Subclinical Graves' ?

[nonstickpam107]

WOW..you can eat THAT many carbs?? Goodness, my blood glucose would spike too if I ate that many (no offense, but if I get much over 60 or so carbs net per day...even weightlifting...I'm TOAST and a slave to insulin resistance).

My BG was high, I was insulin resistant, was on glucaphage and no longer have to take it...because I hold my carbs at 60 (all the way up to a high of 75 net on days I lift heavy weights). I don't understand why the highish blood glucose isn't associated with your carb intake? My endo had me down to 40net for quite some time (over two years).

Pam

[1000catsyouknow]

Pam -
Are we talking total carbs or net carbs? I think of everything as total. Where a 'normal person' eats 250-300g of carbs a day. Which I know is high!!
I do have a problem with hypoglycemia (not huge but as we know with early diabetes it is there) so take this A1c* with a grain of salt..... Before I get to see the endo I saw my last GP. He did an oral glucose test (wrong with 100g of glucose). My FBS was 99, my A1c was 5.0* but with the oral glucose test I went over 200 at the two and three hour marks then got sick to my stomach (based upon what I did when the test was done correctly it was reactive hypoglycemia taking me down fast). Now the significance of this - my triglycerides were 103 and I was on a low fat high carb diet (why who knows but I was doing it) I was consuming approx 200-250 carbs a day -mostly oat cereal.
When I was sick when this all started my triglycerides were 80 but I hadn't eaten in a few days so that might have been wrong. It doesn't appear that insulin resistance is my issue or what took me over the edge - it was glucose toxicity. I am white so racial differences with triglycerides don't come into play also considering my brother is now diabetic also with high triglycerides....
Things don't match up with me & I am NOT slow onset T1 (tested neg all the way) But I've got things down to what works with the diabetes :-)

On the plus, I have been reading up on Ft3 and Ft4 etc and think I understand a whole lot more about all of this. Interesting that the idiot doctor I went to when I was sick did a TSH was 1.8, a FT4 1.4 (same as now) and a T3, reverse which was .33 (range was to .32) So if I have this right the T3, reverse was showing either how much asprin I was taking or the fact that I was systemic with infection. Right? This was two years ago.

Also my issue is conversion from T4 to T3. And I am to the point that it's affecting my TSH since that's is starting to tell the tale that something ain't right. I make enough T4 currently but for whatever reason it's not going to the liver and changing to T3. Right?
Trying hard to understand :-)

Are you diabetic or were put on Met for proactive reasons?

Thanks :-)
K

[nonstickpam107]

I take anywhere from 80 to 120mg. of steroid a day (that'll raise blood sugar!) cuz I have vasculitis and was insulin resistant (very).

Um, I don't know anyone in my family (32 juvenile diabetics, and over 65 Type II and four Type 1.5) who eats over 75 grams (not net) of carbs per day. Most of us also have Celiac (thank goodness....cuz I'd be eating a loaf of bread a day, lol built in bread blocker there!) and my fiber is pretty low (I eat a lot of veggies though) so my net grams carbs don't ever exceed 90 anyway..and that's on a HEAVY lifting day.

I don't care what 'normal' people eat...I suppose that's why I was up to over 200 lbs. though...I must have been eating that many carbs!

I had a FT3 UNDER range, and a TSH UNDER range when I presented with myxedema coma...so TSH means um...pardon...squat to me. I really think you need to be seen by a doctor who 'gets it'. Yanno what? Most docs say that Graves autoimmune hyper and Hashimoto's autoimmune hyPO are the SAME disease...but at opposite end of the spectrum, and I've seen peeps with TSI's that were just barely below range (like yours) who were just in a hyper swing of Hashi's...later they went on to become hypo, OR the doc gave them just a teeny bit of RAI to do an uptake test and it 'quelled' their thyroids.

You could go either way...but I'm saying you need a doc who knows both diabetes AND thyroid...and knows it WELL, and knows enough not to go by TSH....if I'd waited till my TSH was 'over range' and 'treatable in the eyes of some doctors' I'd be dead right now.

I don't know all that much about diabetes..but I know, with a brother who's brittle and juvenile, that I've never seen many of them eating much over 100 NET grams (subtracting fiber from carb count) of carbs a day. And then, that was mainly veggie carbs. There's a lot of endo's and doctors now that are really clue'd into lowcarb way of life for diabetics and thyroid disease.

I feel it will take a special doctor indeed to get you straightened out. My doc had to do a block and replace on me...meaning I presented as HYPER with TSI a little less than TPO (but had both), in a hyper swing of Hashimoto's. I'd been MISdx'd FIVE times by FIVE endo's all of them wanted to give me RAI and kill my thyroid and go from there (then they would have given me ONLY synthetic T4 and life would have been over for me, as far as I'm concerned).

My doctor (yep, still with him all these years) did a block for the hyper part (beta blockers, calm my heart) and replaced with compounded Armour (a compounding pharmacist made it for me...to be time released). It took a little over TWO years to get me feeling 'normal' but was worth it.

Pam

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

. . .but bringing up her iron helped her be able to tolerate thyroid hormone.

Hi Pam:

When you use the word "tolerate" here, do you mean "get a benefit from"/"see improvement on," etc or is there some sort of negative effect of taking the hormone if the iron is low?

Thanks for the clarification

[1000catsyouknow]

Steroid induced... there are some on the ADA boards that had/have that issue also. Many were never told by their doctors that it could happen!!
You have quite a bit of T1 and T2 in your family!!
I do eat around 25g of fiber so that is part of my 80-100g total. I can't imagine cutting it down more....
Near the end of being sick I was stuffing down the carbs - I know I was! This was in the last week or so thinking, gee I can eat this much??? Ya, not. You do know how I found out I had glucose issues? My cat got diagnosed with diabetes a few weeks before and I was on the felinediabetes boards and everyone there were using meters to help their cats. Also they were turning the meters on themselves to see if they were ok - everyone was saying that they were just fine. Well, I was so sick after eating my BD cake and thought I was going to die that night (the diabetic cat woke me up - I was gray - should have gone to the ER but didn't) that morning as a joke I tested and got 220. Retested and it was 218 so I knew it was me and not the meter. We use a human meter on the cat. I have a friend who is waking up every day around 200 right now and I've been really pressing on her to go to the doctor now - think she is more frightened than anything.
Ya, I know after reading more about FT3 and FT4 that my endo doesn't get it. Sad really since I knew she was testing someone else for parathyroid (think that's right - but I know that's really bad)
I do also wonder if I get my thyroid in order that my glucose intolerance will get better. I told the endo that I have good days on being able to eat and then bad days where I know I go up more than I should. Also that the antibiotic did something. She just said, huh...
I don't think I am bad off but I do realize now this needed to be attended to once she saw the TSH was 3.11 6 months ago and my main gripe was that I wake up tired. I have been giving her little notes with my concerns on them and I tell her what my notes say.
My brother is in Omaha - is there anyone REALLY, REALLY good there? Maybe I'll skip the GP in Ft. Smith and go to a major expert...
I am going to get this taken care of - suppose in one way I am so tired of doctors - took forever to get here now something else to consider.... the fact that everything could happen so fast with you makes me think I better haul butt :-)
Thanks!
K

[nonstickpam107]

Originally Posted by retroworx

Hi Pam:

When you use the word "tolerate" here, do you mean "get a benefit from"/"see improvement on," etc or is there some sort of negative effect of taking the hormone if the iron is low?

Thanks for the clarification

In some patients, with very low iron and B12 and ferritin (usually iron and ferritin together, doesn't HAVE to be B12 too), the patient's response to incoming thyroid hormone will be symptomatic...almost like the response one has when adrenals are too low to support incoming thyroid hormone. The problem with this is that too many doctors tend to call any lab test in range "normal".

Many will be able to take incoming thyroid hormone with low iron AS they are bringing the iron up...but generally those with very low iron/ferritin will have symptoms of hyperthyroid WAY before the incoming thyroid hormone level is adequate to become 'euthyroid'. (I'm talking using T4, T3 testing here, NOT TSH of course).

Pam

[nonstickpam107]

Originally Posted by retroworx

Hi Pam:

When you use the word "tolerate" here, do you mean "get a benefit from"/"see improvement on," etc or is there some sort of negative effect of taking the hormone if the iron is low?

Thanks for the clarification

In some patients, with very low iron and B12 and ferritin (usually iron and ferritin together, doesn't HAVE to be B12 too), the patient's response to incoming thyroid hormone will be symptomatic...almost like the response one has when adrenals are too low to support incoming thyroid hormone. The problem with this is that too many doctors tend to call any lab test in range "normal".

Many will be able to take incoming thyroid hormone with low iron AS they are bringing the iron up...but generally those with very low iron/ferritin will have symptoms of hyperthyroid WAY before the incoming thyroid hormone level is adequate to become 'euthyroid'. (I'm talking using T4, T3 testing here, NOT TSH of course).

You see, 'classic' hypothyroid symptoms (thinning, falling hair, aching joints, fatigue, tachycardia (not just for hyper anymore!)) are also classic low iron/ferritin symptoms...and that's WHY I ask people if they have had iron/ferritin and B12 if I see a 'decent' TSH with a really good FT4 and a really crappy FT3 and they have those symptoms. If you replace thyroid hormone in a person with low iron, many times they go right to hyper symptoms (racing heart, tachycardia, 'air hunger', etc.).

Pam

[nonstickpam107]

Originally Posted by 1000catsyouknow

Steroid induced... there are some on the ADA boards that had/have that issue also. Many were never told by their doctors that it could happen!!
You have quite a bit of T1 and T2 in your family!!
I do eat around 25g of fiber so that is part of my 80-100g total. I can't imagine cutting it down more....
Near the end of being sick I was stuffing down the carbs - I know I was! This was in the last week or so thinking, gee I can eat this much??? Ya, not. You do know how I found out I had glucose issues? My cat got diagnosed with diabetes a few weeks before and I was on the felinediabetes boards and everyone there were using meters to help their cats. Also they were turning the meters on themselves to see if they were ok - everyone was saying that they were just fine. Well, I was so sick after eating my BD cake and thought I was going to die that night (the diabetic cat woke me up - I was gray - should have gone to the ER but didn't) that morning as a joke I tested and got 220. Retested and it was 218 so I knew it was me and not the meter. We use a human meter on the cat. I have a friend who is waking up every day around 200 right now and I've been really pressing on her to go to the doctor now - think she is more frightened than anything.
Ya, I know after reading more about FT3 and FT4 that my endo doesn't get it. Sad really since I knew she was testing someone else for parathyroid (think that's right - but I know that's really bad)
I do also wonder if I get my thyroid in order that my glucose intolerance will get better. I told the endo that I have good days on being able to eat and then bad days where I know I go up more than I should. Also that the antibiotic did something. She just said, huh...
I don't think I am bad off but I do realize now this needed to be attended to once she saw the TSH was 3.11 6 months ago and my main gripe was that I wake up tired. I have been giving her little notes with my concerns on them and I tell her what my notes say.
My brother is in Omaha - is there anyone REALLY, REALLY good there? Maybe I'll skip the GP in Ft. Smith and go to a major expert...
I am going to get this taken care of - suppose in one way I am so tired of doctors - took forever to get here now something else to consider.... the fact that everything could happen so fast with you makes me think I better haul butt :-)
Thanks!
K

AH..I also had hyperparathyroidism! Had two adenoma's removed at the ripe ol' age of ..um...28, lol. My brother and myself are the first two people in my family (Grandma was adopted, she doesn't 'count') to live past 49 yrs. old. Now a few cousins are coming right up behind us!

I'm kind of getting the idea you haven't read a lot on lowcarb and diabetes? My doctor hands his diabetic patients a lowcarb diet...and usually has them on around 22 NET grams per meal per day. It tends to work well for most of them.

Have you posted/read in the diabetes sticky up above too? Some of those ladies are VERY educated..on having diabetes and staying lowcarb.

Um..major expert? Listen, on my lists some of the DO's are better than any endo...and I haven't checked the Omaha list lately...but will for you. Don't count on an endo knowing thyroid either. Out of every 1,000 endo's, about five are REALLY good on thyroid. NO ONE (human anyway) should have to suffer through a doctor who uses TSH to titrate/medicate. I did have some 'stickers' that said "Worships at the altar of TSH" made up for awhile, and would leave them stuck on the door, etc. whatever...LOL I'm bad...

Pam

[nonstickpam107]

Oh, there's only one doctor in all of Omaha...that isn't a TSH Queen/King. This one has been recommended by my doc, and two NP's:

Dr. Jeffrey Passer, Internal/Integrated Medicine, 4239 Farnan Street Ste 800, Omaha, Ne 68131 , 402 552-2900, Anti-Aging Medicine - Dr. Jeffrey Passer, MD, PC, Omaha, Nebraska / info@omahamedicine.com

He's supposed to be 'all that and a bag of chips'. Don't be surprised if it takes half a year to get in. My doc is like that, takes about six months...and I have several folks flying in from California and Florida and...several other places to see him.

ETA: Don't be fooled by all the bariatric stuff on website...he's great at thyroid/endocrine function.

Pam

[CenterofOregon]

Pam,
Does your list include in Doctors is Central Oregon (Bend)?
I am going through the tests for Grave's. I am not going to do the RAI uptake tests, nor will I consider RAI Ablation.

I tried one Naturopath yesterday from Bend. I wasn't impressed. So my search continues.

I had some initial test done TSH & Free T4, now the TSI and the another that escapes me right now.

Anyway, would love to know if your list includes Oregon.

thanks
Jodie

[nonstickpam107]

Where's your FT3 test? That must be done to be definitive. Hold on, let me look...um..have to tell ya just HOW MANY patients who are just going through a hyper phase of Hashimoto's are misdiagnosed Graves/hyper...do you have copy of your TSH/FT4/TSI and TPO (with ranges?). I was first misdx'd...cuz my TSH was .002...and my FT4 was kind of high...but my FT3 wasn't even ..um..there..anywhere, lol.

Just one:

Dr. Allan A. Harris, Naturopathic Medicine, 600 NE Savannah Drive, Suite 1, Bend, OR 97701, 541-617-1195, Circle of Health Clinic - Home

I just looked at his site..I'D go to him!!

And most of us with thyroid disease have to travel up to two hours (one way) driving time to find a really good doctor, they ARE few and far between. Some have gotten 'lucky' and found them in their 'backyard' but most of us ...not. If this doctor is really good...and you see him, please let us all know.

Pam

[CenterofOregon]

No FT3 yet...
I am an EMT and was have high BP and pulse. I swung into the ER and talked to my medical director. Had a EKG and standard CBC, Urine and TSH.
TSH came back as .03 and then ordered the Free T4. I was uneducated at the time regarding Thyroid, so didn't know to ask. With an extremely low TSH not marginal or with the controverscial levels. It seems to point to Grave's. After the naturopath yesterday he order the TSI and don't remember the other. (forgot to copy the order) But I am sure it did not include the FT3.
So on Monday I go see a local doc that I work with as EMT. He was involved with the test at the ER. He but me on Metoprolol to help with the high BP, Pulse and tremors. It only helps marginally.
Yesterday's NP said he won't do much with grave's due to the risks. He will help but have to be under the care of an Endo. I dread and endo as the main stream go first for the RAI and then give you HRT the rest of your life. That doesn't fit my style.
NP mentioned that I was probably insulin resistant. BG was at 105. And I am over weight. He explain the Autoimmune relation to the IR and the Grave's.
So he suggested a low carb diet to get the IR under control and then go from there.

Pam, do you happen to have the function levels for the CBC test as opposed to the "acceptable" levels that are stated on the CBC's?

I had already looked at Dr. Harris' website. I have his number on a sticky to call on Monday. Maybe he will have more to offer.

I live about 2 hours from Bend and 4 hours from the Portland metro area. I am used to driving for all things needed. LOL

Pam, thank you for the reply.
Jodie

[nonstickpam107]

Jodie, I presented with a TSH lower than yours and they 'jumped' to conclusions, and what's worse, I've uncovered a SLEW of patients that have been RAI'd ...and found out later they were just going through the 'hyper' phase of Hashimoto's (hyPOthyroid, autoimmune). I had tremors, quads so shaky I couldn't climb stairs, heart rate ...way high, etc....yet I found a good thyroid doc who did a 'block and replace' treatment.

All labs have different lab ranges, so I can't say anything as to the CBC....and is why I asked you for your FT4, FT3 (if you are truly hyPER/Graves, your TSI will be 'off the chart' and FT3 will be WAY over the top of range, to give you a clue, if neither of those is true...than you'd better be seen by someone with good experience!). I'm hoping they did a TPO too...that'll show Hashi's.

Here's a small list (only the best...when you're autoimmune...or suspected of autoimmune...you need a doctor who sees it day in/day out) for Portland area:

Rick Marinelli, ND Naturopathic Physician/Acupuncturist 1600 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Portland, OR 97225 (503)644-4446
Wow...this ND sounds just peachy keen!! Knows a LOT about autoimmune hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, does FT's, and Rx's Armour.

Dr. Ravinder Sahni, Naturopathic Doctor, 503-641-8503, Portland, Oregon area.
Couldn't find much except he's not afraid to Rx. Armour

Dr. Kim Webster Functional Medicine 2525 NW Lovejoy #408 Portland, OR 97210 503-973-5545
The above doctor may be your 'best bet' as far as understanding autoimmune issues and how to treat.

[CenterofOregon]

Pam,
We will see what this next lab test says. I had the original CBC on the 19th and then stopped by the lab yesterday for more. And I see a doc on Monday and I am sure he will order more if needed. I work with him on a professional level which provides for being VERY comfortable with him. Also he is used to teaching me as I am always asking about issues that we see in EMS. I am hoping between him and whatever Naturopath I see we can work out a good plan.
I will check into these PDX people is Harris in Bend doesn't pan out.

Thanks again,
Jodie

[nonstickpam107]

You know the thyroid tests will be 'more telling' than a CBC...CBC doesn't really point to thyroid at all. And I wouldn't 'balk' at the RAI Uptake (it's just a test to see 'how' hyPER you are...and if it comes back you're not shoing hyPER from it...um..either the doc is very experienced and KNOWS it's a 'hyper swing' of Hashimoto's). Do wait, also on TSI and TPO...

I hope a lot of my 'readers' are reading this. Because TSH means..um...nuttin'...the proof is in FT4, FT3, TSI and TPO (and RAI Uptake if TSI isn't over range).

Best of luck to you.

Pam

[CenterofOregon]

Sorry Pam,
I do NOT consider RAI "just a test". It is radioactive Iodine that kills your glands. Even the smaller amounts used for testing can damage the thyroid. It is also taken up by other glands (contrary to what the main stream doc say) and can cause long term problems. As far as medicine has come, I am surprised that this test is still being used. I would not ever, no matter what consider this test. It would be the start of many more problems.
Also, Grave's tends to run it course. I think if I can work with the beta blockers and at the same time work on the deficiencies that my have been involved with the Autoimmune trigger that I can get through this. Once Graves runs is course, your thyroid can be 'normal again' or you may go Hypo... But if you do not do the RAI that at least you have a thyroid to work with.

[nonstickpam107]

The small amount of RAI they gave me for uptake was necessary for me...because I was given all the other tests and my heart rate was such that I could have died. I presented with a TSH of ..not there at all, a FT4 that was..um not there at all, and a FT3 that was, um, not there at all. I presented with BOTH TSI and TPO antibodies. the only sure fire way to tell which 'autoimmune disease' I really had was to do an RAI Uptake (which generally, when given by a doctor who is VERY WELL VERSED in how MUCH RAI to give just to get an Uptake test, doesn't completely abate the thyroid).

I was misdiagnosed by FIVE endo's who were using ONLY my TSH and a Total T4 and ONLY did the TSI (they didn't DO the TPO and put them side by side) as Graves. I have Hashimoto's, I had a 9/10th's of the range TSI (and I admit, I would have been 'fooled' too had I not known about the other tests) yet my TPO was...4 THOUSAND times the high level.

I've never met anyone, anywhere that was able to have Graves 'run it's course'. I'd really love to see that scientific information. ( I have to add that I've only seen studies and testing and known about 78 people with autoimmune Graves though...you must have seen many more than I).

People who are hypo/hyper have the small amount of RAI given for an UPTAKE test (I'm NOT talking about the amount that is delivered for ablation...perhaps you think I'm talking about that)...and many are fine. I had the test, it didn't make me go 'more hypo', but I still have Hashimoto's autoimmune..although my thyroid is NOW the size of a shriveled walnut from the antibody attacks.

I could only find two doctors within a TWO DAY driving distance that know how to do a 'block and replace' and do a RAI Uptake WITHOUT ablating the thyroid.

I would sincerely LOVE to see the evidence (patients themselves, not just a doctor saying so) that Graves can be 'cured' and 'goes away'. Never seen it, had no idea, and it's quite interesting....I'd already asked my doc for the info, but there isn't any according to him, and the NIH and Endo scociety doesn't have any evidence either. Perhaps the new information you have only became available (I stay pretty busy with my advocation).

Pam

[CenterofOregon]

Pam,
I never said nor indicated that Grave's could be "cured". I did say that it "runs it's course". I did not bookmark all of the articles that I have read on this. But some were out of Europe and some from Canada.
I will let you know how my process goes. As I said, not all the tests are in, and regardless of the bloodtest, there will not be RAI test preformed on me.
Whether of not a definitive answer can be obtain without RAI. I don't care. I will deal with whatever I have to without the RAI.
I believe I have read enough adverse reactions to the RAI uptake test as well as the RAI Ablation. I understand the differences in the iodines and the difference between the test and the ablation. For me neither is an option.
I do believe main stream medicine routinely treats the symptoms and the disease. This is true for Grave's (i.e. RAI Ablation) and many other diseases. I do believe you can do noninvasive intervention of symptoms while working to find and treat the underlying issue. I don't believe that irreversible methods are in my best interest. This doesn't mean that they are not the correct process for others. If others choose that means of treatment for their circumstances then who am I to question that.

What I was most interested in from this forum was 1) Experience with Naturopath Doctors who do not tend to follow main stream treatment and 2) someone who has worked with Natural remedies that may have the functional levels of some items on CBC and Urinalysis test.
I realize that each lab uses a different testing style thereby making one labs levels different than another. But I also know there are "functional levels" as opposed to "acceptable levels". That is the information that I am most interested in. That information that tells you that although 105 is a "acceptable level" of Blood Glucose, 105 is above the "functional Level" for Insulin Resistance.

If anyone has this information or can point in a direction where I might find it, I would greatly appreciate the information.

[nonstickpam107]

Wish I could give you information that deals with naturopathic/non medication/non mainstream doctors for Graves autoimmune disease in the USA. I know that a TSH is a test of the pituitary's action UPON the thyroid, and doesn't mean much in light of FT4, and FT3 testing. I know that 'most' people with hyperthyroidism (whether Graves autoimmune disease or other cause) will show a 'normal' FT4, while they will show a 'above RANGE FT3' and that MANY doctors give ANTI-THYROID (methimazole, etc.) using ONLY TSH and T4 levels and those patients are the ones who write to ME because they've either gained upwards of 50 to 100 lbs. during that treatment and find out that they've been MISdiagnosed as Graves...because the doc didn't do TPO as well as TSI, OR because the doctor ONLY looked at TSH and T4/FT4.

All I know is what I know. OH..AND I know it's possible for a patient to 'almost die' from myxedema coma with a TSH of .002 and a T4 that was 'normal/bottom of range' and a T3 that was 'normal, barely within bottom of range'. I know because I'm one of those people. I was misdiagnosed as hyPER/Graves and the doc who msdx'd me decided to just give beta blockers and 'wait it out'. I spent seven weeks in ICU.

May you find the information you need.

Pam

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

In some patients, with very low iron and B12 and ferritin (usually iron and ferritin together, doesn't HAVE to be B12 too), the patient's response to incoming thyroid hormone will be symptomatic...almost like the response one has when adrenals are too low to support incoming thyroid hormone. The problem with this is that too many doctors tend to call any lab test in range "normal".

Many will be able to take incoming thyroid hormone with low iron AS they are bringing the iron up...but generally those with very low iron/ferritin will have symptoms of hyperthyroid WAY before the incoming thyroid hormone level is adequate to become 'euthyroid'. (I'm talking using T4, T3 testing here, NOT TSH of course).

Pam

Pam, by "symptomatic", do you mean that at one point one can feel more hypo than before supplementing? The next para suggests another alternative -- having to dose so much to get any movement at all that things go "overboard" into hyper mode. Am I understanding correctly?

Thanks!

[nonstickpam107]

No, that's not what I mean.

I'm saying that you shouldn't be given thyroid hormone if the iron is SO low as to be barely in range. And I'm not saying you would GO hyper (hyper is when your FT3, FT4 are over range) I'm saying you'd have the 'symptoms of'. Big difference. Also, if a doctor gives you a lot of hormone at one time, like to start, your body wouldn't be able to accept it...many docs bring the adrenals up (if needed), bring iron up a bit, and then treat little by little.

Pam

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

No, that's not what I mean., . .

Pam

Thanks for the clarification, Pam

[1000catsyouknow]

Pam -
Sorry it's taken a while to get back to you - had family come in from out of town. We looked over my labs (the hard copy came in the mail) and I'm not quite sure what to make of it.
Just a note...
Now 22 NET carbs per meal you are stating is low carb... I do less than that. I am wondering if I'm not getting enough calories / carbs per day. Low iron, high am cortisol 27.5 (no range given but I imagine the range is 9-23?) It wasn't the doctor who called with that - it was an assistant and she said my cortisol number was great. ??? When I got the hard copy I saw it was flagged as High.

Let me see if I have this right...
FT4 is 1.4 so I am making thyroid hormone but since my FT3 is on the low side of normal I am not converting thus my THS is reacting and going to 3 This is due to low iron and high cortisol? Might be due to my glucose regulation is horrible and I'm not getting enough energy from my food intake? I don't store insulin for food intake like a normal person - I depend almost exclusively on my second phase insulin response.
I have started a small amount of Metformin to see if this will help my situation. We will see... it's only been a few days.
Remember I don't have a weight issue, I have a great BP 110/70 typically and triglycerides typically at 80.
I don't fit the mold of a T2 diabetic (normal fasting BG and normal fasting insulin levels- in fact really normal at 5 but neg for T1 antibodies). Plus I can't find that I'm your typical hypothyroid if that is what is happening. I'm neg for TPO's and my TSI's are right at 100 but they aren't affecting me right now correct? I read less than 2% was normal and I'm at 100% and 125%+ is Graves. So how can I be at 100% and it's not doing anything?
Thanks for your response ahead of time!!!
K