I had the flat brown bumps on my palms and between my finger. Doc said it was a defiiciency in "essential fatty acids". Took evening primrose oil and after a couple months it went away. Essential fatty acids also help dry skin and hair. Hope you achieve remission.

Being hypo for long lengths of time can bring on all kinds of weird physical issues. I agree with Hot...if you are having skin issues...getting on a solid supplement program helps a lot. If you are already on Evening Primrose and Omega 3.6.9 it could help to increase it a bit. I am on 2400mg of Omega 3.6.9 and 1200mg of Evening primrose...and don't forget the Selenium and Cal/mag. Being on these supplements can aid you in maintaining remission.

For me...when I went off meds to test remission I bounced around a bit. I would get symptoms of being hyper and my levels did get above my normal. It wasnt until my 2nd labs...8 weeks...before my levels settled down and showed a true reading. My levels stayed normal for quite sometime but then went hypo...I was on various amounts of Synthroid for about a year before my thyroid kicked it again. This happens to about 20% of Graves patients that achieve remission...so it this happens to you...its not unusual.

There is a really good chance you will be hypo after going off meds....and I say that because your labs read low even on a small amount of ATD's. Do not be disheartened. You still have a functioning thyroid. If you do have to go on small amounts of Synthroid to bring your levels up to normal...your functioning thyroid will do the rest. A partially functioning thyroid is so much better than not having one at all. I am very excited for you Courage...hang in there and do what ever you need to do to keep your FT4 in the upper half of your ranges...Big Hugs...Kathy

Oh..and keep and eye on your FT3...you need it to be and mid level or just slightly above. If you think its a bit low and your FT4 is in a good place...Selenium helps with conversion...Selenium with a bit of Vit E...gives it an extra boost...Big Hugs..Kathy

Thanks ladies- I appreciate your words and advice. Weird thing- my hands cleared up out of no where two days ago- no specks at all. Weird, but I'll take it!
Kathy- I'm a bit intimidated to take on supplements on my own- did you go through your doctor or practitioner to do this or did you go solo? I'm trying to eat foods that provide more omegas but trying to stay clear or minimize goitragens. Did you alter your diet significantly when testing for remission and during remission?

Courage...I did not seek the advise of my Doctors or medical practitioners on the supplements I took...I received advise from someone much better and more educated with this disease...Elaine Moore. With the advise from her and the folks here...I was able to go against all medical advise and achieve remission and maintain it...4 years now.

The supplements listed are the ones I got from Elaine Moore...they are designed to repair, build and strengthen our weakened immune system in order for it to heal. As far as I am concerned...she is the authority on this disease and her knowledge supersedes any medical professional. The proof is in not only my remission...but many many others...Big Hugs...Kathy

Courage, I am curious as how much MMI you were on prior to going off. Were you being seen by an Endocrinologist, or a different type of practitioner? What was your last blood work?

When I went off MMI in December, 2.5 mg daily, it was not on my Endo's direction, but my own decision to get myself out of hypo-hell as quickly as possible. So I stopped it immediately after the blood work.

My labs were:
12/11/2012 -- stopped MMI that evening, endo said afterwards that it was good I did.
TSH 3rd generation, 1.64 (0.30-5.60 UIU/ML)
Free T4 1.0 (0.60-1.12 NG/DL)
Free T3 2.27 (2.5-3.90 pg/mL) --Low

Those labs were the first of 4 without being on MMI. My TSH has gone down since then, my FT4 stayed close to mid-range and my FT3 has been near the bottom of the range twice and twice below it. My endo will not prescribe supplementation yet, though.

I haven't had brown spots, but about 3 years ago under my first endo's treatment plan, I had terrible itchiness, mostly in my palms and soles of my feet. I don't have much of my labs from that era, but I believe I was hypo then. Endo #2 said Endo #1 had me hypothyroid.

My eyes were affected by the thyroid antibodies before I knew I had Graves'. In my opinion, the best thing to do against the antibodies is to make the body perfectly happy through optimum levels of thyroid hormones. That may also be the best path to continued remission.

Thanks, Kathy, for saying what you did about the selenium contributing to proper T4-T3 conversion. I have a hunch that is one of my problems.

Kathy- you're completely correct. I contacted Elaine about my circumstances- waiting for her reply. Do you think that I should start supplementation after I get my labs- to actually see where I am? Also, I'm preparing myself if I become hypo- for the reasons you explained. I just hope I can sneak in a pregnancy before this occurs. Did you do any diet or lifestyle changes, other than supplements, to maintain your remission???
Fern- I was taking 1.25 1X daily before I stopped my MMI. Feeling really good right now. Eating my brazil nuts and eating more omegas. I am and was being seen by an endocrinologist. Not particularly a big fan of him but kind of took things into my own hands with the guidance of Elaine and the people on here. I, too, was in hypohell. Yuck, I don't want to feel that way again! My hands do feel itchy in the morning- I asked Elaine about it and she hasn't gotten back to me yet. I will have new labs early April. I will, of course, post them when I get them. Here are my latest labs:
TSH
Aug 27: Less than 0.01
Sep 26: 0.02
Nov 14: 9.2 (reduced to 10 mg from 20 mg MM)
Nov 30: 11.8 (reduced to 5 mg MM)
Dec 24: 2.9 (started dividing dose- 2.5 2x day)
Jan 15: 6.2 (2.5 mg of MM ( 1.25 2X day))
Feb 8: 2.1

Thyroxine,Free(S)
Reference Range: 0.8-1.8
Aug 27: 1.1
Sep 26: 1.1
Nov 14: 0.7
Nov 28: 0.7
Dec 24: 1.1
Jan 15: 1.0
Feb 8: 1.2

Triiodothyronine(S)
Normal range: 80 - 190
Sep 26: 111
Nov 14: 92
Dec 24: 113
Jan 15: 96
Feb 8: 116

Courage:

I am new to this support group and new to my TED and Graves diagnosis but you and I seem to have many questions and issues in common.

I was diagnosed in the fall of 2011. Went through some ups and downs with MMI. I feel good now - but not great. My vision is beginning ot stabilize, so I am hoping to avoid major eye surgery.

I too have found these members to be incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and generous with their time and encouragement (even though I am just reading what everyone else is saying).

But some of your questions forced me to "speak up". I preface this with saying that I am a novice w thyroid and auto-immune issues. I am in awe of the members who can easily interpret lab results and seem to have so much wisdom. But if I am an expert at anything, it is knowing my own body!

So when I wasn't getting the support that I needed from my endo or primary care - I took to the web. There are 2 additional resources that I found very helpful - Overcoming Thyroid Disorders by David Brownstein and the website and supporting documents (articles, book and webinars) on naturalendocrinesolutions.com

When I recently received some lab results, I was shocked to know that I am now pre-diabetic and have symptoms of rheumatoid arthristis (auto-immune related as you know). I eat well, rest, drink tons of water, exercise reguarly. I don't eat sweets, tons of carbs or processed foods - so how could this all be happening so quickly? Well, I have probably had thyroid issues for most of my life and it is now taking a toll on my body.

So in the pat 2 weeks, I have made some changes to my diet because of course I want to feel better, but I also feel like I need to regain more control of my body and my future. So I have essentially cut out gluten, refined sugars, dairy, caffeine and alcohol. I have added protein to every meal and I basically eat vegetables. It is incredibly hard for me, so I can't imagine how hard it would be for anyone who is a fast food junky. But I feel AMAZING, compared to how I have felt in years!

Now it has only been 2 weeks and I have "cheated" here and there but in general, I am trying to shift my diet as the first place to start.

I have also applied to become a patient with Dr.. Osansky because I am not willing to take any supplements,/herbs/minerals without a knowledgeable medical practioner supporting me! I know that I need many more lab tests to accurately understand where I am in all of this too (adrenal testing, hormone panel, etc.)

So thank you for sharing and asking questions. I feel like we have a common bond in trying to learn about the route causes of our own illness and how best to go about living a healthy lifestyle!

Kim