Have you decided to go with a TT or is this visit for information? I havnt gotten that far so I cant help you with this but I would be very interested in what he has to say. Hugs Kathy

google it ! There is a whole list of questions that are listed

http://thyroid.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fcpmcnet.columbia.edu%2Fdept%2Fthyroid%2Fsurgselct.html

try this site

It might be a bit of a rush to see him but being that my endo doesnt want to see me anymore its just saving an extra step later. This way I wont have to wait to be reffered to another endo and then to the surgeon.My reg doc says there is about a one year wait for surgery, so I will have lots of time to decide. I havent made a decision yet, but I would rather the TT than RAI. Actually I would rather none but thats out of my hands. Thanks for the link.

Hi Malbers, how long have you been on ATDs? And the reason they want you to do TT, have you not stabilized on ATDs?

Have you had your antibodies checked, i don't recall? This might show if you could go off meds completely and be in remission or turned hypo now.(without meds) Do you have high antibodies for Hashi's? (anti tpo's and anti tg) Did you ever bring up block and replace? (you probably have)

Greetings Marbar,
I would definately google the subject and come back to the group and ask for more imput...I was diagnosed 9 yrs. ago with Graves...I had a choice of the surgery or atomic cocktail...I took the cocktail however, they told me it dies slow...After 9 yrs. now I am faced with a possible surgery because they can not stabilize my meds. I test ev. 3 months and always to follow is a dosage change... It has been horrible. From my experience stay with your Endo after surgery for aftercare and do not let your internist Dr. take care of the Endo job. It doesn't work...I tried it...

I havent got the TSI yet but the TPO was 1115 range is under 50. I have stablized somewhat but just want to get everything in place just in case.I have been on the low end of normal now since June 2008. Tsh has been in range also.

How long have you been on meds Malber? Has the doc ever mentioned taking you off them? You have antibodies for Hashi's probably it seems.Your thyroid is under attack as is mine.(high tpo's) although Elaine says this is inflammation,she doesn't say destruction,she's so nice..

I have been on the ATDs since Nov 2007.He said when left a message discharging me from his care that I should stay on them for another year. i asked him about the high TPO and he says it just indicates thyroid disease. The thyroid now is back to its normal size, it was five times larger. The ultra sound only showed swelling no hot spots. He did the TSH receptor test in Nov/07 and it was 17 range is under 1. I will have another one done early next week along with the reg blood tests.The big problem for me is that when I take the tapazole even 2.5mg within an hour I start freezing and aching, headache all day. I really want to stop all together but am affraid to end up real hyper. My hair is normal again, not falling out and my beautiful curl is back!! No more frizz. I still feel hypo and my skin is really dry and scaly. I guess I will no more when I get next weeks results back.

I got too hypo on 2.5 also and I have cut that to half..1.25 now. I don't have the hypo symptoms quite like I had. Why don't you try that after you see what the test results are that is. My tsh was 14 then went down to 10, still way high, so instead of stopping I cut the 2.5 in half. My doc said to have another blood test in a month to see how that dose does. Elaine seems to think I am in spontaneous hypothyroidism and it happens to 20 percent of us. She feels B&R is best for that to get ALL antibodies down, and then just replace after that and things could just subside and you remain euthyroid.Maybe surgery would be too drastic for you.If you feel lousy still after doing the dose cut and your tsh goes down and Frees go higher you might reconsider and do surgery,because it would mean hyper again.

Any type of inflammation in the body causes destruction of some type. Imagine what I do with the thyroid inflammation as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis inflammation! My holistic Doc now wants me to take 6 grams of liquid Flaxseed oil and I'm not sure how to translate this into tablespoons and/or teaspoons.

Anyway malbers, usually getting a TT done which comes in handy when one cannot get their thyroid levels under control and normally that's when one is hypER.

If you have been on the hypO side of normal since last June, best thing to wean off of the ATDs. Do you know what your TRAB and TSI are to be able to do this? I'm sure you mentioned this somewhere, but it's hard for me to keep up with everybody here...sorry!

Take care... :-)

So I have reduced my meds to 2.5mg daily and my recent blood tests are showing hyper. TSI results are not back yet.

TSH 0.02 range 0.5-4.0
FT4 21.2 range 7.5-21.5
FT3 6.2 range 3.5-6.5
I also had a cbc, iron and cortisol test which were all fine. I tried reducing everyother day but started feeling bad fast. So I just kept taking 2.5mg daily. I feel horrible, i thought i should be feeling alot better being at the high end of range. I have gained 40lbs since the end of sept being hypo and i am hoping i wont keep gaining now my #s are higher. I do feel better than when hypo, except sweaty hands.For the first time in many months I havent been freezing and can actually go outside.