[flytyer]

#1059177

Hello everyone. My name is Joe and I have just found this forum so thought I would join as I have been diagnosed with Graves Disease.

Two years ago I started having some problems with shortness of breath and at first the doctor thought I had had a heart attack but to make a long story short, they finally found out I have Graves Disease.

I took the radioactive iodine treatment and have been put on the artificial hormone treatment but am still having a lot of the symptoms to include a-fib a terrible shortness of breath, heat intolerance, severe weight gain (for me anyway) and several other items.

I have high blood pressure so am on medications for that as well.

One thing that I have found out is that as a veteran of Viet Nam that my exposure to Agent Orange makes me 3 times more likely to get Graves Disease than not.

I have put in for disability from the VA but have not heard anything from them except they are still processing my claim.

My biggest problem right now seems to be fatigue and possibly the start of depression as I am not used to being sick and really not being used to be not able to do much of anything. Seems hard for me to even cut the grass.

I retired several years ago but went back to work part time as I got bored and my wife has not retired yet but I have been put on a Leave of Absence until all of this is resolved and I am released to go back to work which I seriously doubt as it requires a lot of physical work.

I will be spending a lot of time on this forum reading the posts and maybe can learn some more things about this disease and how to cope with it.

Happy Fourth of July to everyone.

[Kimberly]

#1172744

Hello and welcome to our forum!

Yes, there is believed to be a link between Agent Orange exposure and Graves’ disease, although the reason for the connection is not well understood.

Are you doctors testing your Free T4 and T3, in addition to your TSH? For patients whose levels are normal and stable, the TSH test alone is fine, but since you are currently having symptoms, it would be helpful for you and your doc to know where your T3/T4 are.

Also, most patients do well on T4 replacement alone, but some have found that they do feel better by adding some T3 to their regimen. This doesn’t work for everyone, though…some patients have found that it actually caused a recurrence of their hypER symptoms. However, since you aren’t currently feeling 100%, this might be worth at least a discussion with your doctor.

Wishing you all the best!

[Bobbi]

#1172745

Hi, Joe, and welcome to our board.

The artificial hormone IS thyroid hormone, so if you are on an incorrect dose of it you can experience symptoms of either hypO or hypER. The heart irregularities and heat intolerance can be a sign of too much. But if you have had your levels checked regularly, then perhaps those symptoms are caused by something else. If you haven’t had them checked recently, or, if you are at one end of the so-called normal zone, you might talk with your doctor about “tweaking” the dose to settle you into a level of replacement that eliminates the symptoms. I am on a “split” dose taking one dose size five days a week, and a different dose size two days a week. This dosing was at my doctor’s suggestion because on the lower dose I was — according to her — to close to the hypo end of things. Anyway, it is an idea for you to discuss with your doctor should you choose to.

[flytyer]

#1172746

Thank you both for your replies but you are talking way over my head with T4, T3 etc.

I have an appointment on July 17 with my Endro Clinic so I will write what you have said down and take it with me so that I can find out.

A lot of this is new to me but believe me I will pay attention to what you say.

Just so you know as well, I am on high blood pressure medications, an aspirin, vitamin d, blood thinners as well as my thyroid hormone. Don’t know if that makes any difference.

Thanks again.

[Kimberly]

#1172747

Hello – T3 and T4 represent the actual levels of thyroid hormone circulating in your body. T3 is the more powerful and active hormone of the two. Some tests will measure the amount of T3 or T4 that are *not* bound up by proteins, and therefore available for the body to use. These are referred to as “Free T3” and “Free T4”.

TSH is a substance produced by the pituitary gland that either directs the thyroid gland to produce more hormone or tells the body to put the brakes on thyroid hormone production. When things are working properly, the amount of TSH produced by the pituitary depends on a “feedback loop” according to where our T3 and T4 are. If T3/T4 levels are *low*, you should see the TSH levels *increase* in order to prod the thyroid gland to make more hormone. If T3/T4 levels are *high*, then you will see TSH decrease to tell the body to stop making more thyroid hormone. Here’s some additional info on thyroid function testing from the National Institutes of Health:

(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).

http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/thyroidtests/index.aspx

Hope this is helpful!

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