found this information...hope it helps...

dh is tested about ever 6 months.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/bloodtests.htm

I had radiation also as a child for mastoid treatment,didn't work.But years later i was diagnosed as hypothroid(Hashimotos disease.)I've since had ALL my thyroid removed.
It hasn't been easy to keep mine regulated with meds.I used to have to go every 3 months for testing,did that for years.It's been over 38 years since i started on meds.But i can tell myself now when they go off and need to be readjusted.
Kathi

Lydia, that's a lotta tests!! I just surprised myself by passing the Pupil Test. Maybe I did well because I've been taking an adrenal supplement for the past month.

Kathi, are you on Synthroid? I keep hearing that many people do a lot better on Armour dessicated thyroid, which contains the full spectrum of hormones (as opposed to Synthroid, which does not). At least this is what I hear. I also know that my DH, who had most of his thyroid removed in his twenties, couldn't tolerate Synthroid and swore by Armour.

Susan, I took the quiz at that site, and one question asked if I consume soy products like soymilk or tofu. I certainly do, but I didn't realize soy was connected to hypothyroidism.

Thanks, everyone!

Passing the pupil test is good!

I am on 50 mcg Cytomel (T3 which is 4X as strong as T4) and a small amount,37 mcg, of Synthroid (T4). Not many doctors will prescribe it like that - most will give you a large amount of Synthroid and maybe 5 mcg Cytomel. I started out on Armour and did very badly, tried it again twice and I just cannnot tolerate it. You are right that a lot of people feel much better on Armour though. I wish it would work for me.

I have a very hard time with soymilk, but I am sensitive to a lot of things. Cabbage, broccoli and califlower are supposed to be bad for the thyroid too... but those don't seem to bother me for some reason.

Hi,
I had my adnoids removed when they removed my tonsils. But interestingly enough I have radiation scarring. But not from the adnoid removal. Only thing I can think of that would have done it was the mobile TB Xray truck they used to use when I was young. They would test you every year for TB with the needle punch method, and I always tested positive, so I always got sent to the portable xray lab, which by the way was set up for adults, we kids had to stand on milk crates or boxes to be the right height. And often were not, as the scars tell. I had to go to a specialist years ago, as the scar changed, to find out if something was up. But none of my MD's over the years ever told me what caused it. Up until my current PC MD, and he casually asked me how I had gotten radiation scars. Nice to know.

Silver, that's a shame about the scarring. Scary stuff, isn't it?

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow armed with my list of lab tests. I also found a reference to British research that recommends thyroid testing for all patients with accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. I think I have that. I know I have upper abdominal bloating. Very unusual for me, and it's been going on for a long time. I told two physicians about it, and they just blew it off. But this research connects abdominal fluid and shortness of breath (which I have in spades) with hypothyroidism. I actually hope that's the cause.

Thanks, everyone!