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Saturday, August 31, 2013

HAVE THYROID ISSUES??? READ MY STORY

Dear Readers:

I was diagnosed as being hypothyroid about 35 years ago.  I was going along pretty well until about 15 years ago.  I noticed that many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism returned, slow pulse, high blood pressure, severe ridges in the nails, low body temperature, just to name a few.  I started hunting for a doctor who would treat me and my symptoms, even though at that time my TSH was within normal range.  Every physican I came in contact with kept telling me that my blood work was normal, and that something else must be wrong, but they couldn't find anything. 

So, I began to educate my self about the condition, and about four years ago, I 'brow beated' my then current physican to switch me from the synthetic thyroid medication to the natural (Armour) thyroid medication.  With much dragging of feet on the doctor's part, the change was made.  However, after the initial change to 90 mg of Armour, the majority of the symptoms were still not disappearing. The blow came when the doctor lowered the dosage to 60 mgs based on the lab results.  I did more research and then I came back a few weeks later and told the doctor that I was not feeling well on the new dosage.  I pleaded with him to treat me and my symptoms and not test. Then I showed him an article where the new ranges recommended for TSH by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists were 0.3 to 3.04.  The lab used by the doctor's office was still using the old ranges of 0.5 to 5.0,  However, the doctor would not budge, saying the lab was correct. 

Needless to say, that doctor is no longer my physician.  I am now under the care of someone who is working on getting all of my symptoms under control and I am feeling much better.  Oh yes, I take 90 mg of Armour in the morning and 60 mg in the evening.  I am finally starting to feel human.

This long story is a result of an article I read today.  I have provided the link for you below.  What I particularly like about the article is the last sentence in the last paragraph, which is made by a DOCTOR...“Find a doctor who treats the person, not just the lab tests,” says Miller. “If you’re feeling better at a certain dosage—that should carry just as much weight as the lab results.”

All I can say is AMEN!


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