[sherbear]

#1018021

Good Morning everyone,

My name is Sher I’m a 32 year old female recently diagnosed with Graves disease. It started out with severe heart palpitations I could litereally feel my heart beat through my stomach and teeth, then I started to experience shortness of breath. I thought I was having a heart attack.

I went to the hospital that evening. They put me on the ekg machine where my heart beats were registering in the 130s 137 was the highest. They did blood work and tested everything….and it came back fine, all we were waiting for was the thyroid results…but as we all know that takes days.

Finally once the results came back sure enough my thyroid numbers were quite high…the nurse actually said my thyroid is completley out of whack so she had me meet with the endocrinologist one week later.

I live in a rural community In Ontario Canada and what they have started doing here is telehealth conferencing. Telehealth conferencing is a you sitting in front of a tv/camera and the doctor does the same. The nurse faxes over our results and the doctor gives her diagnosis, her treatment, and decides what needs to be done next. This is so we don’t have to spend 2-4 hours driving to the nearest specialist. We can meet with the best and still be close to home….it was quite astounding.

Once she told me I had Graves Disease I was certain it was something bad by the name of it lol. She assured me that I was going to be okay, and put me on the proper dosage of medications.

I am now taking 9 pills a day for my thyroid and my heart. I take Tapazole and Propanolol. I have never been one to take medications in the past so this is very new for me and frightening.

There are so many things that we cannot take being on these meds. I am so scared of even taking and Advil, in case it affects the medications. Could someone please tell me the things that we are not allowed to take in laymens terms. I tried looking online and all I get is medical mumbo jumbo.

I thank you all for reading my story. ” title=”Very Happy” />

Sher

[snelsen]

#1062255

Hi Sher, welcome to this accurate and reliable board! You will find a lot of friends here.
The word Graves’, of course, refers to a guy’s name. Not that it is a "grave" disease! But I am sure you know that now.

How wonderful that you have the teleconferencing! How wonderful that you got a prompt and accurate diagnosis! Tha is super! You really need to be on these meds, and you do need to keep in close contact with your docs about how you are feeling. The doses may need to be adjusted one way or the other.
As you probably know, this is an autoimmune disorder. It needs to be properly managed and treated, then you will be fine.
YOu have too much thyroxin circulating, for the message system between the complex system between the pituitary gland and the thyroid gland is not working properly. (Just like my computer, cell phone and flat tire, which all happened TODAY!) And all of them are "fixed," just like you will be back to normal. But it takes a while.

The tapazole tells your body to circulate less hormone, and the propanolol manages your fast heart rate which is not good for us to have a heart working overtime! REally, it will all be good.

I am not sure of your references, but I suggest you talk with your docs and pharmacists again, for I think your perception of drug interactions may be mistaken. Actually, there are few drugs that are contraindicated with either of these drugs, and basically not with propanolol. I don’t think you need to be worried at all about taking an Advil. But do consult with your pharmacist. They are actually better to answer these questions. If there is a drug you want to take, simply call the pharmacist and ask if it ok. Do not look online. Call a pharmacist.
And when another drug IS listed as an interaction, there is still more information that you need. It may be significant, it may not be significant. And from what you have said, you aren’t taking many if any prescribed meds right now.

Just for information, I suggest that you have your labs emailed or faxed to you, or get them from your local doc. Learn to understand them. Reporting how you feel, combined with your labs, will be part of your life for a long time.
And also, just so you know, a thyroid lab panel is usually available to medical/nursing personnel in about 6-8 hours, it does not take five days.

There is lots to learn from us, and then you can help others. Do write again!!!!!
Shirley

[sherbear]

#1062256

Wow Shirly thank you so much for your response. I feel better already. I definitly will contact the pharmacy regarding medications, searching online you scare yourself lol.

I didn’t know I could ask for the results. I don’t understand any of there terminology so when I get them I will post them and maybe you or someone could help me understand them.

I would love to learn more and help others also. I’ve searched in my areas for groups and there is nothing…maybe once I’m a little more educated I could start one.

Thanks for your help Shirly, I really appreciate it.

Talk soon!

Sher ” title=”Very Happy” />

[Kimberly]

#1062257

Hello – As Shirley said, I’m not familiar with any specific drug interactions, so your pharmacist will be a great resource. Here are a couple of other things to keep in mind:

1. Be sure and let your doc know of any supplements you are taking, as supplements high in iodine can actually aggravate your hyperthyroidism.

2. Steer clear of “non-drowsy” type of cold medicines – at least until you get your hyperthyroidism under control – as this can cause your heart rate to kick up even further.

Love the teleconferencing idea…sure wish they would make more use of that in the U.S.!

[sherbear]

#1062258

Hi Kimberly,

Thanks for commenting! Thanks for the tips on the cold medicine…I havn’t been feeling very well the last couple of days, thought maybe it’s a cold coming on or allergies….and I usually take something for it…so it’s a good thing you mentioned that.

I think the teleconferencing is a great idea and it should be abroad. Maybe you guys can speak to some doctors in your areas about it. It’s a new thing our area is trying and it’s working out amazingly. The nurse said to me, we are so lucky to be doing this the doctor saw 11 patients today so far and it was only 3pm.

She also stated that heart surgeons and other specialists are starting to do it also. I believe they take one day out of there week ie a Friday just for teleconferencing. If there was no teleconference I would still be waiting to see the specialist…so right now I feel very blessed.

I will be teleconferencing again on May 6th with the specialist. I am looking forward to learning more about Graves and hearing eveyones stories. I am so happy I came accross this site when I was trying to google information on Graves. Thank you for welcoming me and educating me on this disease.

Sher ” title=”Very Happy” />

[snelsen]

#1062259

Hi Sher!
Use you energy to get well and enjoy the posts right now. There is Plenty of time to pay it forward in the future!
Just keep writing with your questions, and do try to use the search engine. Try different combinations of words and phrases, like "new to Graves" "just diagnosed," see what pops up!
I am TIRED! Going to bed now. Plenty of time to learn about labs. I am still very thrilled and happy for you that you have such good resources and got a diagnosis right away! You are miles ahead getting better with this good beginning.
Shirley

[Ski]

#1062260

Hi Sher,

Welcome! I just wanted to jump in and mention that we cannot help you interpret your labs (we must leave that to the medical professionals), but just take a look at them to see what the normal range is (the test results will spell that out), and where your levels fall in relationship to that range. As you have blood tests done again and again, you’ll start to familiarize yourself with where you’ve been, and where you’re headed, and it’ll definitely help you navigate.

Typically our labs include TSH, which is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, and it comes from the pituitary gland in response to its "reading" of the thyroid hormones in our bloodstream (primarily "T4" thyroid hormone). Because of that, the relationship to our thyroid hormones is inverse, meaning that when you have HIGH levels of TSH, you should have LOW levels of thyroid hormone (that’d be the T4 reading), and vice versa. So, a TSH level higher than the normal range points to hyPOthyroidism, and a TSH level lower than the normal range points to hyPERthyroidism. At first your doctor should hopefully be getting both TSH and T4 levels, especially as you navigate the ATD dose that’s best for you (that’s the methimazole).

I see you’ve gotten great advice already, so I just wanted to point out that one thing for you ~ and I am with everyone else, teleconferencing is a PERFECT solution to driving the distances, we have got to get that idea going worldwide! Brilliant! ” title=”Very Happy” />

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