Oh they were for my menopause/osteoporosis issues - I had to spit in a tube at regular intervals throughout the day. Found it quite nauseating, TBH, and very hard to find enough saliva to cover even the bottom of the tube!

I came off the osteo drug (Actonel) after a year, as in that short time I ended up with 7mm jaw bone loss. I know I must have mentioned this above so apologies for repetition, but I can't quite compute that drugs you take to help your bones have the side effect of destroying your jawbone

Anyway, that was my own decision and, six months later, my periodontist is very pleased with the results. However that does mean I need to keep a very close eye on my bone density, and Dr Yao has changed my prescription for BHRT.

I know I've been neglecting myself since I went back to work. Grabbing a sandwich for lunch, not cooking on an evening, going for a few drinks on a Friday, having a couple of glasses of wine after a stressful day - it's all been taking its toll. My fibromyalgia is back and I know from previous experience that joint inflammation is a sign that I have been ignoring my intolerances. I've put some weight back on, too, and that doesn't help my joints either.

So, whilst I'm not giving up everything and being totally miserable, I am trying to be more sensible. At least in that respect

Re. nails, mine have always grown like crazy which, in the circumstances, is a bit odd.

Erk, jaw bone loss! That's incredible. The spitting thing is pretty gross but very accurate... more so than blood tests.

Neglect is no good... but I did it myself at a point of stress a few years ago... too much alcohol and not enough food. My bloke tells me I look much healthier now so that must be good.

Be interested to hear how you get on with the new bloke. Keep us informed.

Good luck with new Doc seasider!

In all honesty, I only stay with Dr B because its convenient! I can email her for a new prescription and get whatever blood tests I request. In my opinion more money driven than she is patient driven. Even though I dont go in to see her, shes still happy as she makes $25 per script and $25 per bloods request... very easy money for her!

Well Dr Alex is not cheap, and a bugger to get to (or at least, takes time) but he is not trying to push HGH onto me. He has also reduced the DHEA content of my BHRT as he asked if I was experiencing any acne or increased oiliness in my skin - well that explains that little mystery!

I'm not saying he is my saviour, and I know it all takes time and experimentation, but his theories are more like my previous Doc's and what I'm more comfortable with.

Hia all, a different question, I have heard of the link between thyroid and low ferritin levels....mine have dropped 80% since the begining of my pregnancy and the HB by 20%, apparently 10% is normal range...

TSH 1.9-1.4...I also have restless leg syndrome in the evening...and of course am so tired it is impossible to move most days....

Anyone any info....I did develop (I think although indiagnosed) Hyperthyroidism after last birth of baby and lost about 30kgs in a VERY short space of time and copped jokes about being anorexic....then I went enormous and the GP said nothing wrong....but the naturopath tol me I had all the signs of a burnt out hypo...hmmmm I took various things and felt better til pregnancy and now feel crap again...course Hb of 94 does not help or ferritin of 5......

Anyone any info or experiences?

There's really good info here on low ferritin:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ferritin/

I am suspicious of your 'anorexia/enormous' tendancies... It would indicate that your thyroid is speeding up and slowing down.. It would indicate that you *may* have both Hashi's and Graves' disease at the same time... It is rare, but it does happen.
You should see your doc to test for thyroid antibodies (if you've got any, you've got Hashi's),...

You could also be having a thyroiditis flare...
There's info here:

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyr...poandhyper.htm

I would be seeking a good endo to find out exactly what's happening there.

You tell her, Tiddly - she doesn't listen to me.

Don't know why she'll listen to me then!

She knows me, I obviously don't look very knowledgeable

Neither do I. I just sound like I do.

I could also be the start of your thyroid totally crashing due to Hashi... during the period before it totally gives up, it very often switches between hypo and hyper, finally ending in hypo... have you had your antibodies tested?

No cos I was feeling normal and well before pregnancy after seeing the naturopath, for over a year, I wasn't aware that being a good weight and feeling perfectly fine waranted any investigation ....UNTIL I was preggers....my cous has hashimotos actually....maybe a link...

What can I ask for during pregnancy anyway?

Do I go and ask for a test for antibodies??

I seriously cannot afford to go to the docs at the moment if its big bucks but will keep an eye on it....can go to gp though if someone tells me what to ask for, I have a great one who will do anything I ask.....

Ask for a full thyroid panel. Follow the link that tiddlypom sent you http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com - have a good read through the site, then you'll know exactly what you need to be asking for

The shrinking enormous tendencies followed pregnancy, then settled doen and now I am neither enormous or tiny but totally average sized BUT with low iron and ferritin, which incidentally was normal BEFORE pregnancy...\

I am wondering if there is such a thing a it being aggravated BY pregnancy as it's not an ALL the time thing for me...well I dont 'think' so....

Oh I dunno...it's like a maze but during pregnancy maybe isnt the best time to be experimenting wth treatments, iron and ferritin going up with fe max at the mo, any pregnancy related suggestions?

And Sea monster i DO listen to you!

Thanks, I asked for this before, do the readings change in pregnancy?

What tests are there for hashimotos or graves?

So asking for a full thyroid panel didnt really work last time cos the woman didn't really get it...just tsh....hmmmm

I will look for a list and then print out....