Thyroid Antibodies, Grave's Disease

[davidspal]

I was dianosed w/Grave's Disease almost 2 years ago. I have still had no treatment whatsoever. I was told I am difficult to treat because I have "both" thyroid antibodies in my blood. I was in a state of spontaneous remission and am now having problems again, suddenly. I started swelling w/fluid. BAD. One day I gained 10 lbs.all in my legs, feet,arms and hands.  My skin felt as if it would split. I was put on 25mg hydrochlorothyazide once/day. It worked for one day. My PVC's have returned. I have these "spells" where I suddenly, w/no warning feel a "flush" over my whole body and become tachy, shaking, nauseated, have diarhhea, elevated bp, and shortness of breath. I have had nuclear uptake scans, went to CCF to get my heart cleared for any defects (none found), Chest X-rays are OK, sometimes when I have a "spell" I am usually low on potassium.  I was told the Grave's will "overmetabolize" everything out of me, but I have gained over 50 lbs in less than a year.  I walk 1.5 miles 5X/week, try to eat well, but was told my cortisol was high.  On retest, it was normal.  I do have the antibody form of pernicious anemia (antibodies killing intrinsic). Last week I had stomach biopsies that showed fibrosis and scarring of my mucosa. I was told this could have something to do w/the gallbladder problems I've had since last September. Docs are reluctant to operate because of my thyroid. Couldn't getting the gall bladder out releive alot of my problems? Including the weight gain? Had a 24hr urine & thyroid panel today. will get results by Friday. Thanks for any advice!

[Jimlow]

davidspal,
You might consider doing a search on "Thyroid Storm" by going to search engine and putting in those key words. I know of one site I found that talks some about it www.hateshopping.com
The man who has the sight, has some good info. on it.
Good Luck!

[Jimlow]

davidspal,
I'm sorry to hear you have so many problems going at once. I don't have much knowlege in most of the things you mention but do know Graves Disease can return but sometimes never does. I have an Uncle who had Graves and his has been in remmission for over 20 years so probably won't return. Your weight gain does sound unusual for Graves.
When you get your thyroid and other labs, make sure they give you a copy and detail them for us on this forum, if you want to. A lot of us are familiar with thyroid labs especially.
Best Wishes

[davidspal]

Thanks for responding so quickly! I'm new at this! I guess I'm getting to the end of my rope w/all this.  Nothing's clean cut! Just a whole bunch of grey area! The surgeon tells me that if my labs are "abnormal" they may not do my surgery to remove my gall bladder because it may be too risky. What's so risky about taking my gall bladder out if I have thyroid problems?  Can't I just be sure to take my atenelol the night before? BTW, I only take my atenelol when I am having PVC's or a "spell".  I was told that since my thyroid panels kept coming back normal after my spells that they were not thyroid storms. What's your opinion on that? I was checked for pheochromocytoma at CCF and told that I do not have it.   Thanks for the support.  We live in rural PA and don't have anything but gp's here and sometimes they seem pretty limited on things like this.

[davidspal]

Well, they did cancel my gall bladder surgery and the surgeon said that he won't touch me until I've had some type of treatment and have my thyroid under control! Thanks! the only blood result I have gotten so far is the TSH-ultra sensitive.  It says the expected range is 0.3 to 5.60 and mine is 25.53.  I have no clue what that means.  Will that tell me whether I'm hypo or hyper?  I guess the surgeon faxed a copy of all results and a letter explaining the gall bladder situation to Dr. Zimmerman at CCF.  I guess I'll just have to wait for him to call. They tested for creatinine, free cortisol, free t3 & t4, and TSH.  I think that was all of them.  They wouldn't give them all to me until a doctor looks and can discuss them w/me. I guess that's just the rule! Thanks for any input on the TSH result.

[ShannieK]

Whoa!!!!  hello.  Some of you back me up, is this TSH ultra sensitive the same TSH tests as we get?  If so you are very high.  If this is indeed a TSH standard test, the range is now 0.3 to 3.0, depending on what dr you go to and what lab you use, you may notice this range being quite abit different.  But you have a 25.53?  As you can see in reference to the range, you are very high, yes, it is a definate diagnoses of Hypothyroidism.  Now you need to also make sure that you get tested for Thyroid antibodies, this is what I have.  I have Hashimoto's which is a deterioration of the thyroid gland over time.  It is an auto immune disease in which

[ShannieK]

Sorry, out of whack here, just read your last post for today, and missed the rest, sorry.  Graves diesease, is your diagnoses huh?  Well I guess I'm confused than, with such a high reading, I thought it was pointing to hypothyroidism, which isn't Graves, that's Hashimoto's.  Anyone else on here have some input? Maybe i'm off base and TSH ultra sensitive is something different from what I am thinking.

[ShannieK]

Hi, me again, they say us thyroid patients  have a bad memory.  Ha Ha!!!!!  I have to keep reading your post to make sure I get all the info.  if this is a misdiagnoses, than being hypo, would definatley back up the problem weight gain.  I have Hashimoto's and have gained a ton of weight, a ton a ton, they are currently doing cortisol tests on me as well.  Maybe I don't understand TSH levels and Graves Disease, wouldn't the TSH be extememly low?  I'm considered hypo, but have alot of hyper symptoms, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, diarrea (diarrhea), hair loss, the list goes on.  I'm sorry that they are postponing your surgery, but i'm glad you have someone who wants you to get under control, and safe first, that's a good sign.  I was also told that high cortisol levels are common in people with Hypothyroidism, and low cortisol levels are common in people with hyper, i'm not sure, you have me stumped, hope others will jump in,    Jimlow and Christine, where are ya?

[davidspal]

Hi, I'm actually glad to hear this isn't only confusing to me! When the last Dr talked w/me, he told the other Dr he called in to consult w/him that they should use me for a study. I have been all over the map in the last year. My uptake scans in April and June 2004 were indicative of the hyperthyroid. My hair fell out, I had these "spells" that no one can identify, my resting pulse rate at the time was 120, and I tested positive for antibodies. So, they told me I had Graves and we were going to do an ablation. When it got close to time for ablation, my thyroid labs myteriously became normal. I had no treatment for my thyroid. The only thing that had changed was that my GP finally gave into my pleading for more B12. I have antibodies that kill my intrinsic factor (pernicious anemia-also an auto immune disorder).He finally gave me more (I am now up to 1 1/2 cc every 2 weeks), and I finally started to feel a little human. I have asked every Dr if there is a correlation, they say noone knows, it's never been studied. I am still getting the shots, but, on 2/14/05 that TSH was 6. On 3/4/05 when they did another test it was 0.6.  The Dr at CCF told me that it might be going "bad" again. No reason as to why. He told me I have BOTH thyroid antibodies in my blood and there's nothing that can be done about that. The way I understand it, that is why I'm so difficult to treat. At one time my cortisol was really high. Then when they did the suppression test, it was back to normal.  They just tested it again. I'm not sure what the result is yet. I'm back to my hair falling out, the "flushes" that happen at the beginning of the "spells", EXHAUSTION, either no appetite or a ravaging hunger, I have started retaining tons of fluid in my legs, feet, wrists and hands, my gall bladder is killing me, I'm so fat I don't even want to leave my house because I'm embarrassed to even be seen by people who know me, and I'm really tired of no one being able to help me! Why can't they just remove my stupid thyroid? It's ruining my life! Sorry, I'm getting upset again. We have been to Dr's in Warren,PA, Buffalo,NY, Williamsville,NY, Erie,PA and Cleveland, OH! I will travel (obviously) to get some help, I just don't know where to go anymore. Pittsburgh has been suggested but my GP tells me I need to stop jumping from dr to dr or I'm just hurting myself. Any advice? We live in rural western PA, so we don't have any specialists here. Thanks for listening!

[ShannieK]

I really feel for everything that you are going through.  I know what it is like to be totally fed up, and sick of just being sick.  I too, am so embarrassed at how much weight I have gained, that I don't want to go outside either, it just makes you depressed, on top of that you have symptoms that make you just feel sick everyday.  I really do know and understand.  I went in to the hospital last October with a thyroid storm, scary event, and twice as scary when no one knows what's wrong.  I am from a small town, and to my knowledge didn't have any thyroid problems earlier, so had never received treatment at that time.  I'm sure I did have symptoms, I did notice myself falling apart gradually, but I had twins 4 years prior, and just associated all my ailments to that preganancy, cause it really messed me up, now I know why.  Doctors ran tests after tests after tests, and everything came back normal, including my TSH, this totally perplexed the dr's, and they too, wanted to turn me into a case study.  They put me on proranolol for my chest pain and heart palpitations, lasix for my water retention, had just gained 30 pounds in like one week,Effexor of course, trying to calm me down, but I just didn't feel like I even had any control over my own body, it was doing it's own thing.  One dr. finally ran a thyroid antibody test, that came back high, that's when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, and put on 50 mcg of Synthroid.  I felt better for awhile, but I just feel like **** now, all my hair is falling out, still gaining weight, no energy just a mess.  I've had many med changes, and none seem to help it improve, my TSH still shows up in the normal range.  Saw an endo for the first time this last week, she is looking for more auto immune disease somewhere.  She says, and like you that people with auto immune disease are more prone to other auto immune diseases, in fact she said that in her experience she has seldom seen one person with only one Auto immune, she said there's always something else there.   She is running tons of tests on me as we speak, including diabetes, and Cushings, and all sorts of stuff.  I hope she finds the answer but in the same aspect, I'm scared to see what she might find.  Not as familiar with Graves, but it seems to show a fluctuating TSH like Hashimoto's which makes it real hard to regulate.  I hope you are able to find someone to help you. Know that all of us on this forum are behind you, make sure you continue to get on here and talk, it makes me feel better, and I know that it makes others on here feel better too.  I was really starting to get upset, until I was able to talk with People who understand what I am going through.  Thanks for listening and hang in there.

[davidspal]

It's just nice to know you're not alone! Have you read any of the information on the natural remedies for thyroid? Just today I printed out a bunch from a website about an acid that removes all the toxins and heavy metals from your body. Claims that those collecting in the thyroid is what makes your body think it's foreign and create the antibodies. I haven't read it all. I'll have time to read it all tonight and let you know what I think. At this point, I'll try anything!  I had a natural "specialist" at a health food store about 1/2 hour away do a reading of my eyes.  The first thing she said to me was "major thyroid", then she said adrenal glands.  Then she said your gutt/digestive system.  All from looking into my eyes. I was impressed. I then expected them to sell me a whole bunch of herbs & stuff. They didn't.  Only a couple of things that she thought may help me.  They actually did, but now, everytime a doctor wants a blood test, they want me off of the herbs for 2 weeks before they draw blood.  So, I haven't gotten back on them. One was called TS2 (thyroid support) and the other was nutricalm (B vitamins).  She even told me that my thyroid was about to storm and 5 days later I was in the hospital with one of my "spells".  No one every determined whether they are storms.  All I know is they scare the daylights out of me (and my family) when they happen and there's NO warning. You feel like you're a time bomb! Never know when you're going to explode! I hate to hear that other people feel like I do, because it IS horrible feeling YUK! everyday, day in, day out!Not many people understand.  Especially the kids! I have been walking on my treadmill every day, watching what I eat and getting bigger as we speak (or type!).My ten year old asked me why I'm getting bigger when all I eat is salad and I walk everyday! Not encouraging for the kids to see you do everything you think you're supposed to and not get the rewards! They don't understand.  I think I'm becoming embarrasing to them because of how I look. I try to joke about it, so they don't feel so bad saying things. I'm going to go try & read some of those pages I printed.  Thanks for listening!

[ShannieK]

hI YOu mentioned above that you had a high cortisol level taken before and it came back high, you also mentioned that they just retested you again, Have you gotten those results yet?  It's one thing to gain a whole bunch of weight and not be able to stop, it's another all together to keep gaining with exercise and salads.  I'm curious what your level will come back this time?  Have they done any other tests on your adrenal glands?  My understanding is that when there is an overproduction of the cortisol it is generally due to something that has grown or attatched itself to the gland, creating and producing more steroid than what it needed.  I know they have checked you blood, have they done an ultrasound or anything like that, maybe it might show something else.  I don't know.  Sometimes I wish I had all the answers.  As I mentioned before my endo has requested cortisol tests, she marked down 2 blood tests and a 24 hr urine speciamen to rule it out, i'm in the process of all that right now.  What is the suppression test that you mentioned?  I'm going to address Surgeon on here in a new post and see if he might be able to give you a medical opinion,  I know another dr. and another opinion, but one of these times, we are all going to find someone to shed light on what the heck is going on.  I have heard about people taking herbal remedies for thyroid, but haven't had much feedback.  I've also been told that while taking my synthroid and such to stay away from herbal remedies and vitamins, because it messes with the absorption of the hormone into your body.  I understand the thyroid storms, very very scary, and I have seen the look on the faces of my family also, there is no warning, I was fine one minute and messed up the next, no one understands.  Well I understand how you feel completley, and as much as you need to get on here and talk, that's just fine with me, take care. Shannon

[surgeon]

In a case as multi-layered and complex as yours, and having had consultations at CCF, I doubt there's anything I can add: especially not having all the records. However here are a couple of random comments. I doubt your gallbladder has anything to do with fibrosis in the stomach, nor the weight gain (if anything, people with severe gallbladder problems have weight loss due to pain with eating.) High TSH is not consistent with Grave's disease. If you are hyperthyroid with high TSH, it suggests a pituitary problem. I'd assume you've seen an endocrinologist, which would seem the type of doctor most able to work through things. As I've said in other posts, there are some people who defy easy diagnosis: the best you can hope for is a doctor who inspires confidence and who communicates effectively, and to whom you feel comfortable continuing to ask questions. It sounds like it will take more time to figure it out. As a surgeon, I completely agree with deferring gallbladder surgery until the endocrine situation is sorted out: thyroid storm is a dangerous complication of surgery when a thyroid is poorly controlled (the symptoms you've described, while consistent to a degree with hyperthyroidism (among other things) is NOT very suggestive of thyroid strorm, which is very dramatic, and life-threatening if not treated immediately. There are also other endocrine situations that can become severely exacerbated by surgery if not recognized and treated in advance. I'd agree you need to stick with one doctor if at all possible, and work through this with him/her. It will, evidently, take lots of patience. Don't bolt to naturopaths, etc, unless the doctors give up entirely on you. If you haven't yet had them, you ought to ask about urine tests for adrenal gland tumors and carcinoid tumor.

[ShannieK]

Hi, just a quick question, Since his Grave's disease and thyroid all together are so hard to control couldn't he be a candidate for thyroid removal?  I was just curious, he has other medical issues, and they all seem to be intensified at the fact that his thyroid isn't being controlled?  So many of us really have a hard time with this stuff, What does constitute having a thyroid removed?

[surgeon]

IN this case, before removing the thyroid I'd want to be very sure there aren't other endocrine issues complicating the situation. But in general, surgical treatment of hyperthyroidism is (a surgeon speaking here!) always an alternative to consider. Like everything else, it's a balancing act: surgical risk vs the near certainty that it will cure the problem, avoiding various drugs and/or radiation.

[davidspal]

Thanks for the input. I wish the gall bladder could be out! I have been sick for 3 days now (nausea, extreme pain (esp.after I eat anything)), diarhhea,etc. Feels just like years ago when I had food poisoning. I assume it's the stinking gall bladder. I have a research paper from a lady in Seattle, WA about thyroid problems that states treatment w/just t4 is not effective. you must have t3 and t4. She claims that after 7 years of being treated w/just one and still feeling bad, she's a world better now that she found a dr that will give her both.  The surgeon here faxed a copy of my thyroid labs to Dr.Z at CCF's endo dept. He was also supposed to put a note on there to him that I am still waiting to have this gall bladder full of stones out. My mother-in-law keeps telling me that it's my diet that's causing problems. I asked that surgeon if my diet caused my gall bladder problems, and he said that my gall bladder is bad because I'm forty(ish), white, female, and fertile! OK! I rinse everything that I eat to get rid of all the fertilizers and everything. I even rinse anything canned to get the sodium off because of the fluid retention I've taken up with lately. I did have an MRI of my head to rule out a brain tumor in 2004. Then they did a whole bunch of uptake scans that showed me hyperthyroid, I had thyroid panels about every six weeks for a long time that kept coming back normal. Then, all of a sudden! Now I'm hypothyroid and haven't been able to meet w/an endo yet to explain anything. I did have the tests for pheochromcytoma, which I think are those tumors your talking about. That was all negative.I will call CCF today I guess. I wonder if someone out there will take my gall bladder out. We never found a reason that my cortisol was so high that one time. It just was normal after the suppresion test where you take a steroid at night and get a blood draw the next morning. I have never had a sonogram of my adrenals or my thyroid. At this point I'd like an MRI neck to waste! 3 of my fathers siblings had thyroid cancer. Went to Roswell, they said I'm TOO SICK to have thyroid cancer. It doesn't usually have all the sypmtoms like I have. That's OK. They didn't run any tests though. I tried to get them to just remove the doggone thing and was told that is not an option, and ablation is out unless my thyroid is behaving correctly to complete the procedure. EGADS!! I just contacted the dr here and my cortisol result is not in yet and they still won't give me the rest of my thyroid results because they are abnormal and I must get them from a dr. OK! I'll let you know what the doc at CCF says when he calls back. Thanks for listening!

[ShannieK]

Hi there, Well first of all, I just want to apologize, cause I believe I have referred to you as a "he" and now I know you are a "she", Sorry!!!!  I think I focused on the first part of your title.  Well I too, am waiting for my cortisol results along with some diabetic testing they are doing, I just finished and turned in my 24 hr urine this morning, so it will probably be a few days.  The endo started me on a special diet on Thursday, when I saw her, keep in mind I have exercised and everything and have been able to do anything but gain.  Just over the weekend I lost 5 pounds.  My joints and muscles aren't aching anymore and the blurred vision has cleared up, Just over changing my diet, I could not believe it, I felt like I had tried everything!!!!!!!  True, the dr. took away just about everything as far as food, but I feel so much better, I will stick to it, I have been so sick for this whole last year.  I can have white meat, and fresh veggies, and fresh fruit, she said no red meat, nothing fried, no juice or canned fruit or canned or frozen veggies, she said to not eat ranch dressing and to stay away from carbs, anything processed, and dairy.  I have done that, and feel great!!!!!!   I don't know what combo it is that is making the difference, but it's working.  I retain water like crazy, and I mean like crazy, I can gain 20 pounds a day in water weight and take Lasix{ a diuretic} and lose it all, but than it's back the next day.  I have not taken a water pill since thursday, and am not bloated at all, plus weight loss, I am pshyched, but still bummed that you are not getting treated.  It really surprises me, that through all of this and the graves and such that you have NEVER, had an ultrasound of your thyroid, I don't understand, how they wouldn't have checked that by now, especially with fluctuating TSH levels, and the antibodies.  The antibodies is what damages the thyroid, leaving people with Nodules, and goiters, and all sorts of problems and symptoms, why haven't they checked yours?  The answer to why your thyroid is so hard to control might be on that.  You have such a stron history of thyroid cancer,  In my opinion, nad i'm not a dr, and it doesn't touch on any other of your medical problems at all, but I would say get the ultrasound as soon as possible.  They may find out what the problem is, and if they regulate your thyroid, than they can do your gall bladder surgery!!!!!  When do you see your specialist next?  I haven't read through these post again, so hopefully i'm not repeating myself{ha Ha}  But I wish you luck, continue to let me know what is going on with you, and I will do the same.  What kinds of foods are they letting you have?  you say you diet but never lose anything, i'm just curious what kinds of food you eat. I feel so much better just from a food change.  I'm a firm believer now in some of this diet stuff.  I have gained close to 100 pounds in one year, and have never lost one pound.  Now I've lost five,   Let me know about your tests.  Shannon

[davidspal]

No apology necessary! David is my husband and I am his Pal! Davidspal! I usually have 1 cup of Kashi Go Lean Crunch w/2% milk and a banana or 2 eggs fried w/lo carb toast for breakfast. Lunch is usually a salad w/no dressing, just red wine vinegar (salad w/dill pickles, hard boiled egg, onion,green pepper, olives, 2 oz of cheese, and 2 oz of either chicken or ham). If not that sometimes I fry mushrooms,onions and green peppers up in olive oil and just have them.  Dinner is usually 4 oz of meat (usually beef, my husband hates chicken!), and one serving of our side dish (rice or noodles or mashed potatoes), and sometimes a veggie. My family hates veggies, so we don't have them alot. I just end up throwing them away! For snack, I pop 1/3 cup popcorn in olive oil or have some cheese or a cheese stick.  I'll have to try your diet for a few days. It shouldn't be that big of a change.  I forgot when you asked about the suppression test, I did have to spit into a test tube for 2 consecutive nights, the third night I took dexamethasone, and the next morning had a blood draw.  On your diet, do you need to take calcium? I was put on mega doses of calcium because my "spine is thinner" than most people my age. They explained that as a side effect to the Grave's disease.  I would be worried about no dairy for myself.  What about potassium? Can you have bananas? Did the dr give you limits as to amounts that you can eat? What about coffee in the morning? I know I'm asking too many questions, but, it sounds great! Especially if you don't have to take your fluid pill. I haven't taken mine for 2 days, but I'm still having the "runs" and those horrible "waves" of pain. As little as a sip of water will put me on the floor. So, I haven't had anything today.  I'm so hungry, but I'm scared to eat. It hurts so bad it makes me cry.  Thanks for the diet info!

[ShannieK]

You know, you bring up an intresting thought that I didn't think of, a calcium supplement.  Hmmmm, that makes since, i'm suppose to stay away from dairy, probably a good idea to take one, i'll have to talk to the dr.   I have a friend who has had on going problems with her gall bladder, she says she gets extreme pain if she eats anything fried, cheese, chocolate, and something else i'll have to check into that.  I really feel for you that you have to live in pain, that just isn't the way to be.  The doctor didn't specify amounts really, she just said, snack alot, on fruit and veggies, eat 6 small meals in oppose to 3 large ones.  Basically what I have found from researching is that she put me on a diet that is alot like the south beach diet.  I gives you a list of foods that you can have and a list of foods that you can't.  Alot of it being based on glycemic value.  All I know Is I feel good.  What do you think about the ultrasound?  Can you check with your dr, to see if they can check that?  I would think with your bouncing TSH and so many symptoms, that they really need to..  What does your husband think of all this?  I have a husband and 3 kids, and it's just terrible not to feel well and do the same things as the rest of the family.  It's been very hard for me to even take care of my family this last year or so,   I 'm so tired alot of the time, the house is a mess, and nothing gets done.  My twin girls are just 4, and they are so active, i'm sure it's real hard on them, that i'm not.  Hang in there.  Look up on the web, South beach diet food lists, it will explain everything better than I can probably.  I hope you start feeling better, I really would push that ultra sound, that' a number one key in getting a thyroid regulated, they have to see what's happening. I cannot believe, that no dr. has checked that.  Talk with ya soon.  Shannon

[davidspal]

I called CCF this afternoon and they said they had the fax from the surgeon here. She was going to put it on the dr's desk so he'll have it first thing in the morning. Hopefully, I'll here from him tomorrow and maybe I can get him to fax an order here for an ultrasound so I won't have to travel 3 hours to get it done and then back for a consult on it.  I would like to re-do the thyroid blood panel again and see what it looks like this week! I wonder just how much it's actually fluctuating. I have the South Beach book around here somewhere. My endo in Erie put me on Atkins. That didn't bother my gall bladder! I could eat chicken wings and my gall bladder was fine. But, my friend brought me some chicken broccoli from a Chinese take-out place and I was on the floor in a ball before she left. The next day, I thought I'd be fancy and use Romane lettuce in my salad...the same thing! The surgeon told me I'm weird! Yeah, he's not the first dr to tell me that! I also have 3 little ones! 15,10 and 4! My husband travels for work, so sometimes it gets about impossible for me to keep up w/3 kids, the house, and my own business. I have a daycare in my home during the day. Some days I have 7 kids here 4 and under! The house is a mess! Sometimes when my hubby is traveling the lawn doesn't get mowed or the snow doesn't get shoveled! When my son is bigger (the 4 yr old) it'll get done! God forbid I ask one of the girls to perform "physical labor"!  I am feeling a little better tonight. These "bouts" of pain that I've been having for a few days are getting farther and farther apart. I've only had 3 since about 6pm and it's now 11pm.  I just started panting through them like labor pains. I feel bad my oldest daughter saw me crying. Mom's are supposed to be tough! My mom went through hell before she dies and I never saw her shed a tear! I'm a coward! I have to dig out my south beach book and take it to bed w/me. Doesn't south beach let you have low fat dairy products? One of my daycare mom's went on it and lost 12 pounds the first week. I think she quit. She doesn't look like she's lost anymore. I haven't asked her about it lately. I babysat a set of twins for awhile.  From when they were 8 weeks until 13 months. At 13 months they can go to one of the local learning centers, so sometimes that's all us home providers get them for.  I was scared to death at first, but it didn't take long to get into a routine with them.  How old is your other baby? My husband is really active w/the kids, so it's hard to just sit & watch sometimes. I just feel so awkward trying to move "all of this" around. A year ago I was wearing size 10's now I'm sucking it in to wear 18's! I always swore I would never get this big....well...here I am! I didn't even have to try hard. I just wish I could of had the joy of eating myself this big!!!! That may have cushioned the blow a little! I should tell you I'm just being sarcastic! The bad thing about that diet for me will be giving up my morning coffee w/my half & half!!!  And, cheese! I love cheese! Can you have it after a certain amount of time? What about fish? Is there a Sam's Club near you? We don't usually go there because it's a drive, but, they have these wonderful fish filets called Tilapia! They are individually wrapped, which I like, and I just put one in the toaster oven w/some lemon/pepper and adobo seasoning sometimes for lunch! I try to keep those omega things in mind. I'm trying to get better about body ph. I just read an article called "acidity depresses thyroid function".  I ordered some ph reading material. It's supposed to include a food list and diet menu. I'll have to compare it to the south beach stuff.  I'm so glad that I've connected w/you! You have no idea how much you have already helped me! Especially my sanity! Thank-you a million times over!

[ShannieK]

Hi there.  No thanks necessary, you have helped me as well.  It is so nice to get on here and talk to people who understand.  I sometimes feel, no actually almost feel, that when I talk about this stuff to my family or freinds here, that I am just being a whiner!!!!!  On here, I feel we can talk about some of our problems, and no one thinks worse of us for it.  I have the two 4 year old girls and my son is 12.  Yeah I know, spaced them out a bit,  My pregnancy with my son, was horrible, it took me that long to even consider doing it all again.(Ha Ha)  Boy than I found out I was having twins, but having the older one sure helped.  All this thyroid stuff started when I had the girls.  Didn't know it at the time of course, but now looking back all the signs were there, I just lived through them.  NOw I know there was a reason for it all, and if I was smart, and went to the dr, like I never did, I might have had a heads up before I ended up so sick.  We have super walmart here, that has all the Sams choice, sams club items in it.  They have some pretty cool stuff, I agree.  I'm not a fish lover, but they have the white chicken breasts that I do the same with, I bake them with the lemon pepper, and those are sure good.  I had a home daycare out of my home when my son was little.  I had a lot more patience than, as I've gotten older, I guess ive ran out alittle, especially since i've been sick.  I do not know how you do it, with everything you are dealing with, daycare is challenging enough, but to be sick and in pain.  You called yourself a coward, and I don't agree, you must be a real strong person to go through it all and take care of all those kids.  I struggle with just my kids,  Your mom passed on?  I'm sorry to hear that, but is there correlation in what might be ailing you?  My mom, come to find out when all this started for me, had Hashimoto's just as I do, when she was 25.  She bounced back and forth from hyper to hypo symptoms just as I do, they did the radioactive iodine treatment on her, and  nothing helped.  She suffered with symptoms the majority of her life, they did not start her on thyroid meds even until she turned 52, and started menopause,  whe feels good now, but lost so much of her life due to thyroid, and got no help.  I do remember growing up that she was always tired, she's go to work, and come home and would have her pajamas on and ready for bed at 7pm.  I know what she was going through now, just no energy at all.  You asked about the dairy on the diet.  I think my dr, is checking the fact that I may be insulin resistant.  She said, she needs to try a combination of foods to try to see if she can reverse that process inside me,  I can't have the dairy and stuff now, but i'm thinking as I get better, some of those foods might be introduced back into my diet.  I should be hearing from my dr. this week sometimes about all of the test she ran, i'm kinda nervous.  Some of the stuff she tested for is pretty serious stuff, I know you know what that is like.  I want to know what's wrong, but I don't want anything serious to be wrong, if that makes sense.  I'm hopeing you will hear from your dr, and you can talk to them about that ultrasound.  keep me posted.  Take care. Shannon

[davidspal]

You are never gonna guess what happened?! The surgeon called and said that some dr in CCF called and said that my info got to him by mistake. I gave them the correct #'s and they called my endo out there. I didn't hear from him that day. The next day the surgeon called again and said that they were gonna call CCF for me. Soon, the endo at CCF called me and said that he was going to put me on Synthroid!! AND, it is fine to take my gall bladder out as long as I'm hypo and not hyper!!! I just started balling! My poor husband! I called him and he just about had a heart attack because he thought something was wrong! I couldn't help it, it was such a releif! The funniest part is that about an hour before the endo called, I was talking to my pastor and telling him how sick I am of being sick and how I was feeling like I'm at the end of my rope! So, I took my first dose of thyroid meds today. It's levithyroxin or something like that. I read the pamphlet and some of it sounds scary, but I guess they all do. The only thing that has happened is that I feel like I have a lump in my throat now.  I didn't get a chance to ask about the sonogram. I was actually kind of disappointed. I know that the drs are busy and all, but I had to ask him about follow up blood work to check the dosage. He was just going to hang up. I said "well, don't I need to get another thyroid panel done to check the meds?" He said well, you can. Why don't you just do that there and have them send the results to me. So, I called my gp and he said no way. If the other dr ordered the medication, he has to order the blood work! Oh for God's sake! So, I called CCF back and they are supposed to send an order for bloodwork at the beginning of Sept.  I know how you feel about the blood tests. I was scared to death when I was being tested for that pheochromocytoma. Even then though, we decided that the sooner we know and deal with it, the more we can do to fight. My mother was misdiagnosed for over 3 months, which doesn't sound long, but she had a brain tumor. She made weekly trips to the local clinic, and they just kept giving her different scripts, and even started making adjustments to her blood pressure and thyroid meds.  She did take synthroid. That's probably part of why we have been so scared that this is taking so much time! The endo said that my thyroid wasn't working. He said if you have both antibodies, usually the one that makes you hypo finally wins out over the other one.  I hope the lump in my throat is my thyroid starting to work again.  I have been feeling really funny today. I'm assuming it's just my body starting to function again.  I hope that surgeon calls and has a new surgery date for me today.  How long until you get your results? I actually had a whold bunch of the thyroid symptoms about 6 years ago and ended up being diagnosed w/polycystic ovaries only to have the ob/gyn that tied my tubes after having my son reverse that dianosis. He said that he checked when he was in there and doesn't feel that I have it. I can only now assume that my thyroid started acting up way back then.  My mom was only 62. She had lung cancer despite the fact that she never had a cigarette touch her lips in her life! and no one in our house hold smoked.  We were shocked when her biopsy came back malignant. The docs here took it out and claimed they got it all so she needed no follow up treatments. We found out later from her brain surgeon at the university of Arkansas med center that that is where they dropped the ball on her the first time. The second time was not diagnosing her brain tumor in a timely fashion.  Come to find out one of the first places lung cancer metasisizes (sp) to is the brain.  She put up a really hard fight, but only made it about 90 days beyond her brain tumor diagnosis.  After things like that it's really hard to keep the faith in the medical community. But, we met some wonderful and caring doctors when she was in Roswell, which is where she died.  He dr there tried so hard for her. He said that he just wished she had come there when she first got cancer. We did too! August 5th she will be gone 6 years, and it just doesn't seem to get better! I can't believe it still hurts so bad! One woman told me that her mom has been dead 30 years and it still hurts as bad as yesterday! Now I believe her! I sure do wish she was here to ask questions to. Dad doesn't know everything that she was going through. Especially "female things"! My Gram (her mom) died right after mom's lung surgery. So I had to handle all of that. About a year later Mom's brain tumor was diagnosed, and on our first Christmas eve without my Mom, we buried my Aunt (my mom's little sister who was my best friend and 2nd mom). I am the only girl out of 4 children, so, I have no one to ask about the "female things" that might have gone on or been passed on to me! I keep trying to tell my husband that he needs to pay close attention to everything, because we know from experience, that you can suddenly be "in the dark" w/no where to go for answers.  That's part of why I keep a file w/all of my test results and a list of dates that I had certain things done. They could always look in there.  I hope you do the same! I hope my girls don't inherit all of these health problems. I keep telling my 15 yr old to start now watching how much junk she's eating and taking better care of herself. I didn't and now I'm paying for it. I was never heavy, but I never had to watch it, so I didn't! I've probably got more junk stored up in my body than I care to know! I may be preserved forever!!! ha ha!! Well, I had to tell you my good news. Let me know what your blood tests are. I'm going to call the surgeon and see if CCF called them to clear me for surgery yet. Take Care!!

[ShannieK]

That is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that you got such great news.  what level of meds did they put you on.  When I first went on meds, I felt sooooo strange.  I'd be sitting there and all of a sudden I would get a cold rush that would just start at my toes and go all the way to my head.  So funny feeling, but I chalked it up to all the medicine entering my body, after I had been on it alittle while, all of that stopped.  Are you feeling any better on meds?  I'm curious to see your dose.  I hope your surgery is soon, that will be so good for you to have that out of the way, I think that is wonderful.  I have not received any of my test results yet, just waiting, have been told, I will probably hear something tomorrow.  I'm so sorry to hear about your mom and everything she had to go through, and you her family.  I am very close with my mom also, and it just scares me, as we all get alittle older, I can't imagine, not having her here.  I bet your family is really happy for you right now, let me know when your surgery date is, I bet you will feel so much better.  I will write tomorrow, and let you know If I hear anything from my endo.  Great news!!!!

[davidspal]

I am on 100mcg of Levothyroxin (levothyroxine)/day.  My hydrochlorothyazide is 25 mg/day.  I got out my south beach book and it has dairy in it. I asked that mom who was doing it and she said that she lost 20 lbs the 1st 2 weeks, but then her sister moved in w/her and they just started pigging out, watching tv, etc. She said she's going back on it. She said that she was not allowed to have any fruit at all in the 1st 2 weeks.  Didn't you say you could have fruit? I ordered the body ph cookbook. I have been reading alot about the power of acid/alkaline producing foods.  The list of acid producing foods is everything I like (of course!). The first day on the medicine I felt kind of tingley every once in a while.  That hasn't happened since then.  I just got a phone call that my uncle is very ill (full of cancer).  I have to run up to my cousin's house.  Let me know about your labs. Oh, and they are supposed to call me w/a new surgery date on Monday or Tuesday.  Talk to you soon.

[ShannieK]

Hi, i'm real sorry to hear about your uncle.  yes, I think my diet is alot like the south beach, but not exact, there is alot more that i am unable to have, but am still losing weight so that is good.  I got my labs back and am confused, maybe you know alittle more than me.  All my thyroid stuff came back great, whole panel normal, with a TSH of 1.33, which is real good.  However they did all that cortisol testing and stuff, and I had a ACTH test that came back high?  Do you know anything about this?  The more I read the more concerned I get, cause it refers too much to people having Cushings disease, and that just doesn't sound cool, it says it is treated by chemo, radiation or surgery, Please tell me you might know alittle something about this.  Glad to hear your surgery is coming up, Talk to you soon.  Shannon

[madrone]

Has anyone had their emotional,memory, and mental capacity fully return after treatment of graves/hyperthyoidism?