T4 and T3 tablets. Some people find once they are optimised with Armour that they need to add a small amount of T4 to the dose anyway. Armour is almost correct for our bodies but the ratio is slightly low in T4 for us. Some people are sensitive to this. Good luck with the Stim Test. I had one done last month. Are you having the test done with an IV ? I have been told that to be accurate it has to be done by IV. I felt OK for the test - just a bit light headed after. I needed a driver and a rest for the day.

[Sugarmag]

Thanks Georgie! I'll have to give it a few more weeks before I see if there's a difference for me. Since they took me off the adrenal support pills I was on, for an accurate ACTH stimulation test, I'm not feeling well by any means right now. I'm assuming it's an IV test, since they scheduled me to goto the hospital for it, instead of a medical clinic. Nobody (the doctor or hospital) has given me any information on it, other than I'll be there for a few hours. I was wondering if I'd need to have someone pick me up or not. I already took the day off work in case I didn't feel great afterwards. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't drive myself home afterwards. Maybe I better see if my hubby can drop me off and pick me up. The test isn't until the 21st, so maybe they'll be calling with instructions??

Did you get any answers with your test results??

[georgie]

I would definately get someone to drive you to this Test and collect you after. I didn't - and was told off by the staff. I made it home - but it was a struggle to drive. Also have any meds you take with you, and some comfort food as well. Try to get there early and relax, and I would make sure it is by the IV method - after what they told me. They even tip toed over at the half way point - as that is how easily cortisol can raise and throw a false result... ( by me seeing them coming and thinking about it )

My result was normal. Endo said I don't have Addisons Disease which was good news but the mystery remains as he has now sent me away with no diagnosis. My GP still thinks I have secondary adrenal problems - this test not the best for that - and that I still need low dose cortisone. Endo refused to consider that idea and despite all my Pituitary hormones being rock bottom and an old skull fracture recently found - said he saw no basis for HypoPituitary either.

I didn't go off cortisone for the test. Perhaps my result was not accurate?? I also had renin and aldosterone tested and aldosterone was low but still in range - so at this stage I am waiting to see my GP who seems to know more about all this than the Endo I saw !!

I felt weak and dizzy for about a week after the Test. Not sure if that was related to that or not.

[Sugarmag]

Thanks Georgie. I'm a pretty stubborn girl, who usually refuses peoples help; thinking I can handle it all on my own. I think I better play it safe here and have someone drop me off and pick me up. I have a really low blood sugar normally anyways, and the whole not eating and getting blood taking a bunch doesn't sound like it will help matters.

I can't believe they had to tip-toe over to you!! That just amazes me, that your body can react so quickly like that. I was reading that you were still on the cortisone for the test, there's a big chance that altered the results. My doc wanted me off anything and everything that has to do with stress/adrenals for a full 6 weeks before he'd do the test. (Needless to say..within four days of going off my meds...I feel like I'm going nuts and freaking out about everything, and have absolutely no energy..and fall asleep as soon as I get home. )

Well, at least your GP sounds like they have a good idea of what's going on with you. Not all endocrinologists are good...from what I've heard...most are idiots. (Well, that can be said about a LOT of doctors.) Hopefully you'll be able to get some answers from there soon. It's no fun trying to figure out what's wrong and making you feel so awful all the time. Good luck...I hope you get some relief soon.