A Little Disappointed With The Little Nutty Nephro : (

I saw my nephrologist 3 days ago for my regular appointment.    I had been very happy with this man up until this point.    I think part of the problem is that I am now relying on him for advice on several different issues, which are not his specialty.    I keep reminding myself that as intelligent as he is, he is still a nephrologist.

As mentioned in a previous post on another thread here, he did agree to write a script for the Nature-throid that I requested.   He was a bit reluctant since he feels my thyroid levels are looking good, but he eventually agreed to it.   I am VERY happy about this.   I requested the Nature-throid because it has less fillers and binders than Armour, which I currently take, and I have a very sensitive body!

I asked the nephro if there was any possible chance my kidneys are not producing adequate amounts of renin due to my iron deficiency.   I told him I recently learned that low iron affects the production of various enzymes in the body.   He told me that I would have to have severe anemia for this to happen.    We'll see.    If my iron is repleted, and my renin increases, we'll know an iron deficiency can also keep the body from producing adequate amounts of enzymes and not just severe anemia.

The doctor was not happy with my 3200 mL urine output during my last 24-hour urine test.   If I'm not mistaken, I think a normal amount goes up to 2500.    I told him I have had four 24-hour urine tests so far, and the volume is always way over the limit, because I drink a LOT Of water.   I told him I drink 8-10 eight-ounce glasses daily.  I thought this was normal.     He told me that that is way too much fluid, and I needed to cut back.  He told me that the kidneys cannot deal with that much fluid.    He said that might be why I have so much edema.    Now, I have always heard that if the body is deprived of water, it will tend to hold onto it, causing edema.     So in order to avoid that problem, you need to drink a lot of water.     He told me we do need about 8 eight-ounces of fluid a day, but that includes ALL fluid, not just water.   I told him I don't drink coffee or tea.  All I drink is water, 1 glasses of milk a day, and once a week as a treat, I drink a 9-ounce can of orange soda.     He told me to cut back my water intake by 2 glasses.    So that is what I'm doing.    He also told me to increase my diuretic dose by another pill.    So I'm now taking 3 pills daily.    He told me this should take care of my edema.      Well, he might know what he's talking about.    The scale has been dropping a pound a day for the past 3 days.   And, believe me, this is a LOT of weight loss for me!!     I had gained 8 pounds in a couple of months.    I thought it was from the thyroid.    It might be from the edema, but the edema could also be due to the thyroid.    If I would stop taking the diuretics, the edema would probably return.    I'm hoping once we get the thyroid straightened out, the edema will resolve.

I told the nephro that I started taking 2 diuretic tablets a day instead of 3.  He had suggested at my last appointment that I take 3.  I told him I did this because I was having a lot of cramps in my feet and legs.   He just rolled his eyes.  He's getting to know me well.    

I told him I also started taking a potassium tablet again every day because of this cramping, and that I waited until I saw my potassium level on my most recent lab results.    He just shook his head and smiled.   He was ok with this too.

I told the doctor about this horrible hip, tailbone, thigh, and knee pain I've been dealing with, which started the day I started taking the iron tablets and vitamin C.   I asked him if the iron could have caused this.    I was surprised by his reaction.   He leaned back a bit and laughed.   He said he never heard of iron causing joint pain.    I didn't think that question deserved a laugh.    Maybe the iron itself did not cause the problem, but maybe something else in the iron tablet might have?     I didn't think that was so far-fetched.

I might add here that the receptionist at this office told me months ago that this doctor always double books every appointment.   In other words, he books 2 people for 10:00, 2 people for 10:15, etc.     She informed me at this appointment that he is now TRIPLE booking every appointment!!!     Any idea how angry patients get when he does this, and the are stuck there for a few hours waiting to be seen?!!!      I myself will NOT wait longer than 1 hour to be seen, and if it takes 1 hour, I will let them know how upset I am!    I have a life too.   I have plans too.   There is a reason we make appointments for certain times.   It's not just for the doctors' convenience!  If there IS an emergency, that's a different story, but if not, there is no excuse for this!      At this particular appointment, I only had to wait about half an hour to be seen.   I think that is acceptable.   When I was called in for my appointment, there were 4 other people waiting to be seen.    He is the only doctor who works in this office on this day.   So they were all waiting for him!

And here is where things REALLY went south!!!    His cell phone rang about 5 minutes into my appointment.   I was VERY surprised when he answered it right in the middle of our conversation!!    I could hear a woman on the other end of the line.    It sounded like she was asking the doctor about a patient.   I don't know if she was a doctor or just a patient's mother or wife, etc.    He kept repeating his answers, so I guess she was repeating her questions.    I just sat there, wondering when he would get off the phone so I could finish my appointment and leave.     I am not exaggerating here; he talked for at least 20 minutes to this woman!!!    Oh, and here's the really good part.  She put him on hold after about 15 minutes.    I heard her say something, he said, "Ok," and everything went silent for about 2 minutes.   At this time, I looked at him and said, "Can I leave?"    I was VERY upset about this!    He just sort of laughed when I asked that.   I guess he thought I was joking.   I wasn't.   I didn't see the sense in sitting there any longer while he carried on a conversation with someone else.   And I kept thinking about all of those people sitting out in the waiting area!     I knew they would all think it was ME holding things up!!     The woman came back on the phone again, and she must have said something to the doctor about taking up his time.  The doctor's reply was, "Oh, that's ok,  I'm here at the office."    REALLY????!!!!!     Yes, he was in his office, but he was right in the middle of an appointment, and this did not sound like an emergency call.    I would think he could have called her back between appointments or maybe AFTER all of the appointments were taken care of!!     As soon as he hung up the phone, he closed my folder, and started to stand up.    I had a couple of more questions to ask him, but I wasn't about to stay any longer!     We walked out of his office.    I think he realized I was really ticked off.   As he turned to walk to his next patient, he patted me on the back and smiled.    I could not muster a smile in return.  

When I went to pay the receptionist for my appointment, she kept apologizing.  She is a very sweet person.    That was when she told me the doctor has started triple booking appointments.   She said she keeps yelling at him, telling him he can't be doing that, because it really upsets the patients.    I told her I will not wait longer than an hour, so if that should ever happen, I will get up and leave.     She just kept apologizing.     Then she said she would walk me out into the waiting area when I left.  I was unsure why she was doing that.    Then I realized why.    I had told her that I was afraid all of the other patients would think it was me holding things up.   I think she walked me out for 2 different reasons.     When I opened the door, I saw about 12 people sitting in the waiting area waiting to be seen!!!    Those poor souls were probably there for a few hours before they could go home!     The receptionist then said to me, "Yes, we had a couple of emergencies today; that's why we are so backed up."     I think she did that for her benefit as well as mine.    I'm sure she was expecting those 12 people to start griping about the situation.

So, my opinion of this doctor is not quite as high as it once was.      

At least I did get my script for the Nature-throid!    

Audrey

Hi Audrey

When my kidney function dropped in February due to loss of blood when my pacemaker was fitted, I had a lot of problems with fluid retention.
Despite an increase in diuretic (Furosemide) I am still getting a little build-up of fluid in my lungs, especially overnight.

The reason that I mention this is that I have had to take a big hit on the amount of fluid that I drink.

While my eGFR was above 16, I was drinking probably 2.5 litres per-day (approximately), which is more than most people drink, because I was under the impression that it was good to keep the kidney flushed.

Now that my eGFR is 12, my kidney has been is unable to excrete all of my fluid, hence the build-up in my ankles and lungs.

My Nephro's advice is to restrict my fluid intake to 1.2 litres. This is proving to be really difficult, because I need about 800mls for taking numerous pills and capsules during the day. This only leaves me an allowance for around two cups of tea for the rest of the day. Most days, I seem to drink a little more than this and this is probably why I still have a little fluid retention overnight.

This is a real struggle, as I am so thirsty, but the Nephro has confirmed that I am not dehydrated, so it is not doing any harm.

Also, I keep a log of my weight every day, as this appears to be the best way to monitor the reduction in fluid.

I also suck on fruit pastilles as a way to deal with the thirst.

As you are obviously experiencing fluid retention, it would seem logical to reduce your fluid intake and this should also bring-down your weight.

From my current experience, the body can survive quite happily on 1.2 litres per-day, so isn't it worth you trying this for a few weeks?

Edwin

Oh, I am doing as instructed, Edwin.   I have cut back to 6 eight-ounce glasses of water a day and 2 glasses of milk.   Like you, I was always under the impression the more water I drank, the healthier my kidneys would be.  I guess not.

I too weigh myself every day.   I hit the scale first thing every morning.   I've actually been doing that since I was about 14 years old.   It's hard to imagine, but I used to be anorexic.   I was very obsessed with that scale.   I still like to know exactly what I weigh every day.   The difference now is, that even though I still watch what I eat, I am certainly not skinny!!      Although, when I was anorexic, I was living on 500 calories a day.    I now eat around 1000 a day.     

The scale is down 3 pounds in 3 days since I cut back on the fluids and increased the diuretics, so I guess this is working.    I had take 3 diuretic tabs a day in the past, but I was still VERY full of water.   This time seems to be a little different.   I can already see bones and veins in my feet!!    So I will continue this for a few weeks.  When it looks like the water is all gone in my lower legs, ankles, and feet, I will cut back on the diuretics.   

I keep a journal.  I started it the day of my parathyroid surgery.   I wanted to document my recovery.  It's been 17 months now, and I still type an entry every day.   My weight is one of the things I include daily.

I can imagine how thirsty you are!     Wow, you aren't drinking much at all!   You poor thing.   I would go crazy!    Wouldn't it be nice to be a kid again and not have to worry about all of this crap?!  

Audrey

I just thought of something else.    When I first saw this nephro back in July, he told me that he felt my kidneys were not producing adequate renin due to my edema.   Since the renin triggers aldosterone production and secretion, my aldosterone is also low.     I wonder if my kidneys will start producing more renin if I get rid of the edema?   Hmmm.............that would be nice!

Audrey

I was wondering how many of your other problems may be related to kidney overload.

I don't remember if you have previously mentioned your eGFR level, but management of diet and fluid intake gets more important as the eGFR drops.

If your eGFR is nice and high, then you should not need diuretics, I think that you should try and reduce your fluid intake until the oedema has gone and you no longer need diuretics.
If you can achieve this, I think you will have an improved blood chemistry.

Edwin

Thanks again, Edwin.

My eGFR is >60.    Normal is >59.   I guess my level is good?   I know it's in the normal range, but is that a good level?

I have been restricting my water as the nephro suggested.   The edema looks a tad better.   It's still pretty bad.  I am now drinking 6 eight-ounce glasses of water a day and 2 glasses of milk.    When our granddaughters are here to visit on Saturday or Sunday, I splurge and have a 9 oz. can of orange soda.     That's it.

I have been having a LOT of trouble with muscle stiffness and pain lately.   My neck, shoulders, upper back, upper arms and thighs have been stiff and painful for 4-1/2 straight years now, but for the past few weeks or so, they have gotten REALLY bad!!!     My hips hurt a lot as do my knees.  They burn and throb.   I think this is probably more like arthritis pain, but it is weird how both knees and both hips all started hurting at once.   I'm having trouble walking due to all of this stiffness and pain.   It's like my muscles are turning to stone or something.    I know there is a disease where the muscles sort of do that.   I'm hoping mine is just from the stupid thyroid.

Speaking of the thyroid, I just started the Nature-throid today.    I'm excited!    I don't know if it will make any difference, but it's exciting trying something new.    I was taking 120 mg of Armour.   Now I'm taking 130 mg of Nature-throid.     I have an appointment with my endo tomorrow.   She's probably not going to be too happy since my TSH was 0.12 the last time it was checked.   She is a TSH doctor.   If the TSH isn't in the normal range, she's not happy.     I've mentioned before that she no longer treats my thyroid because of this.    My nephro is now treating it.     My endo was not happy at my last appointment because the nephro had not sent her any letter telling her of my treatment with the adrenal glands, kidneys, and thyroid.    I hope he has sent her something by now, or she's going to be VERY upset!

Now I have something funny to share with you all.    Yesterday was a very injury-filled day for me.   It's all actually funny now though!     

First off, I was running the vacuum.   The corner of one the cats blankets got sucked up into the vacuum!    I immediately started pulling on the blanket with my left hand, as I pulled very hard on the vacuum attachment with my right hand.   All of a sudden the blanket came out.    I was pulling so hard with my right hand, that when the blanket came free, my right arm flew backward and the side of my elbow banged VERY hard into the darned vacuum!     It hurt so badly, I honestly thought I chipped a bone.    I grabbed it and muttered some lovely words under my breath!!   There was an instant small, hard bump there.   It still has not gone down all the way, and it is now bruised.   It is still hurting today, but not nearly as badly as when it happened.

Then I smacked myself in the face with my keys when trying to get my purse out of the car at the store.    I carry about 12 keys on my ring, plus 2 remotes and a pepper spray container.  Not sure what you call that thing.  All I know is that it's pretty big, and it has a bulky leather case on it.     

Then when I went to put the pond supplies in the trunk of my car, which I bought at the pet store, I hadn't opened my trunk lid far enough, and when I leaned over I smacked my head on the lid!   OUCH!

It was a very windy day here yesterday.   Tornadoes not far from here.   I had gone out to our little pond and put the new liquid treatment in the water for the fish.   About an hour later, I wanted to go out and check on the fish.    I went out on our side porch, and just as soon as I stepped out on the porch, a HUGE gust of wind slammed the kitchen door shut!    Yes, it was locked!!!!!     So was every other door on the house!!   I had no phone with me.  I couldn't call anyone.    I was going to go up to my daughter's place, as she has a key to our house, but I knew at that time she wasn't home.    I was going to walk down to my step dad's place, as he also has a key to our house, but I knew he was not home either.    I was going to walk over to my neighbor's house, but her car wasn't in the driveway.  She wasn't home either.     I had so much to do yesterday, I was REALLY ticked off when this happened!      All I could think to do was attempt to climb through our big front living room window!!!     This window consists of a very large pane of glass in the center and 2 smaller windows on each side that open and close.    I knew those 2 small windows were open.     So I went to the front porch.   This big window is near the porch.      Not near enough that I could stand on the porch to attempt to climb in though.    There is about a 5-1/2 foot drop from the window ledge to the ground, and the ground is very slanted. It's a nice, little hill.  I am 5'1" tall.   I knew I couldn't get into that window without any help.    I then thought of my old, painted milk can that I have sitting on the porch for decoration.     I grabbed the milk can.  Then I tried to level a little patch of ground below the window with my hand.    I set the milk can on that patch of ground.   It was still very wobbly, but I had no other options.    I removed the screen from the window, but then I had another problem.   I have 2 cats.   If I wasn't fast enough getting up into the window, there was a chance they might escape!    I have no freakin' idea how I hoisted myself up into that window, but I did it!!     I stood up on that window ledge, holding onto the window for dear life!     The problem then was, there was no easy way to enter the living room through that window!!    My husbands rocking recliner was directly in front of the window, but if I stepped on that, it would rock, and I would probably take a tumble.     The floor is close to 3 feet from the window ledge.   I really didn't want to attempt to jump over and down onto the floor!    I decided the recliner was my only hope.     So I VERY slowly and VERY carefully lowered myself onto that chair.    It went a lot smoother than I expected!    I was SO relieved!!!      Today I have a HUGE bruise on my upper left arm.   I am not sure exactly when that happened, but I'm guessing it was from climbing in the window.

Today I banged that same arm VERY hard on the end of the wooden railing in our basement.   This time I hit the forearm.   So now I have a very large knot there with another bruise.   This knot is about 2" in diameter.  I am wondering if it is so swollen because I am so full of water.   I really don't know.   I did hit it pretty darned hard though.    I think I just try to move too fast, and I am very muscular, so I think when I hit something I hit it with quite a bit of force.

I noticed today that I also have a big bruise on my right thigh.  I have NO idea when that happened!!    I am a mess!!!!     I sure hope I am done hurting myself for a while!     My sister told me she is going to sew a Superwoman cape for me for Christmas!    She liked my window story.   

Ok, I am very carefully going to walk into the other room now and get some things together for my appointment tomorrow.   

Audrey

Hi Audrey

Clumsy is my middle name, so I sympathise with you.

"Normal" is an eGFR of 90+.
Here is some info on CKD stages:
http://www.renal.org/information-resources/the-uk-eckd-guide/ckd-stages#sthash.lBeEyaN7.dpbs
http://www.renal.org/information-resources/the-uk-eckd-guide/stages-1-and-2-ckd#sthash.m6uSP1EH.dpbs


If I have done the conversion correctly, you are drinking around 1.3 - 1.5 litres daily and it sounds like this is having a positive effect.
Just give it time - my guess is at least 2 weeks - before drawing any conclusions about this being the solution.

Edwin

Well, Edwin, I'm not normally a klutz.   I don't know what the heck was going on that day!    I'm glad that little streak of craziness is over!!!     I am very colorful now with all of my bruises, and I still have a couple of nice lumps to accompany some of them.

Well, it would appear my eGFR should be quite a bit higher then, doesn't it?    I hope cutting back on the water intake will help with that.

Thank you again for your  help.   

Audrey

Audrey - I think you are on the right track in cutting down on the water intake to the current level, and I hope that some success with this will enable to reduce the diuretics, as Edwin says.

I remember some discussion some time ago about 24-hr urine calcium measurements and being quite surprised at your total 24-hr urine output as it was so much greater than my 1.2 litres.

My eGFR is quoted as "greater than 60" but, as Edwin says, this is not optimal. I think 90+ is probably beyond me now at 62, but an eGFR of 70+ would make me a lot happier.

I hope the bruises will fade soon and am glad you escaped without any further trauma from the house-breaking!

Love from Tigerlily xxx

Sorry ladies, I think that the only way eGFR can increase is if the reduction is temporary, due to an illness, e.g. infection, trauma.

Once it drops to 60 for other reasons, it is time manage the diet, blood pressure and keeping an eye things like phosphate, potassium, etc.
If only I had known about these things earlier in my kidney function decline, I may have been able to reduce the rate of decline.
My first nephrologist was only interested in blood pressure and I only learned about the rest much later in the process.

Edwin

Thanks, Edwin - would I be right in thinking that general itchiness is a sign for kidneys?

My scalp particularly seems to be very itchy. Not sure if it's the kidneys, the pHPT, or one of the low thyroid symptoms!

Tigerlily

Itchiness can be a symptom of reduced kidney function, but also hypothyroidism.
If hypothyroidism, I would expect it to be accompanied by dry skin, increased tiredness (especially in the afternoon), plus many others from the very long list.

Edwin

Thanks, Edwin - I think it must be from the hypothyroidism as I have the very dry skin (especially lips and hands). Strangely, I don't have the afternoon tiredness any more since the 3 enlarged PTH glands were removed. I have trouble sleeping more than 5 hours each night at the moment and my heart rate is occasionally rather high (80-90bpm on EEG recently). My original diagnosis was Hashi's, so perhaps I'm in hyper mode at the moment. My neck is a bit "fat" directly under the chin and I've noticed some swelling recently in the space between my collar bones. And all this nearly 6 months after PTH surgery, and I was doing well in the 3 months straight after the op.

Back to the drawing board, I suppose!

Thanks for being there for us all with your experience and knowledge of these things.

Tigerlily x

Your are most welcome.

The Admin household has a comprehensive collection of past and current medical conditions from which we draw our experience

Today's bit of fun is an eGFR of 9 (yes, nine) and I still have not been able to clear the fluid in one of my lungs, so a CT scan is next on the list.  The good news is that my Hb is up to 8.2.

Edwin

Take good care of yourself, Edwin - a wicked sense of humour seems to be helping as well!

Tigerlily x

Crap!   I just had a nice message typed, hit something wrong on my laptop and lost the entire thing!     I don't have time right now to retype it.   I have a very busy day planed AGAIN.    I promise I will be back later on today and retype it.      Sorry I haven't been on here much lately, but now that the weather has FINALLY improved and is warming up, there are just way too many extra things to do!     

I hope everyone is doing well!

Audrey

No worries, Audrey - it's a bit quiet on here at the moment - beginning of Spring, gardening etc.

We'll hear from you when we do!

Love from Tigerlily xx

Well, I am FINALLY back here to share a few words with you all.     It is a very chilly, rainy day, and I just got home from running many errands.   Even though I still need to get outside to clean the pond filter and cover up my  flowers for the night (it's dropping to 38 degrees tonight after being near 90 for several days!), I wanted to get my butt in here and talk to you all first!    I will read your posts and catch up with everyone very shortly here.

I would like to say that I am even MORE disappointment with my little, nutty nephro now!    I made an appointment with a new endocrinologist.   He couldn't see me til August, but he's really supposed to be good, so I booked it.    The new endo's receptionist asked me to call my other doctors and get them to send me their office notes from my most recent appointments.     Well, the nephro sent me his notes first, and they are VERY incorrect!!!   He stated MANY things that just are not true, and he made remarks about things that we never even discussed, and he commented on parts of my body that he never even examined!!!     I am VERY upset about this!!    I put in a call to his receptionist last week, because there is no way I can give these notes to a new doctor to help him diagnose and treat me, because they're just WRONG!      The receptionist never returned my call.  So I called again yesterday and left a message.  She did call yesterday while I was outside.  So now I need to call her back today!   I will do that when I am finished with my message here.     Wow, I am so unhappy with doctors!

I also had an appointment with my urologist last week, because it seems just when I figured out how to ward off UTIs, I haven't.         I had 4 UTIs in 3 months!!!    WAY too many antibiotics!!!    So we are trying something new.  She really thinks I am getting all of these infections due to lack of estrogen, since I had my very first UTI at the age of 48.   So we are trying topical estrogen cream to try to solve the problem.  She promised me this will reduce my infections to probably 1 or 2 a year.   I'll believe that when I see it!     

We are still itching here at our house!   It has been a little over 4 months now that this has been going on.  It is still me and my 2 cats who are being affected.    My husband is just fine.    I have been in contact with an environmental man who is the project manager of a company who tests air quality of residential and commercial buildings.   He has been so wonderful!   He talks to me for over half an hour each time I call.  For no charge, this wonderful man has given me suggestions of what might be causing this itching.   He has told me things to try to try to resolve the problem.   He was trying to help us save money by not having to come out to our house to run various tests.    Unfortunately, nothing has worked.   So 2 days ago, I emailed him and told him I think it's time for him to come out here, test everything he can, and help me put an end to this HELL!!!    He replied by telling me he will speak to the lab to determine what tests they want to perform, figure out a cost, and then get back to me.   I haven't heard from him yet, but he can come out here just as soon as he's able!!   He told me because of our symptoms, he thinks it would be good to get vacuum samples of our furniture and floors.    I told him that would be nice, and I think it would be nice also if he would test the air in here.     Now that I think of it, I guess it would be good to just take the vacuum samples first, because if he can find the cause from those tests, it would save us from having to pay to have the air tested!     At this point, I don't really care what it costs, I just want it to end!!!     I myself have actually had a few very good days regarding the itching.   For most of the time, I am not itching at all!     This makes me think the problem is gradually waning, but the cats are still scratching a lot, shaking and scratching their heads, shaking and chewing on their paws, and one of them keeps pulling mouthfuls of fur out!!     I am really thinking now that this has been caused from the 100% wool, big area rug we bought last May.    When I would vacuum that rug, the fibers would fill my Dyson canister close to half full!!!     I'm wondering if it just took several months for enough fibers to get all through the house and onto the cats to cause all of this itching crap!     All I know is that I just can't bear to watch my poor cats scratching so much anymore!!!!!

I guess I should go call my nephro's office again.    I also need to call my old end and my PA and get their office notes too.    I hope their notes are more accurate than the nephro's!

Hope you're all doing well!!

Love,
Audrey

Hi Audrey

The topical HRT does work, I use it 

Nelly

Thanks, Nelly.   I was very reluctant to try it, since it increases the risk of blood clots and stroke, and my  mother died of a stroke from 2 small clots, and I have 3 other relatives who have suffered from blood clots!     I was sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place.    Antibiotics every few weeks will kill a person also.   I opted for the estrogen cream.    My body is so weird, I'll be surprised if it works, but I'm praying it will!     I'm VERY happy to hear it works for you!

Audrey

The topical sort doesn't carry the same risk as in tablet form. I have used several different topicals for quite a few years. Hope it works for you 

Nelly

Thanks again, Nelly!    It makes me feel much better knowing someone who uses it successfully.   My urologist told me it might take up to 6 months to see any improvement with the UTIs.    I'm looking forward to that!!

By the way, how are you and Edwin getting along?  Hopefully, you're both doing better!

Audrey

You might notice a difference sooner than that, depends on the type you have been given.

Ah thanks for asking Audrey, unfortunately Edwin is really not so good right now, he is not a happy bunny I'm ok but could run out of steam very soon but we will soldier on as usual.

Nelly

Well, I'm happy you are doing ok, but very sorry Edwin is not so well.         I hope he will feel better very soon!!

I know what you mean about running out of steam.     I have never felt exhaustion before in my life as I feel now.    Most of the time I just feel like collapsing from exhaustion.   I do hope once I see the new endo, he will tune up the thyroid some, and I will not be this tired all the time.  This is awful!     I have been told by the moderator of the Facebook thyroid group, that I need to cut back on my NDT and add T3 only.   I have been thinking about this for some time.    This new endo I will be seeing in August does treat with a combination of NDT and T3, so I am hopeful once we get these meds figured out, the remainder of my symptoms will resolve, or at least SOME of them!   It is so hard getting all of these endocrine issues figured out!!!

 I'm sending prayers for you and Edwin both!!    Yes, we must soldier on no matter how tough it is, and sometimes it's pretty DARNED tough!!

Audrey

Thank you Audrey, we could do with some positive vibes right now 

Nelly