[Bobbi]

#1065884

Well, Joy, it really depends upon how long someone went undiagnosed and hyperthyroid. My GP at the time told me that she felt it takes a good nine months AFTER someone gets regulated in the normal zone for thyroid hormone, before they are feeling normal again. Obviously, there is progress towards normal all along, but essentially, the body needs to heal from being hyperthyroid.

[Ewenme]

#1018590

I have just been diagnosed with GD and am wondering how long does it take on the average for life to return to normal ? That is, from diagnosis to treatment to recovery. And what are the long term impacts? Will I ever be truly ‘normal’ again?
Joy

[Kimberly]

#1065885

Hi Joy – Everyone’s journey is a little bit different. If you can give us your definition of "normal", then maybe others can chime in with their own experiences. Is "normal" for you getting through the work day without needing a nap — or is it running marathons?

I am on Anti-Thyroid Drugs, and it took me about 10 weeks to arrive at the "getting through the workday" stage. I think I could have gotten to this point a lot sooner if my doctor had made my initial dosing decisions based on Free T3 and Free T4, rather than TSH. (In Graves’ patients, TSH can take quite a while to get back to the "normal" range, so it’s not a good benchmark for determining ATD dosing).

I’m 2 1/2 years into treatment, and I’m pretty active now — I regularly engage in walking, kickboxing, tennis, and strength training. I would like to play competitive tennis again (singles), but I’m not quite ready to go three full sets. Part of this is that I’ve been increasing my activity sloooooooowly…and part of it is probably the fact that I’m just not as young as I used to be. ” title=”Very Happy” />

[Ewenme]

#1065886

Thanks for the responses.
I can’t define normal in the context of job, since my husband and I are retired (speaking of getting older).
Normal to me is to be able to walk at least a couple miles without fatigue, and to have my muscle strength back. Right now I’m having problems getting off the pot ” title=”Smile” /> as well as other activities I used to do with ease (and that was just a few weeks ago–what a difference a few days makes). I’d like to be able to pick my grandkids up again without difficulty and to do several ‘bear hunts’ with them without tiring.
I hope this explains my idea of normal. No marathons, just enough energy to get through a normal somewhat active day.
Joy

[Kimberly]

#1065887

Hi Joy – Again, everyone is different, but I was able to do a leisurely 3-mile walk at about the 10-week mark. My Graves’ was caught in a routine checkup, so the process might take longer if you have been hypER for a while. I don’t have kids or grandkids, so I can’t compare notes with you on that aspect! ” title=”Very Happy” />

Once you get the hypERthyroidism in check, you should start to see improvements. Sometimes it’s a two-steps-forward-one-step-back kind of journey, but you WILL return to good health!

[Author]

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