Mmz's story....


" I've been promising a story of myself to Scorpiogirl who asked a few weeks ago.

I'll keep it simple. I had had mild undiagnosed hypOthyroid symptoms since my teenaged years back in the 70s about two years after starting with my cycles. My symptoms were weight gain, very cold and dry, always tired and long menstrual cycles.

Flash forward to when one of my children was born in 1995 and I began with mild hypER symptoms which lasted a few short months. I thought nothing of it at the time and did not seek treatment.

In 2000, however, with the birth of my last child, my hypER symptoms were much worst. I sought out natural herbal treatment with the naturopathic doctor. I kept my symptoms under control for about two years using the supplements. I did not do anything about the diet, not understanding I had to watch out for triggers too.

In 2003, the hypER symptoms raged out of control, I ended up in the hosptial during the Memorial weeked with a suspected thyroid storm, spent three days there and used the Atenolol for the first day and a half until I saw Endo #1. He insisted the RAI treatment two months after my hospitalization, but did went ahead prescribed Methimazole. When I got out of the hospital, I knew I wasn't going to see him again because of his rush rush view on RAIs for his patients and looked for another doctor to treat me.

Hospital did a follow up call and wanted to know why I didn't want to see Endo #1, I said I wasn't happy with him and was seeking a second opinion and was looking for another Endo and a doctor. By then I had found Doc, a holistic Internal med doctor and a naturopathic doctor who treated his patients with hormonal and thyroid problems. He treated me until I saw his Endo #2 friend several months later. I continue to see both Doc and Endo #2 after six years.

My Free T3 level was originally 1500 range 230-420 something at the hospital. The Free T4 wasn't tested. However when I saw Doc three weeks later and had both Free Ts tested, the FT4 was just under 3.0 range 0.8-1.8. I was diagnosed with a T3 Thyrotoxicosis.

Endo #1 started me out at 40 mg MMI once per day. Once I began my Internet search and found mediboard, it was suggested for me to try two or three times a day divided doses to help with the yo yoing of the symptoms. I went twice a day and my Free Ts barely came down. Once I went to three times a day, my Free Ts started to come down rapidly and I went hypO at six months. It took awhile to climb out of the hypO hell.

I've been on a low dosed of under 5 mg per day of MMI (still split up three divided doses) and watched my thyroid triggers.

Last summer I had to go back up to 5 mg because I thought I could ease up a bit on my diet and eat a bit differently. I was wrong!!! I'm back to watching my triggers and taking the 'right' supplements again.

I've research, researched, and researched as well as 'listened' to other people's advice/suggestions/tips all these years to getting well and staying well. I'm happy to report that these fine people knew what they were talking about because of having had been there in my shoes previously when they were ill.

Doctors don't always understand and know everything about how to treat thyroid patients no matter which route they take: ATD, RAI or TT. We, as the patients, must research all options and figure out the best thing for us to do at the time to get well.

I've elected to stick with the ATD because I've mainly done well. Had I not and yo yo'd all over the place due to the unstable Free Ts and not do the trigger diet, etc. I would've probably select the TT as my next choice of treatment.

{{{hugs}}} :-)

P.S. dairytech