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THE Q & A
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Welcome to The Q&A with Elaine Moore. Registered members are invited to ask any question of Elaine Moore on autoimmune diseases, Graves' disease, other thyroid diseases and subconditions, laboratory work, traditional and complementary medicine, triggers and environmental influences, thyroid and immune disorders in pets and animals, and other relevant areas of inquiry.
Each thread represents one question with one answer and will only appear at the time it is answered. Once answered, further replies cannot be made to the same thread since each thread represents only one question. A new thread will need to be started for additional questions.
Questions are answered solely by Elaine Moore, a medical writer and clinical laboratory scientist, MT, CLS, with more than 30 years of experience in immunology. Moore has also authored and edited over a dozen books in the area of health sciences and is an editor for McFarland Publisher's Health Topics Series.
Copying of any posts is prohibited without permissions.
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Notice: No notices today.
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| DMc |
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Joined: 8/7/2011
Posts: 4
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Hi Elaine, I have noticed a difference in my FT4/FT3 ratio since 3/11. Recent labs show FT4 1.99 (.6-1.5) FT3 7.1 (2.3-4.2) prior to this I had been coming down off methimazole because of feeling what I thought was too hypo. These labs reflect hyper -and the doctor recommended 10mg methimazole. I am also getting close to menopause and have been struggling with my cycles - no period for months... then light for 6 weeks.... then very very heavy...-- I am working with a Natruopath and recently started working with an Acupuncturist. It feels as if I have been on a roller coaster with symptoms feeling good then anxious, weepy, running a low grade temp 99.2, depressed, fatigued. Unfortunately the doctor that I have been working with for 10 years (md/nd) has become so busy that while I was feeling unwell in February I must wait until April to get labs done and speak with him. [Would anyone know of a good doctor that would follow someone regarding thyroid who doesn't want to go the RAI route] I would appreciate any ideas you have?
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| Elaine |
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Joined: 8/1/2008
Posts: 3374
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Hi DMc,
The changing ratio isn't so important because FT3 takes longer to fall and it's affected by diet more than FT4. What's significant is that your levels are both elevated and using 10 mg methimazole sounds like a good plan. In general, when you're hypothyroid periods can be more frequent and are usually heavier; when you're hyperthyroid periods can be scant or absent. Near menopause, things also change with women skipping a period or two for a while before stopping completely.
It's nearly April and you would have wanted to be on the 10 mg mmi dose for an average of 6 weeks before having labs. If your appointment is later in April, you can always call the office and see if you can have labs sooner.
Recent surveys show that the use of ATDs is on the rise and the number of people having RAI is falling. RAI is still the least expensive treatment over time so some insurance companies (and doctors administering these plans) recommend it. If you're happy with your doctor in general and are able to get copies of your lab results so you can monitor things, I'd probably stick with this doctor and only make major dosage changes based on your FT4 level. My guess, since FT4 was only slightly elevated, is that you may only need the 10 mg dose for 6 weeks and then be able to drop to 5 mg. FT3 may take longer to fall but you don't want your FT4 level to fall lower than mid-range and we have around 8-10 times as much FT4 as FT3 (they're measured in different units like pounds for FT4 and ounces for FT3). best, elaine
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TO USERS: Q&A posts are visible to all readers. Users can delete their own threads at any time. Users must provide information which is true and correct to the best of their knowledge as well as provide sources or references to any health / medical information if not taken from personal experience. All users including the moderator must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Advertising and self-promotion is not allowed. The moderator or site administrator has the right to ban users with or without warning for not following the basic rules of this site. All posts by default are not to be considered that of medical professionals unless otherwise indicated. As sole moderator, Moore has no conflicts of interest in the sponsorship of this forum.
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| New FAQ - Thursday, April 05, 2012Having problems changing your account information? Can't figure out why your Q&A post isn't showing up? Check out our new FAQ for answers! |
| Milestone - Wednesday, April 04, 2012
As of this date, our membership rolled over to 1600. We'd like to take this time to thank all members for their inspiration and for making this site a success. |
| 2nd Edition Newly Released - Saturday, March 10, 2012 |
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