I was diagnosed with Graves about 6 months ago and had radiation ablation of the thyroid on June 27. At that time, I was taking 50 mg of PTU twice daily. I had labs 5 weeks later and my endo cut me back to one daily. I had labs another 5 weeks after that, last Thursday, and his nurse called on Friday to tell my husband to have me change to a new medicine, PTU, and he wanted me to take a 50 mg tab twice daily. Apparently they don't update notes in files very often. Anyway, the nurse didn't give my husband the levels. My husband told her I was presently on 1 50 mg. tablet of PTU daily and was she sure. She checked with the doctor and called him back and told my husband the doctor said to stay on the medicine as I presently was and come in 4 weeks from now and do more labs and see the doctor. She commented that he thought it might be something other than the thyroid now. I'm so confused. I can't talk to the nurse because I work and am limited to making calls during my break or lunch hour. I can't catch anyone at the doctor's office on my brief breaks and they are closed during lunch, so depend on their relaying info to my husband. The levels from the labs done 5 weeks after the RAI were ALT 84, T4 (free) 1.2, and TSH 0.04. I know thyroid problems make cognitive thinking difficult but I'm frustrated and don't even know what questions to ask. Did his wanting to increase the PTU indicate he needed to repress thyroid function more? Didn't the ablation work and "kill" they thyroid, as he puts it? I know you can't answer those questions, but if you could help me know what to ask when I go late in September, I'd sure appreciate it. He's always in a hurry and it's difficult to pin him down long enough to ask questions of. One area I'd like to approach is I'm 52 and thought I was menopausal as I've quit having periods and have had hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, and mood swings for over a year now. I assumed that was all part of the change and have been using an OTC progesterone cream to help with those issues. I never thought to mention that and he's never once asked about any hormonal issues. I'd stopped the cream around the time of the ablation, since I was supposed to be off all meds and stayed off for about 6 weeks. I had to go back on to get any relief from the horrible hot flashes and being up 8-10 times a night, just because I felt like I couldn't stand to be in my skin.
Sorry for the length of all this. I just need to know what I do. There's only 2 endo doctors in our area and I thought perhaps the other, a woman, would be someone I could relate to better. My husband called to ask about my getting an appointment and she wouldn't take me as she didn't want to be put in a bad position with the other doctor. So unless I drive 2 hours each way to a different doctor, I'm stuck. Please offer some guidance, any guidance, if you can. I just desperately want to feel better. Thank you for any help.