Hi Elaine!

Thank you so much for all that you do.  Finding your website, I've felt the most hope since being diagnosed as a hyperthyroid.  

I first came down with the symptoms in March, 2006 (diarrhea, severe itching, shaking hands).  Unfortunately, my weight loss was more gradual (about 5 pounds a month) and having no knowledge of the thyroid, I was not diagnosed until November, 2006.  By this time, I had all the symptoms and was very, very lethargic.  

I started on the beta blockers right away but I didn't start taking PTU until January, 2007.  I started on 2 pills of PTU (50 mg) 3 times a day + 1 beta blocker pill 4 times a day.  In August, 2007, I stopped taking the beta blockers and reduced my PTU intake to 2 pills 2 times a day.  I continued this until April, 2008 when I was told to increase my PTU intake to 3 pills (50 mg) 2 times a day.  This was probably my fault since I had become "relaxed" about taking my pills and was forgetting to take them and taking less of them because I felt I might be headed towards becoming hypo. 

Of course, by this time, my doctor was recommending RAI since I was not in remission.  I was planning to take the RAI in January, 2009 since I was being told (pressured) that it was the next step.  Happily, I wasn't able to take it when I had planned (family matters) and stumbled upon your website soon afterwards.  Suffice it to say, now, I plan to stay on PTU indefinitely.  

(Sorry for the long post.)  I haven't had a chance to read your book yet.  But I did get my latest blood tests and I wanted to get your opinion on them.  I should mention that I had a 10 pound weight gain last summer and I felt that I was becoming hypo so after my April check-up, I decreased my dosage to 4 pills of PTU (50 mg) a day on my own without my doctor's consent.  When I saw him in July, I told him what I did.  He told me to go back to 6 pills a day.  I'm currently taking 5 pills a day (3 in the morning and 2 at night).  

Blood Tests
4/21/09   TSH, 3rd Generation - 0.07 (0.40 - 4.50 mIU/L)
               T4, Free - 1.4 (0.8 - 1.8 ng/dL)

7/14/09   TSH, 3rd Generation - 0.02 (0.40 - 4.50 mIU/L)
               T4, Free - 1.5 (0.8 - 1.8 ng/dL)

Thank you again so much for your time.  I have ordered your book and look forward to reading it!

yours,
mina