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My daughter is having her second scan today for the uptake test. The doctor is fairly certain she has graves. My grandmother had issues with her thyroid and my brother had Graves.
My brother dropped dead (while on the treadmill) about 5 years after his graves was discovered. He was treated – fairly successfully – but I was wondering if the Graves aggravated his heart disease.
I want to know if others have had heart issues after discovering Graves. My daughter is now on 2 beta blockers/day to control her heart rate which is beating at >120 bpm (resting). This is obviously way too fast and the doc put her on the bb for the short term until her thyroid output is under control.
Also, since my daughter has the rest of her life (and I hope pregnancy in the future) I was wondering what the best course of treatment should be.
I’m glad I joined the forum and I hope I can learn a lot from others with the disease. Any advice from medical, nutritional, etc… is welcome.
Hello and welcome! Hopefully you will get some other responses, but the Graves’ patients I’ve had contact with who had serious heart issues were undiagnosed, and had not received treatment.
All three treatment options do have risks and benefits, so you and your daughter will definitely want to do your research and make an informed choice. The “Treatment Options” thread in the “announcements” section of the board has some great info.
As for fertility, there are plenty of regular posters here who have had healthy babies after treatment. Your daughter will need to remain aware that the latest medical guidance recommends that women who have previously been treated for Graves’ (whether via ATDs, RAI, or surgery) undergo antibody testing at 20-24 weeks. Additional monitoring is recommended if antibody levels are extremely high, as these can potentially affect the fetus. This is just something your daughter will want to file away for future reference.
For the most part, Graves’ is not a condition that can be impacted by diet, although patients who are hypERthyroid are advised to avoid foods that have tons of iodine, like the seaweed wrap that comes with sushi. Many patients also choose to minimize processed foods with unpronounceable ingredients and instead focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods: fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains. It’s also important to make sure your daughter doesn’t over-exert herself until her doctor gives her the OK to resume her normal activities.
Wishing you and your daughter all the best!
I corresponded for quite a long period of time with a woman I “met” online, named Anne. She seemd a lovely person, whose heart had been adversely impacted by hyperthyroidism. She, like your brother, died of heart failure, eventually. I think that for some of us, the heart may be more vulnerable than for others. But, also, some of us go undiagnosed for too long and that takes its toll on the heart muscle.
The key is getting adequate treatment soon enough to avoid hyperthyroidism damaging the heart and other body systems. It is important to find a treatment that “works” to control thyroid hormone levels.
There are two potential treatment options that have been demonstrated over time to work: antithyroid meds and removal of the thyroid. Most of us, if lucky enough to be diagnosed soon enough, get well again.
Hello. I also have a 17 yr old daughter with Graves and she just underwent a total thyroidectomy on April 3rd. It was the best option for her. Her heart rate was elevated and she was on beta blockers. We started with methimizole but she had headaches, muscle and joint pain and just felt bad overall. She was diagnosed in January 2012 and TT in April 2012 so as you see it didn’t take us long to see that she needed a more long term solution quick. Surgery was long and comes with a lot of risks but thankfully we had a great doctor and she had no negative side affects. I’d be happy to discuss details with you in a PM if you are interested. I know the stress you are under right now – the last 6 months have been the hardest time for me as a parent. Best wishes to you and your daughter.
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