[brelki]

#1058733

I’m not quite sure where to begin. I’m 30 years old, and I have been tested for thyroid issues yearly since I was 19 since my mother, two uncles, and aunt all have thyroid disease (all hypo except my uncle who has Graves’). In September, my test results were abnormal for the first time. My TSH levels were 0.0006 and my T4 level was 17.6. Around this same time, I was complaining to my GP about shaky hands, a racing heart rate while being inactive, frequent diarrhea, and an overall feeling of nervousness. I had previously chalked it up to just stress. Anyway, at this point, my GP referred me to an Endocrinologist for the first time. I saw her in November for the first time. She asked me about symptoms, she felt my thyroid and gave me a sonogram, and we discussed what was to come next. She said it was clear I have Graves’ based on how the thyroid felt/looked, and she also said that many of my symptoms pointed to it.

She gave me a prescription for Propranolol (10 mg) and told me to take it as necessary. She also sent me to have my blood work done again, and she asked me to schedule an uptake and scan; however, the equipment broke, and they haven’t been able to fix it and reschedule a time for it. She says that if the scan shows 30-50% of they thyroid overworking, she’ll put me on meds, but if it’s over 50%, we have to discuss the iodine treatment. Luckily, right now, I’m on break, but I had hoped to be more evened out by the time I start back at work. I have another appointment with my Endo. the first week of January to go over the new blood work (and possible uptake/scan if they can get me in this week).

More than anything, I’m just feeling confused and frustrated. Mostly, I’m having difficulty explaining all of this to my husband of seven years, particularly because I don’t understand what’s going on in my body myself. I think he doesn’t quite know what to do or say. I feel like I can’t control my emotions; I cry frequently and feel testy, but can’t put my finger on why. I’m overly anxious, and I worry about things I know I shouldn’t. I have difficulty controlling my thought processes (they just swarm through my mind at warp speed).

[Bobbi]

#1169679

Hi, Brelki, and welcome to the Board.

Yes, our brains go into over-drive while we are hyperthyroid, just like the rest of our body’s processes. Our emotional response to events becomes very unreliable. It will help you — and your family — a lot, if you can keep this fact in mind, and try to put some distance between an emotional response to an event, and the expression of that response. I relied on "I" messages: "I know this isn’t your fault, but I am just so angry right now about….." Doing this most likely didn’t help my family completely, but it was a whole lot better than the, "You guys are driving me CRAZY…." that I would have said otherwise. (I had teenagers… )

Once your thyroid levels get back under control, your emotional response to things will definitely moderate — or go back to normal, whatever that might be.

Part of the problem is that we don’t get restful sleep while seriously hyperthyroid, which just enhances the effects of the excess hormone. So it is very important that you do what you can to minimize stresses, demands, and try to get more relaxation, if not actual sleep. Even non-hyperthyroid people get crankier when they are sleep-deprived. Keep in mind that this state of affairs is temporary, we do get well again typically, and cut yourself as much slack as you can until your thyroid hormone levels are under control.

As for sleep problems, I began wearing ear plugs. In my state of heightened awareness, while hyperthyroid, it seemed like every little noise would wake me up and I would have trouble getting back to sleep. If that is happening to you, consider ear plugs to block the minor noises. I didn’t get full nights of sleep until my hormones were back under control, but it did help me to sleep a bit better.

[Kimberly]

#1169680

Hello! Just to add to Bobbi’s comments, the following link is to new guidance from the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists on treatment of hyperthyroidism. You will need to use your browser’s "back" button to return to the boards after viewing.

http://thyroidguidelines.net/sites/thyr … 0_0417.pdf

The first few pages go through factors that might make one treatment option more appropriate for particular patients. I’m not familiar with the uptake percentage having an influence on treatment options, so that would be something to discuss further with your doctor.

Wishing you all the best!

[brelki]

#1169681

Thank you both so much for the friendly welcome and helpful information!

[hsco7]

#1169682

brelki, I totally relate to you right now! I am 27 and just got diagnosed with Graves this weeks after a long 8 weeks or so of symptoms….. On Thanksgiving I went into an SVT with heart rate in the 170’s which was the first symptom for me, I have been on a high dose of beta blockers since and my heart rate is still 100-120 on them. My husband and I have been together 6 years and he to is trying to understand all of this. I am an ER nurse and I still am confused on things! I am anxious, shake like crazy, and am not sleeping much at all, I’m not sure if any other readers have suggestions for sleep other than sleeping pills…? I have an 8 mo old who I need to be up with and functioning in the morning! I am going to start an antithyroid med this week, does anyone have any information on how this made them feel?

[Kimberly]

#1169683

Hello and welcome! I am running out the door, but wanted to get your post up, so you can start getting some responses.

Every patient is different, but I personally felt more run down than usual for my first few weeks on ATDs — my doc said that my body had gotten used to running on all cylinders, and it was going through an adjustment period. You might not have this experience, but this is definitely a good time to pare down any chores that you can potentially "dump" or "delegate".

Take care!

[Bobbi]

#1169684

One major issue many folks face is that they expect the meds (whether replacement hormone after removal of the thyroid, or ATDs) to make them feel well right away. It doesn’t happen. Kimberly’s doctor described it one way — mine another. But the gist — to me at least — is that being hyperthyroid causes damage to our bodies in varying ways. For example, we lose muscle mass. Taking an ATD, or replacement hormone, does not replace muscle mass instantly. So we continue to feel weak for a while, even though our thyroid hormone levels may have returned to normal. The same holds true with whatever problem was created by being hyperthyroid. It takes months AT NORMAL LEVELS of thyroid hormone for our bodies to heal. So, think in terms of a hurricane. Just because the winds are gone, there is still damage strewn about the place, and it takes a while for the damage to be repaired. We’ve been hit by a metabolic hurricane. We do get well again, but it takes time for the body to heal. You will see progress — improvements — along the way. Focus on them, and not on any absolute sense of "normal" that you may have for a while. And do try to cut yourself as much slack as you can to help your body heal as quickly as possible.

[brelki]

#1169685

Just an update: Today, I had an ultrasound on my thyroid. I’m now really confused and more than a little scared. The woman doing my ultrasound kept asking me if I was on an thyroid medicine (I’m not; my endo wants to wait until all tests are done to put me on anything) and if my neck hurt. I replied no to both. She kept going around my neck, and then left abruptly to get another woman. This other woman started doing the ultrasound on my neck, and she looks at the first woman, who says, "See?" Before I can say anything, they both tell me that they are going to get a third colleague.

Now, the third is doing the ultrasound and asks me again if I am taking thyroid meds or if my neck hurts. I again reply no (although at that point, my neck was starting to hurt because of all of the pressing on it – gal #1 was pretty rough). They turn off the machine, turn it back on, and then go back to doing the ultrasound. They proceed to ahh and hmmmm around the ultrasound machine. I ask what they are thinking. They tell me that I need to make an appt with my Dr. to go over the results.

Luckily, I do have an appt with my endo this week (Thurs). She wanted me to do the ultrasound, and then the uptake and scan. Due to the machinery being broken, I cannot have the latter for another few weeks. Thus, this Thurs, we are going over my recent bloodwork and my ultrasound.

Obviously, I’m nervous due to the women all being enthralled by my ultrascan. I couldn’t really see much of anything, but at one point, I *thought* I saw a red area (not sure I did though, as this is all based on my peripheral vision, and the machine was actually to my right and behind my head).

I’ll update again once I meet with my endo.

One more question: Do any of ya’ll take sleeping pills (Rx or not)? If OTC, which do you use? I just cannot sleep, and I’m thinking I might take a pill every once and a bit to help.

[Bobbi]

#1169686

Being hyperthyroid plays havoc with our sleep patterns. I did not use any sleep aids, although going on beta blockers helped. You need an Rx for those, however, and not everyone can take them safely, so it’s something to discuss with the doctor.

My primary thought about the people who did your ultrasound was that they are extremely, excessively unprofessional. Making comments like that is truly rude and unnecessary. And, until you see your doctor, I would suggest you take it as an indication that they may not have known what they were doing, much less what they were seeing. As to what they saw — or thought they were seeing — I have no idea. I did not have any ultrasounds ordered during the diagnostic stage, and I cannot imaging what they would show.

Wishing you good luck with your doctor visit.

[Author]

Posts