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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 21:46:27
I've been working with a therapist for 8 months, who suggested that I discuss a trial of ADD meds.
I went to the GP today to discuss starting the trial. He is punting me to psychiatry.
I am frustrated, because I've had issues dealing with poor attention for months. While I am hypothyroid, my thryoid is in normal range for now. Tests have been done on me to rule out another cause for this problem.
I recently started a new job and would really like results and improvement NOW. I'm worried it will be months to get in for some neuropsych testing.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 15, 2009, at 22:13:27
In reply to Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 21:46:27
Caffeine Poet,
Have you had a thyroid anti-body test? It's available as part of the thyroid blood-work, but usually the patient must request it--unless your doc is on top of it. I had hypothyroid symptoms for years and no one would treat me because I tested at 3.99 or something like that--technically sub-clinical. FINALLY a doc checks, and yes I have anti-bodies. Viola! I have hashimoto's (quite common) and am now eligible for treatment. Makes a big difference.
Or else, find a doc who will treat sub-clinical hypothyroidism. My current pdoc is the only fr*kkin' pdoc who ever asked about my thyroid function--although it should be the protocol. He likes my tsh at about 1.5 and so do I. It could really be a helpful piece of your treatment. Enough on that!
I wish you the best with your add treatment,
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Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 22:27:28
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me » CaffeinePoet, posted by floatingbridge on July 15, 2009, at 22:13:27
I also have Hashimoto's. When I said my thyroid is normal, I mean with treatment. However, my MD is happy for that number to be anywhere under 5.0. My number was 3.0 recently. I know this indicates that I might be having a problem, trending towards hypo, so I guess I should get some selenium to make sure I'm converting adequately.
I do think that the ADD symptoms I'm having could be related to the thyroid issues. But my sister, who does not have a thyroid issue, has been dx'd with ADD and has similar symptoms.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 15, 2009, at 22:34:28
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 22:27:28
Hi Caffeine Poet,
I apologize for posting at length about a topic you already know.
I do think that at 3 your hashimoto's might not be managed as well as it could be by an increase in thyroid supplement. I've found that at 3 I don't feel as well. (MHO!)
take care,
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Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 22:39:38
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me » CaffeinePoet, posted by floatingbridge on July 15, 2009, at 22:34:28
that's a good point, floatingbridge.
at this point, I have been to the endo, and to the GP many times this year. I guess I could go for a second opinion based on my symptoms.
I am wondering if the psychiatrist would be aware of the thyroid interaction with mental health issues -- I pray yes.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 15, 2009, at 22:41:35
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 22:39:38
That would be ideal! Good luck getting the help you need. How long do you have to wait to see a pdoc?
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Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 22:43:25
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by floatingbridge on July 15, 2009, at 22:41:35
I have an appointment with someone, not a pdoc but a related therapist, next Tuesday.
Posted by Phillipa on July 15, 2009, at 23:39:34
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 22:43:25
Caffeine Poet also have hasimotos thyroiditis and my endo like the TSH between 1-2. Been hard to regulate last year since had some surgery. Also if you're on armour it's been reformulated as I wanted to try it and switch from synthroid but seems that the patients on it are having problems with it. I will try and post my copy of Mary Shomons article on it on this thread if not able google her there is a newsletter you can subscribe to. Best of luck. Phillipa
from Mary Shomon
Dear Readers, Those of you on Armour Thyroid who are having trouble with the new formulation are definitely not alone. After posting last week's Readers Respond request, we've had more than 100 thyroid patients share their stories about their experiences with the newly reformulated Armour Thyroid. If you're having trouble with Armour, you'll want to read this. Also, for those of you who have decided to give up on Forest Labs, due to their constant back orders, supply problems, and now the reformulation issue, I have some up-to-the-minute information on how to switch over to the other prescription natural desiccated thyroid drugs, Nature-Throid and Westhroid. Is your pharmacy saying that those drugs "aren't available anymore?" If they are, they're wrong, and I have the info for you. Please keep your stories, information and input coming, as we weather the latest crisis in dealing with thyroid drug manufacturers. Live well, Mary
In the Spotlight
Update from RLC Labs -- Maker of Nature-Throid and Westhroid
I had an opportunity to talk at length this week with both Rick Cox, the CEO of RLC Labs -- the company that makes natural desiccated thyroid drugs Nature-Throid and Westhroid -- and RLC's Chief Science Officer, Dai Jinn. So if you're on Armour, and want to switch to Nature-Throid or Westhroid, find out about availability, equivalence between the drugs, and how to make the switch.More Topics
Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat Phone Teleseminar
Sign up for free conference on July 13th
Attention Thyroid Patients: Is There Gluten in Synthroid?
Celiac/gluten sensitive patients beware!
Forest Labs in Hot Water with DOJ
Coverups, kickbacks, and marketing
Quiz: Could You Be Hypothyroid?
Online, interactive quiz
Are you Suffering From Adrenal Fatigue?
More common in thyroid patients
The controversy Over the TSH Test/Levels
The lowdown from an endocrinologist
Thyroid Disease Basics, Starting Point
Thyroid 101
Armour Thyroid's Spring 2009 Reformulation Causing Problems
Some thyroid patients are still not aware that during the spring of 2009, the natural desiccated thyroid drug, Armour Thyroid apparently underwent a reformulation. This resulted in a decrease in the amount of dextrose, an increase in the cellulose, and the addition of cornstarch to the tablets. Since that time, an increasing number of patients and doctors are reporting a variety of symptoms, problems, TSH changes and more, due to this new Armour formula. Find out more about the thyroid symptoms some patients are experiencing with the reformulated Armour.
Readers Respond: Armour Reformulation Problems
Last week I put out the call for input from thyroid patients who had thoughts about the reformulated Armour Thyroid. And just in one week, more than 100 of you have shared your experiences -- negative and positive -- with the reformulated Armour Thyroid. There are a number of themes that are coming through, in terms of symptoms and issues patients are having, so if you're on Armour and don't feel well, read through and see if you recognize any of your own symptoms here!
Sponsored Links
Armour Thyroid and Thyrolar Still Backordered
Why Doesn't Forest Seem to Care About Patients?
Varying strengths of Armour Thyroid and Thyrolar -- both products made by Forest Labs -- have been unavailable, on back-order, and going through mysterious "production delays" for more than two years and counting. At present, supplies of Armour are still not fully available. What's going on?
Posted by bleauberry on July 16, 2009, at 5:25:47
In reply to Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 15, 2009, at 21:46:27
Thyroid lab values are not reliable for guiding treatment. The ranges are too broad and vary from lab to lab. We can measure thyroid in the blood but we can't measure how much is actually getting into the receptors where it works. Symptoms are important. The lab values are good reference points but not definitive treatment guidelines. You need a doctor who understands that.
Someone can feel hypothyroid, show symptoms of hypothyroid, appear normal on tests, and live a miserable existence without thyroid meds, and rapidly improve when some brilliant doctor says let's do a trial and see what happens. This is common and has happened with hundreds or thousands of people. But don't go to a specialist. They are not your friends. You need an experienced open minded doctor who cares more about you than numbers on a paper.
You obviously do need a new doctor. All I can suggest is to do the research and choosing yourself. Do not blindly accept whoever your doctor refers you to. Whoever that person is, they are probably one of your worst choices. Find your own doctor. Start today and get it done. It doesn't even have to be a psychiatrict doctor. Regular MDs and Nurse Practioners do this stuff.
I see a Nurse who prescribes anything I want to try. Ritalin, Adderall, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, TCAS, MAOIs, benzos, whatever. Any and all. That's just a Nurse Practioner with a license in psychiatry and naturopathy. My previous GP was open to just about any idea. Anything. Meds or naturals. You gotta do some hunting and asking questions and phone calls and yellow pages and such.
You will likely find this doctor quicker if you focus your search on "Integrative MDS". They are full-fledged MD physicians that have training in medicine,natural, and pioneering approaches. They are much more on top of the whole thyroid, adrenal, and other stuff, than regular MDs, and are usually more open minded.
But if you think you have some kind of ADD, it should not be that hard to find someone to give you Ritalin since that is such a common treatment.
Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 16, 2009, at 7:13:06
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by bleauberry on July 16, 2009, at 5:25:47
Thanks for the tip re: integrative medicine! I did a quick web search, and found that where I live, there is a group of Integrative Medicine MD's.
My insurance is not tied in to their group, but I might go visit them and pay what I have to out-of-pocket. It will be worth it.
Posted by linkadge on July 16, 2009, at 21:14:47
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me » CaffeinePoet, posted by floatingbridge on July 15, 2009, at 22:13:27
Ritalin is generally not used for acute symptoms of poor attention. It should, in general, be used to treat symptoms which have been present for a prolonged period of time, i.e. indivuduals presenting symptoms of AD/HD.
Some doctors choose to use it off label for depression or depression related cognative disturbance, but again, this is not an approved use and is associated with risks.
If a doctor refuses to prescribe it, this may be for good reason. You are entitled to seek a second opinion, but if it is (as you say) something that has emerged over the last few months, then you are really looking at a cause other than ADHD.
Linkadge
Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 17, 2009, at 9:34:16
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me, posted by linkadge on July 16, 2009, at 21:14:47
You make a good point. Looking back, to be honest, I am not sure what are ADD-inattentive symptoms, what is hypothyroidism, and what have been normal childhood/development problems. The psych. dept. might have a better read on the whole thing.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 17, 2009, at 10:24:49
In reply to Re: Everyone gets their hands on ritalin but me » linkadge, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 17, 2009, at 9:34:16
> You make a good point. Looking back, to be honest, I am not sure what are ADD-inattentive symptoms, what is hypothyroidism, and what have been normal childhood/development problems. The psych. dept. might have a better read on the whole thing.
Hi Caffeine Poet, feel free to babble me if you want to chat or kick some ideas around about the above.
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