[SueAndHerZoo]

#1059784

Hello all, and thanks for being here. My history in a nutshell: I was diagnosed with Graves disease 6 years ago and my GP put me on a beta blocker while we waited for the Endo to schedule and analyze the radioactive scans. The diagnosis was Graves Disease so I was put on Methimazole. As my levels started to go into a reasonable range I was weaned off the Propranolol. I continued the Methimazole for about 2 years, weaned down, and eventually went into remission. Life was good!

A few months ago I started feeling unwell again (but I have lots of issues so I never know which one is rearing it’s ugly head). My routine yearly exam (and bloodwork) revealed that my thyroid was no longer in remission. More radioactive scans showed that it was Graves Disease so I’m back on Methamizole again, 5 mg. once a day which I started March 14th.

My heartrate came down a bit and I was able to sleeping again. My temperament improved, the hot flashes and hyperness was reduced, and my constantly spinning brain was starting to slow down. Today, 13 days after starting Methimazole, I was at work and feeling relatively ok but used some Afrin nasal spray since I chronically have sinus issues. Within 10 minutes or less I was feeling off-balance, dizzy, panicky, and had trouble walking. I made it to the ladies room and tried to talk myself out of a panic attack but I was shaking and feeling faint and couldn’t talk myself out of it. I went back to my desk, tried to be polite to people who were trying to chat with me (last thing you want to do when you’re having a panic attack) and picked up my purse to leave.

When I got home I took my pulse and blood pressure: 155/93!!!! This was a TOTAL shock because all my life I have had low blood pressure and the highest I’ve ever seen was 123/70. I panicked, took it again, and it went higher. I tried to stay calm and relax and kept checking it but it was always in the 150’s and 140’s. I called my endo to ask for a beta blocker and it was his day off. I called my GP and it was HIS day off, too. I asked if the on-call doc could call me in a prescription but they said I had to be seen first, so off to Medi-Quick I went. (By this time my husband had left work and was home to drive me there).

I got the beta blocker and took one and now my blood pressure is back down to it’s normal 110/65. I’m going to take another one (or half) tonight and tomorrow morning and then call my endo.

Here’s my question (finally): do you think this high blood pressure is a result of my return to Graves Disease? Do you think it was the Afrin Nasal Spray? The confusing thing is that I have never had high blood pressure, not even during the years when I was suffering with hyperthyroidism the first time. I also use and have used Afrin several times a month and have never had my blood pressure spike because of it.

Any thoughts? I am notorious for analyzing and diagnosing my own problems and then getting confirmation from the doctors so of course I need to figure this out. Why high blood pressure all of a sudden??????

If you’ve made it down this far, thanks for reading and for your patience, and thanks in advance for your responses.
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1177486

Hello and welcome – love your screen name! Ah, isn’t it the *worst* when you are having a horrible episode and have to act like everything is “normal”?

We’re fellow patients here, not docs, so we can’t tell you for sure what was going on. However, elevated blood pressure is definitely associated with hyperthyroidism. I’m not familiar with the specific ingredients in Afrin. However, there *are* many over-the-counter decongestants (particularly the non-drowsy ones) that contain stimulants such as Pseudoephedrine that can aggravate the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. In fact, many of them contain warnings for thyroid patients…in very tiny print, of course!

Definitely check with your endo or general practitioner once they are back in the office (and let us know what you find out).

Take care!

[Gabe]

#1177487

Sue, I’m also new to Graves since January 2013. I was originally put on beta blocker for rapid heart rate. Endo doubled methimazole and stopped blocker. Within 1 week I felt a new strange and had similar symptoms to yours. Took my BP and was shocked! Called two docs. Finally got a refill of blocker and within a few days BP back to normal. I’m 54 and have never had high BP.

[ChristinaDe]

#1177488

Hi Sue! Sorry to hear that you came out of remission. What a disappointment that must be…and to go through this Graves’ thing twice…well, yuk! But at least your body has already demonstrated an ability to beat Graves’ at its own game.

About your situation: While hyper, I was very sensitive to products with pseudoephedrine and anything in the “caine” family – like lidocaine, etc. They made my heart race & my BP go up. I’d also get dizzy and panicky. I haven’t tried any of them since I’ve had my thyroid out, so I don’t know if that has changed for me yet. But I am curious to see since I had no problem with any of those ingredients pre-hyper.

Like you, I’ve always had a low BP too. While on ATDs mine tended to get high. Awful feeling, isn’t it? And my heart palpitations worsened. The beta blocker really did do wonders for that part. Do talk to your doctor to get his thoughts on the matter! In the meantime, I’m glad that that you’ve begun a beta blocker and that it’s working for you. Take care or yourself. The beginning seems to be the hardest part.

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1177489

Thanks for the warm welcome and for sharing all your stories, both good and bad. It’s so true (sad, but true) that misery loves company. Reading what others are experiencing and have experienced makes me feel more “normal” and sometimes grateful that, so far, I haven’t been through the hell that some others have.

I think the part that bothers me the most lately (no, I’m sure it is) is the emotional, anxiety aspect of this. I thought I was finally over the panic attacks I had most of my life and never even thought about them anymore and now I find myself obsessed with the thought of having another and living in terror of when and where it will happen and, as you know, that’s sure to bring one on. So today I am depressed and defeated, but maybe after a good night’s rest I will find my usual, optimistic attitude.

Thanks again for being here. I’ve got lots of reading and catching up to do on the forum so I’m off to read, read, and read some more.
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1177490

Hello – Yes, the emotional aspect of Graves’ can be incredibly frustrating, and others around us aren’t always very sympathetic! Here are links to a video from our 2012 San Diego conference and also a patient bulletin that both address the emotional aspects of Graves’ disease.

The good news is that you *should* start to see some relief as you get your levels stabilized again.

(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, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB8_5rbCso8

http://gdatf.org/about/about-graves-disease/patient-education/whats-wrong-with-me/

Take care – hoping that today is a better day!

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