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Old 11-06-2013, 08:52 AM   #9
rhondalea
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 487
Re: Tsh low -- what does it mean?

First, you need a new endo.

Second, you need to ask that your antibodies be tested--what you've described sounds a lot like Hashimoto's to me, and it's quite common a condition these days.

Third, consider adding 100 micrograms of selenomethionine*to your daily regimen.

I suppressed lifelong thyroid antibodies and a hot nodule using selenium--200 micrograms/day for a year until the antibodies and nodule were gone, followed by a drop to 100 micrograms/day. It's best to get to the lower dose sooner than later, because higher doses increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. (I was unaware of this risk when I was taking 200 micrograms.)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...?dopt=Abstract

The studies about selenium, nodules and antibodies are equivocal--some have shown excellent results, others not so much, so I'm at a loss about which links to post. Anecdotally, it worked for me, and I know others for whom it also gave good results.

My own endo did nothing but a thyroid ultrasound, and then we kept watch. But I had a known case of Hashimoto's and just one nodule. If it were me, and my labs came back antibody free, I think I'd have the recommended scans.

Be aware that T3 can drive breast cancer. (I tell you this just in case someone suggests natural dessicated thyroid to you as a cure-all.) Also be aware that iodine can exacerbate an existing thyroid problem, so until you know what's going on, it's best not to use it. (I get 100 micrograms of iodine a day from kelp; the rest comes from iodized salt. Although there's a lot of hoopla about high doses of iodine, I'm not convinced it's a good idea, so I keep my intake around 250 micrograms a day.)

(*That's what I used, but I understand that se-methyl l-selenocysteine is also good.)
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2/6/09 Core needle biopsy: negative; Mammos through 2010: no change
3/30/11 Pea-sized lump in left breast at site of prior biopsy; mammo negative, sonogram not so much
4/14/11 Core needle biopsy: negative for cancer
5/18/11 Excisional biopsy 1.2 cm tumor, LVI, positive margin; ER+60%,PR+20%,HER2/CEP17 5
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7/19/11 Biweekly dd AC w/Neulasta; done 8/30/11
9/13/11 Transfusion (Hemoglobin 8.6); MUGA 64%
9/20/11 Start Taxol + Herceptin; Taxol done 12/6/2011; continue Herceptin until 9/4/2012
12/27/11 Radiation - 6 weeks; 2/27/2012 - DONE! Yayyyy!
2/29/12 Start Tamoxifen 20 mg/day; continue until 2/28/17
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