[Bobbi]

#1068132

Hi, and welcome to the board.

It strikes me that if you were subclinically hyperthyroid, that the condition probably felt like "normal" to you. Therefore, changes that the medication might bring about might feel — at least at first — as "abnormal." Also, being diagnosed with something can make us more aware of abnormalities. But, no, hyper symptoms should not increase if you are on an appropriate dose of medication.

Doctors and scientists believe that even subclinical hyperthyroidism, over time, is dangerous. While we are hyperthyroid, we lose bone, so it can hasten the onset of osteoporosis. While we are hyperthyroid we lose muscle mass, particularly the muscle in the large muscles of the chest, upper arms and upper legs. This can appear as weight loss. (When our levels of thyroid are returned to normal, this muscle mass returns slowly, and this can appear as weight gain.) Most importantly, is the adverse impact on heart function. The heart is a muscle, so the same muscle issues can affect heart function. Also, and more dangerous, is that elevated levels of thyroid hormone have been shown to throw off the "electrical control" mechanism of the heart — the control that keeps the heart pulsing rhythmically. If the rhythm is thrown off — as sometimes happens — it can be life threatening.

As to how long you might have to take the meds: if your condition is due to Graves, you might have to be on medication of one sort or another for life. A percentage of us (20-30%) can experience a period of remission where the symptoms go away. Remissions are defined by being able to go off medication for a year or longer, with normal levels of thyroid. But Graves is an autoimmune disease, and does not typically disappear forever, although the antibodies have been known to wear out the thyroid over time, and cause people to go hypothyroid.

Hair and nails are some of the last parts of the body to heal once we are returned to normal levels of hormone. Having our hair go brittle, and break off easily, etc. is rather typical of excessive levels of hormone. If we go too hypo, the hair tends to fall out in clumps, but not be as brittle. Getting the balance right is important.

And, yes, one of the side effects possible from the antithyroid drugs like methimazole is achy joints. Whether that is what caused your situation is for your doctor to tell you.

I hope this information helps,

[niccop]

#1018962

Hello all,
New to this board and find it very informative. I have a few questions regarding methimzaole:
to give a quick history, I have had ‘subclinical hyperthyroid’ for 6 + years, only recently sent to an endo and diagnosed w/ graves. That said, I was started on 2.5 mg/ day of methimazole, which didn’t seem to do much. I am now on 5 mg/day – here are my questions:
1. is it normal to feel a worsening of hyper symptoms when starting antithyroid meds?
2. is there any typical length of usage until one can stop the meds?
3. how to tell if my hair loss is from this or the graves? I was first diagnosed w/ subclinical hyperthryoid b/c I had bloodwork due to hair falling out.
4. my hair has also changed in texture and feels brittle – could this be due to graves?
5. could the methimazole cause achy joints/weight gain?
Any insight is greatly appreciated – to mention, I have been on methimazole now for 4.5 months.
Thanks,
Nicole

[niccop]

#1068133

Thank you so much for your insight….I find it really helpful, especially since I will not be seing my doctor for another year! I actually went through 2 pregnancies being hyperthyroid, not knowing, and am just thankful that there were no complications. Although I do not like to take medication I now realize that I probably should have been on this a long time ago; I am just nervous about side effects.
Thanks again,
Nicole

[ewmb]

#1068134

Nicole,
If you are on methimazole you need to be seeing your doctor possibly more than once a year. You need to have your levels tested to make sure they haven’t changed and also your white count and liver enzymes. I think when I was on methimazole I was told at least every 6 months when you were on maintenance. I know there are probably different ideas on that but I’d ask.

ewmb

[niccop]

#1068135

thanks for your reply,
I am due for bloodwork in a few weeks, then again in 6 mos. but I’m not sure if the 6 mo. bloodwork is liver enzymes and wbc or just thyroid levels. I just feel that I should be seeing the doc more than 1 X year, not that I like doctors much!

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