[Savvyrat]

#1058961

Hi there!
Well, it looks like I may be joining the rank of those fighting Graves’.

My mom had her thyroid removed as a teenagers due to a tumor, so I am familiar with hypothyroidism. I’m even more familiar with auto-immune disorders, since my mom seems to be building a collection, and my brother has Type 1 Diabetes. So when I was 16 and started experiencing some weird symptoms I was tested for hyperthyroidism. My levels all came back normal. Then, again, when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2010 I was tested. Again, I had normal thyroid levels. Then, after my daughter’s birth I began to itch. It started very mildly and, knowing I am allergic to dogs, I assumed it was because of my dogs. Around January, however, it increased in intensity and I went to see an allergist in March. Boom! Thyroid antibodies!

A month (and dozens of blood tests later) later and I just went in for a thyroid scan. My doctor of internal medicine emailed me to let me know that my results are consistent with Graves’ disease. This afternoon I will be seeing an endo for the first time.

I am relieved to have a diagnosis, but not looking forward to the months (years?) of treatment to come. It is nice to have the fatigue, intolerance to heat, and severe muscles and joint pain explained. But at 25, I was really hoping it was just going to be silent thyroiditis. Oh well! I don’t want to be hypo (having grown up with a mom who was…and a trail of doctors who mistreated her for most of my life), but I’m not scared of it either. Just kind of annoyed. Haha.

I really only have one question… My husband and I were hoping to try for our second child sometime within the next year… Is that a realistic goal, based on the fact that I have not even begun treatment yet? Do I need to have GD controlled, or in remission, or something before attempting pregnancy?

Looking forward to meeting others who know what I’m about to go through!

[Savvyrat]

#1171221

Yep! Graves’ it is for me. Though it doesn’t look like it has gotten too extreme.

TSH <0.004
Free T4 1.60
Free T3 1.25 ( I think…I’m trying to remember off the top of my head.)

Doc put me on 10mg of Methimazole. And his name is Dr. Georgitis. That just makes me happy.

I go in for another blood test in a month.

[Kimberly]

#1171222

Hello and welcome to our board! Yes, you definitely want to get your hyperthyroidism under control before trying to conceive, as being either hyper or hypo is dangerous for both mother and baby.

If you use the “search posts” function at the top right-hand corner of the screen for “baby”, “conception”, “conceive”, “pregnant,” etc., you can read stories from other members with similar stories. Many have gone on to have healthy babies.

Here are a few resources that might be helpful as you go through this journey.

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following links, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

Graves’ and Pregnancy Planning
http://www.gdatf.org/about/about-graves-disease/patient-education/graves-disease-and-pregnancy-planning-2010/

Graves’ and Pregnancy
http://www.gdatf.org/about/about-graves-disease/patient-education/graves-disease-and-pregnancy-2010/

American Thyroid Association Guidelines on Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy
http://thyroidguidelines.net/pregnancy

Take care — and please keep us posted on how you are doing!

[Darcy43]

#1171223

Welcome to our world. Kimberly give excellent advise and sites for information. Please do your research. You are in for a very bumpy ride.

FYi listed below are what are supposed to be “normal” ranges for TSH, T4 adn T3. Compare your numbers with these and make sure your endocronologist thoroughly explain to you what they mean. Based on what you said your numbers were, I can see why they started you on methimazole (10mg), probably at least twice a day. It will help a great deal but for some including myself, the side affects are less than desireable.

Normal ranges;

TSH 0.30 – 5.5
T4 9.0 – 24.0
T3 2.5 – 6.5

Of course if this is mis information, I am sure someone on this board will correct me, but this is what my endocronologist told me.

Good luck.

[Bobbi]

#1171224

The normal ranges can vary from one lab to another, which is why we tell people to get a copy of their own lab tests. The normal ranges are determined by how the lab does the test: what materials are used, etc. So what is “normal” for one lab may fall outside of normal for another. The lab report, for each patient, tells what the normal range is, and where that person’s test results are located. By looking at the lab tests over time, it can help us to get a handle on how our own treatment is going, but it doesn’t do much to help us tell others about theirs.

[Savvyrat]

#1171225

Thanks all!

And my t3 was 4.25. Hehe, I was completely wrong!

I am with Kaiser, so I have access to all of my test results online and each one includes what the lab sets as the “normal” range. According to my lab, my t3 is just a tad high, my t4 is normal and my TSH is pretty low.

I’m only taking one dosage of methimazole a day at this point, since I am not severely hyper, and we will test my levels after a month to see where we go from here.

I’m two days in and I think I’m doing okay on the methimazole… My throat and sinuses feel like they may be slightly inflamed, but not painfully so. It may also be allergies, so I’m going to wait it out a few days. If the slightly inflamed feeling doesn’t go away, I will mention it to my doctor and see what he thinks. My preference is to medicate, so I’m hoping that I don’t have any adverse reactions to the medication.

[Gem28]

#1171226

Please can you just clarify for me what my consulatant has told me???? I’ve been told the normal level is between 11 and 23 and mines 58 is this my T4??? eeeek how confused am I!

[Kimberly]

#1171227

Hello – Please see Bobbi’s comment above regarding lab ranges, and the fact that each one is different. Even labs within the U.S. vary, so labs outside the U.S. could be using *completely* different measurement criteria. The best thing to do is ask the doctor for a hard copy of your labs at each visit. Then you can see where you are in comparison to *your* lab’s reference range, and you can monitor your progress over time.

[Darcy43]

#1171228

Savvyrat

Be careful. If your throat pain persists and is really bad, see your doctor immediately. It could be a sign of infection. When you start taking Methimazole, one of the possible side affects is that your WBC (white blood cells) count drops which are used to help ward off infection. That was the number 1 warning my endochronologist told me to watch for. Of course, my throat pain did not get severe, and I am infection free (knock on wood) thus far so no worries. But don’t put it off as something small if your throat is severely imflamed. It sounds like it isn’t so you should be fine, but trust your body and if you do not feel well, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR.

[Savvyrat]

#1171229

Thanks for the concern, Darcy! It looks like my throat is doing just fine. Maybe some slight inflammation that goes along with the allergies I’ve been experiencing the past few days, or a mild reaction to a new drug in my system. Either way, though, it does seem to be going away. Should it progress to a sore throat, however, I will contact my doc immediately.

Speaking of allergies… Does anyone take Zyrtec with methimazole? I’m planning on calling my pharmacist later to clear it with them anyway, but I was just wondering if the methimazole will affect my ability to take allergy medicines, or their efficiency.

[adenure]

#1171230

Hi!
I don’t know about Zyrtec, but I’ve taken the generic form of Benadryl anhistamine – 25 mg. on occasion to be able to sleep. Insomnia has been a tough symptom for me with the Graves, so my endo. said that 25 mg. of benadryl would be fine to take. I take methimazole daily (5 mg.). It’s been 4 1/2 weeks for me since I’ve started it. In the last month, of taken benadryl 4 times with the methimazole.

Alexis

[Darcy43]

#1171231

I take claritin and it does not affect my Methimazole. It actually helps and I haven’t experienced the itching that others complain about while taking Methimazole. Everyone is different. Continue to communicate with your doctor and let them know what you are taking, including any and all vitamins and minerals too.

[Savvyrat]

#1171232

Worn out today. I’m tired of being tired all the time but so glad I at least know why now.

My. Allergies are also beating me up. I called the doc, for anyone curious, and methimazole and Zyrtec have no interactions. Praying it helps quickly and doesn’t knock me out, like it often does.

[Author]

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