[sueberg]

#1059319

Hi There,

I was just recently found out I have Graves w/a goiter with a few hot nodules. I will be going for surgery over the next few months. Everything I read just makes my head spin. This is all very new to me and any help would be great!

I was diagnosed with Depression and Bi-polar a few years ago, but now after reading all the symptoms of Graves, I am even more confused. I smoke, and the doc is having a fit.. as it can increase the chance of TED.. its killing me – will power sucks. I have always had dry eyes, and I guess I am unsure of what type of symptoms/pain is associated with that – other then popping eyes.

All in all, I am just confused. I feel like crap, as I have for years. My body feels like I’ve been hit by a truck, my hips, shoulder and neck constantly hurt. I don’t sleep well only 2 hrs at a crack, my hair is thinning, my face is breaking out (which could be stress) I’ve lost muscle tone (and who wants to exercise when your in pain?) and the hot flashes are wicked and the hoarse voice and sweats are just the icing on the cake.

HELP..:rolleyes:

[Kimberly]

#1174053

Hello and welcome! You *will* see some relief from your symptoms, but the healing process takes time. Have your doctors talked to you about taking anti-thyroid drugs (Methimazole, Tapazole) to try and get your levels down prior to surgery? These drugs are very effective with Graves’, although not as much so with hot nodules.

The reason that your docs have been badgering you about the smoking is that smokers are more likely to have severe eye issues, and if they *do* get them, conventional treatments don’t seem to be effective. Dry eye is one possible symptom of eye involvement with Graves’, but the more serious concerns are double vision and proptosis (bulging).

Because having thyroid levels out of balance can have an impact on both emotions and cognitive functioning, it can often be difficult to untangle symptoms of Graves’ from other conditions such as depression, panic disorders, and bi-polar. Some patients with Graves’ are initially misdiagnosed with depression, panic disorders, etc. – and the meds end up not being effective because the doctor isn’t treating the right condition! However, if you *do* have one or more of these conditions, you *have* to treat that condition along with the hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism can absolutely affect muscle tone…however, you really don’t want to be doing any strenuous exercise until you get your levels stabilized again. Once you start getting some energy back, your doc can give you some guidance on appropriate activities.

Take care – and please check back with us!

[sueberg]

#1174054

Thanks for the reply. I am on Tapazole, Inderal for my heart palpitations and 50K units of Vit. D. Not to mention I am pre-diabetic.

I am curious why the drugs are not so effective with the nodules? I have extreme floaters in my eyes. Lately, I have been experiencing light flashes in one eye, strange to explain, but only in one eye out out of the corner and almost like a fog effect with my vision.

Why should I not be doing any strenuous exercise? (not that I want to)..

Sorry for being a pain, but this is so new to me.. I am so glad I found this board!

Thanks
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1174055

Hello – On the exercise, our bodies (and especially our hearts) are already overtaxed from being in a hyperthyroid state, so patients are generally advised to refrain from exercise until thyroid hormone levels stabilize.

I don’t know the exact mechanism behind anti-thyroid drugs and overactive nodules. However, for a patient who has *only* nodules, and not Graves’, the latest medical guidance recommends surgery or RAI, although the guidance notes that, “On occasion, long-term, low-dose treatment with methimazole may be appropriate.” I’m not sure, though, how having nodules *and* Graves’ affects the recommended treatment options.

If you are interested in reading more, you can find a link to the AACE/ATA guidance document in full in the “treatment options” thread in the announcements section of this forum. Do a search for “nodules” or TMNG (Toxic Multinodular Goiter) and you will get to the right section.

Take care!

[Author]

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