I am so jealous

[jinglebts]

Originally Posted by pushka

Hey Guys

thanks for all the research!

I checked with my GP and with a hormone specialist (not an endo) and both of them have said that Levo is the only drug available. They wont refer me to an endo! I dont get it - its like their egos are invested in all this.

I will follow your leads and try it again.

onwards

pushka,

gosh, d'ja THINK!! -- who knew doctors had egos!! i know of VERY few who don't, and they're the gems of the earth (my neuro and my GP being two of them) ...

do you have a GP (in canadian-speak)/primary care physician/(US speak/) -- someone who just takes care of your general health? a family doctor? what's a hormone specialist -- a gynecologist? if we're talking sex hormones here (probably a gyno), he wouldn't know much about the thyroidbecause altho' they're hormones, they're different types ... that's why you need an endo ...

anyway, if you have a GP/PCP/family doctor, you'd get her/him to insist that you be referred to an endo...

i am fortunate enough to have had several wonderful doctors in my life, a gyno who understood enough to refer me to an endo, a GP who prescribes thyroid meds. (including cytomel) .... and MORE than my share of bad ones, but i've FINALLY learned to recognize the signs -- and run away ) ...

hang in there!!

jb

ps thanks to midwest1 for the further info ...
pps just occurred to me -- who referred you to the hormone guy? perhaps ...?

[pushka]

Hi again JB

We call primary doctors General Practioners. The hormone specialist is a GP too who has an interest in female hormones usually menpause stuff. I wasnt getting much joy from my GP (orig would not test me for 12 months even though family history of thryoid as well as symptoms myself) who just kept upping the dose when the blood tests told her to but not listening to my symptoms.

So I looked on the internet for local doctors who were interested in hormones (as opposed to hang nails and ear infections etc etc!) I went to see her last week and just asked her to review my thryoid issues. The hormone specialist has at least ordered further blood tests and is testing for anitbodies - something my GP said was unnecessary.

Gosh, why would I want to know why my thryoid is cactus

Hormone specialist is also testing for anemia issues and also liver function stuff. But she also said thyroxine is the only treatment.

I just emailed thyroidsupport.org.au and almost immediately received back a fantastic response where they explained what I needed to do and why things were not as good as the Doctors were telling me. Isnt it great when someone who actually knows helps you out

But that that happens here too but the Aus/Can/USA translations of drugs etc gets a bit confusing.

Gosh Im rambling - that makes me hypo!
Talk to you soon JB

[jinglebts]

we call them GPs here too, and i think our measurements are the same -- we use mg instead of mcg; i only say mcg for the sake of convenience, since the majority of users are american ...

"just kept upping the dose" -- may i ask what drugs? it's just that, if you're depressed and taking anti-depressants, a little cytomel/tertroxine might do you good; i recently went to a psychiatrist whose specialty is neuropharmacology, and i could have fallen into his arms when he said that if your thyroid doesn't work, ADs don't work (you're new here, but my first endo, in april, i dubbed the endo-from-hell, because fortunately he did all the right tests, but when i said i was depressed, said "hypoT doesn't cause depression -- you need a psychiatrist -- want the number of a guy?" HUH???... i was so angry i could have spat nails; he didn't give me any cytomel as a result of course ... the ignorance of the man!! didn't listen to me anyway -- ARRGGH!) ... so i fired him and got a new endo, with whom i'm quite pleased and it seems he has a rep for being brilliant, so ... i've fallen into some good luck after all!! ...

just might make you feel better all over, too (not the endo -- the
tertroxine )...

there's a theory that because armour is dessicated pig thyroid, it can't be titrated exactly (who knows exactly how big those little piggies were!) and also, that it can carry viruses that have so far not yet crossed over into humans (hepatitis E is an example) ... now don't all you armour fans dump on me: i'monly quoting my neuropharmacologist here; many endos really think synthetic is better and have doubts about the natural stuff and if you feel better on armour, good on you; i'd take it myself if i thought needed it BUT: that said, i'm doing quite well on synthroid/cytomel so pushka, don't feel cheated!!

glad you got your new GP ... some endos/GPs simply will NOT prescribe thyroid medication, even in the face of family history -- DUH!!!

so good for you for doing your own research -- it always makes me feel chuffed when a person makes that first post, sometimes in despair, and just gets so much SUPPORT that she gains enough confidence to INSIST on good medical care!!

BTW, if you don't mind, what part of oz are you from? (i know distressingly little about it and have never been there; i just wondered) ...

jb

[girlygirly]

I don't think it is appropriate to spread innuendos that some doctor with a theory has implied. Where is the proof? Where are the studies or where is the research that makes what he/she says true? Until there is some proof established I would call what was posted a rumour until proven otherwise. It's not fair to post something that has never been proven and then say.... but I don't want to hear any complaints from those of you who use armour... please post factual info on any drug so that it can be evaluated by readers here.Armour has helped many of us, and we will swear by it, through results not through our "personal opinions". Isn't it interesting that all of the thyroid books and also any on nutritional healing, ALL of those docotors (who are renouned) recommend Armour thyroid. How come none of them recommend the synthetics except for those who can't tolerate Armour?

[midwest1]

Originally Posted by jinglebts

there's a theory that because armour is dessicated pig thyroid, it can't be titrated exactly (who knows exactly how big those little piggies were!) and also, that it can carry viruses that have so far not yet crossed over into humans (hepatitis E is an example) ... now don't all you armour fans dump on me...

Now, now jingle... I won't jump on you too hard, but you're doing exactly what the "endos from hell" do when they refuse to consider anything but synthetic T4. (You don't want to be cast in the same light as them, do you?
Armour may have been poorly titrated in the late 1800's when it was first introduced as the only treatment for hypoT. Today's Armour doesn't have such problems and is titrated to meet USP standards. If you look at their website FAQ's, you'll find the exact procedure they do to ensure product potency.

I won't venture any guesses about the virus angle, except to say that these animals are raised for food consumption, and as such would be subject to USDA inspection. I'm old enough to know there are no guarantees in life and to "never say never", but I'll take my chances at the mega-miniscule risk of contracting a virus from my thyroid med.

Also I'll say there are several ways to go in hypo treatment, and any one can work better for some than others. I was myself considering asking for the combo of synthetics at one time - if I couldn't have found an Armour-Rxer; but it's even harder to find a doctor to consider the combo than it is to prescribe Armour!