[Jana3]

#1018239

After 15 months of methimazole, I am 17 months in remission from Graves Disease, and I still get weakness in the front of my hips. Moderate walking and exercise help, but weakness and exhaustion set in later in the day and especially into the next day, making it difficult to get chores done, make dinner, etc. I am so frustrated with this and wonder if I will ever get my strength back. ALL my labs are normal. I am 55 years old.

In all fairness, here his some history: In January, 2007, I came down with hyperparathyroidism while undergoing chemotherapy for early stage cancer, and both of those took a big toll on my bones and muscles as well. Both the cancer and the hyperparathyroidism have been cured, and I have been given a clean bill of health. Twice, I had anaphylactic reactions to the chemo. Then, right after hyperparathyroidism, I developed Graves Disease in 2008. The weakness I am experiencing now started with hyperthyroidism.

Has anyone experienced this chronic weakness so long during remission? Chronic weakness that shows it’s ugly head after exercising? I’ve been to a neurologist, and he doesn’t feel that it is caused by any of the neurological diseases. The doctors feel that I just need to recover from all the trauma. I know that everyone’s experience is highly individual, but if someone could give me some hope or understanding of this, I would be so very much appreciative. Thanks.

[Ski]

#1063463

Have you seen a physical therapist to evaluate your strength in each muscle group? It seems that hyperthyroidism affects each of us individually, and it seems to hit particularly hard in areas that have been affected earlier through accident/disease/etc., so it’s possible that you are hit particularly hard in the muscle groups that affect the areas where you are having pain, and it might be that a personalized exercise plan, specifically targeted to develop the areas where you might be weak, could give you some relief. It could take some time, but I’ll bet you’d feel results rather soon, if you are doing exactly what is needed for those specific muscles.

It’s worth a shot!

[Bobbi]

#1063464

Just a note to reinforce Ski’s comment to you, Jana. One of the endocrinologists that spoke to us at one of our annual conferences made the point that the muscle we lose while hyperthyroid does tend to come back over time, but that it is "mushy" muscle. I.e., it needs to be exercised to get us back up to normal strength. Getting someone like a physical therapist to analyze what exercises might be most beneficial can be very helpful.

[Jana3]

#1063465

Thank you so much, ladies! It’s so good to know that someone else understands what is going on. You both give me hope. I’ll ask my doctor for a referral to a physical therapist!

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