[minnesota1]

#1060207

My diagnosis with Graves and hyperthyroidism is fairly new – 6 months. I started out with 10 mg methimazole. My levels were to high so my endo told me to take half a tab. My levels went from 19 to 11 but still too high so then I was told to halve the tablet again. Thankfully, I had enough sense to ask the pharmacist if these come in 5 mg so at least I would feel like I was a little closer to the 2.5mg dosage. I don’t have blood run again for a couple of weeks to find out how this is doing. I told my husband the next option will be just licking the tablet. LOL Is this usual – needing to cut the dosage way down? I’m wondering if this indicates that it isn’t really regulating the way I should expect. I’ve read here with people taking the RAI route, but here is my hesitation. I don’t feel like there are doctors out there who have a clue what to do with Graves. My current doctor deals mostly with diabetic patients and sort of brushes off questions and concerns once I said I didn’t want RAI to be my first choice. So how long should it take to see real improvement with meds? Once I opted for meds first it was like all conversation stopped. Have you had trouble finding a doctor you felt had an understanding of hyperthyroidism? The guys for hypo are all over the place, it seems. I just hesitate to do RAI with a doctor I don’t feel has a good feel for things. And then, how to find a good doctor. There’s nobody to ask for a reference and I think all endos are going to say they know what they’re talking about. So frustrating AND I need to see an eye doctor and there is maybe one in the city that says they have Graves patients. So, I am feeling rather dismayed and wondered if others have had to search all over to find a doctor.

[Kimberly]

#1181246

Hello and welcome – the “Looking for a Doctor” thread in the announcements section of the forum has several good links for finding endos, eye doctors, etc.

Yes, that is absolutely the normal course to cut the dose of anti-thyroid drugs down as levels start moving back into the “normal” range. I’ve been on a lot of different doses…I’ve even had to cut a 5 mg tab into quarters! You can get an inexpensive pill splitter at your local pharmacy to make the process a lot easier.

Take care!

[barbra]

#1181247

Hi Minnesota1,

Unfortunately finding a good doctor, and specially an endo that you believe in, is not an easy thing as other people here can tell you.
Mine was referred to me by my PCP. He’s OK, I guess, at least his office calls me as soon as they get the test results, but I have only seen him once and will see him again next month. Main thing is he does respond if I tell his receptionist forcefully enough that I have a problem.

I was diagnosed the middle of April this year and had RAI done on the first of July. I didn’t want to drag it out. I went severely hypo about 8 weeks after the RAI. I’m now on Synthroid and a couple of other meds. Right now I’m not feeling too bad but I have an appointment with an Ophthalmologist because my right eyelid is all of a sudden swollen in the morning. Sometimes it’s dry and itches, sometimes it tears.
When I called around to find out if the eye doctor/eye clinic had anyone familiar with Graves’ disease or TED they all said: “Oh yes, all of our doctors know all about it, they are all Ophthalmologists and medical doctors”. And I don’t believe any of them! It’s a crapshoot.
So, I picked one I had seen 3 years ago and therefore could get an appointment quickly. But, if I remember correctly, even the last time it took 2 1/2 hours and was as bad as going to the dentist.

I hope you can find an endo and an Ophthalmologist that you can have confidence in. Maybe, if you say which city you are in, someone here can send you a private message and help out.

All the best.

Barbra.

[barbra]

#1181248

I really did like the endo who actually did the RAI, but he’s with the hospital and doesn’t have a private practice. He was caring, patient, explained everything in detail and followed up with two phone calls. Too bad.

Barbra.

[Author]

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