[Boomer]

#1059965

Howdy all

Five days ago I took myself to the ER as I had lost 80 lbs in the past year and my heart was racing. I was quickly diagnosed with Grave’s, stabilised, and released the following day. The endo scheduled me for an appointment in two weeks from my day of discharge and prescribed me:

Propranolol 40 mg 3x/day

Methidizole 20 mg. 3x/day for 4 days then 10 mg. 3x/day until my appointment.

Since I’ve been home and taking the meds as prescribed I’ve had relief of many symptoms but I’m having an increase in others. Frequent BMs being the most troublesome. I’m going more now that I was pre-diagnosis/treatment. Is this at all normal or to be expected? I’m not having the runs- just having a soft BM 3-5 times per day an hour or two after eating…

Yes- I know – i should not have waited so long to be seen by a doctor. I’ve never been sick in my life and attributed my tremors and weight-loss to the stress of losing my business in late 2011 and from dealing with my elderly parents being in and out of the hospital with their own problems as well as a breakup of a long-term relationship. Needless to say I was wrong and I’ve learned my lesson: If something doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t and at my age there’s no room for error. The doctors said had I waited to go to the ER another day or two my heart would have given out. I was at 160 bpm so I tend to believe him.

In fact it hit home so deeply that I stopped smoking after 35 years right then and there. Done! Yay for me

I just wanted to introduce myself and toss my question about more frequent BMs out there- I figure that’s a GREAT conversation starter huh?

Can I get a “Hell yeah!”?

I didn’t think so….

Peace,

Boomer

[Kimberly]

#1179123

Hello and welcome! Frequent bowel movements are a classic sign of hyperthyroidism. I’ve not head of this becoming *worse* after beginning treatment, but perhaps you will get some other responses here.

One issue to note, though, is that Methimazole starts working right away to block production of *new* thyroid hormone. However, you might continue to have symptoms until your body burns off its existing stores of excess thyroid hormone, which can typically take a few weeks.

If this continues to be an issue, I would mention this to your doc. You might also see if you can identify a specific trigger. (Always after eating? More likely after consuming certain foods?)

Take care – and please check back to let us know how you are doing!

[Stymie]

#1179124

Hi boomer and welcome !!

Feel free to talk about it all! I had the frequent bms, and when my TSH runs high again (hyper) it comes back.

Good luck with your treatment!!

Diane

[Boomer]

#1179125

Wow! Fast and great replies- thanks so much!

I will certainly bring this up with my Endo at my next appointment and I’ll start keeping a meal journal to look for patterns.

I’ve done my research and feel that I’ve made an educated decision regarding my treatment as this two week period is more of a “holding pattern” than anything else. My case was deeemed “severe” so I’m going to take the RAI and leave the surgery as a last resort. Although radiation is intense I feel it is less intrusive and therefore less shocking to my already-upset body.

I hear people badmouth the phama biz all the time but let me tell you: The Beta Blocker is a godsend! No more racing heart, no more tremors, no more feeling shaky in my core. Sure I’m weak as all get-out but I can do strength training later to (hopefully) get back to my old ornery self

Having trouble sleeping but that is going to take some time. I can go a month without good sleep before I start seeing pink elephants and whatnot so bring it on! In spite of feeling SO weak (lost so much muscle mass from an already lean frame) I’m feeling strong and hopeful. I’m just happy to be alive and I feel like I have a second chance at life.

Babble babble ramble ramble I’m sure my day(s) of whining will be upon me soon enough but for right now I am SO grateful to at least understand what the heck was happening to my body (the body I’m quite disappointed in right now I might add) that it’s a relief just knowing what’s wrong.

Thanks for your thoughts and for replying so quickly- it means the world to me.
Thanks, too, for allowing me to prattle on and think out loud here.

Peace to all,

Boomer

P.S. Oh yeah speaking of muscles (or was it brains?) – if anyone sees my butt I want it back- that thing’s been gone for months now and, well, I miss it even though it’s got a crack in it…

[Gabe]

#1179126

Welcome Boomer. Thanks for bringing your sense of humor! Your posts actually make me LOL. Sounds like you were very close to a storm. Glad you got yourself checked out before you checked out!
While we all have GD, each of our stories can be so different and what works for one doesn’t work for the next. The ATDs and BBs are a common and great treatment and do work well for some long term.
Best thing is that you quit smoking. Hell Yeah!!
Karen

[snelsen]

#1179127

Hey boomer! Welcome to the forum and all your new best friends!
WEll, look at it THIS way! At least you did not go to multiple doctors who missed the diagnosis! With YOUR symptoms, the ER nailed it right away!
I am super glad you went, though. Hearts are not fond of beating 160 bpm (beats per minute.) And ya, you were severe! So glad you are having treatment now.
Yeah, the beta blockers are wonderful.
Yeah, I had multiple soft BM’s when hyper. I imagine things will sort themselves out. Just so ya know, if you get hyPO, then you get constipated.

There are several former smokers on the forum. And one, who is trying to quit right now. I don’t recall who, but if you put smoking in the search engine it would probably pop up.

Couple things. You will see methimazole, referred to as MMI. ATD is anti thyroid drug BB is beta blocker.

I do understand, with all the crap you had going on in your life, that you just soldiered on, even though feeling terrible, and losing weight. It is understandable.

You have done the best favor you can possibly do for yourself by stopping smoking. Hip Hip hooray!!! I am SO PROUD OF YOU, and so happy FOR you!
Hell yeah!!

So so glad you went to the ER! the fifties are nifty! That is exactly what I told my neighbor who will be 50 this year. By then you will be all “sorted.”
I hope your parents are settled. It is that time of our lives. I am an only child, and made many trips back to Iowa to help my parents.
And-I’m right with ya with the relationship thing too!
Remember this!
WHEN DOORS SHUT, DOORS OPEN. That is the way I looked at that part of my life. We split when I was 44.
All for now.
Welcome again
Shirley

[Boomer]

#1179128

Aw shucks ya’ll are gona have me blushing with all this friendliness

While indeed the last year or two has been challenging this diagnosis really put things into perspective for me. It seperated the important from the unimportant and taught me (REALLY fast!) that it’s okay for me to slow down, let a few stressors go, and to really take good care of myself. If I can’t find positives in this mess my head will explode ya know?

As of yesterday my MMI dose was halved so I’m hoping that the BMs slow down to some extent. It is such a powerful drug and my dose was/is high and it seems the many BMs correspond with my starting on it. Prior to going to the ER (who were indeed amazing- diagnosed in one hour- they were all kind of amazed that I presented at the ER for Grave’s but I felt so bad where else would I go?) I was having 2-3 solid BMs a day. By the second day on MMI it started in earnest so I attribute it to the med or combination of meds. In any case it’s a small price to pay. I’m planning on asking my Endo about it (and about Imodium aka Loperimide) at my next visit.

You guys have been great! As soon as I read that 7 women to 1 man get Grave’s I knew I had the right dsease for me . I mean I AM single now right? “The couple that sweats together” and all that, huh?… Nah I’m just teasing – I’m here for serious biz but dammit if I can’t laugh I’d have to cry and you can trust me when I tell you that you DON’T want that from me!

Yep it’s 3:42am and here I am wide awake and hungry (gee – imagine that huh?) so I’m going to make something to eat and try to catch a little nap before sunrise. I never was much of a sleeper so this isn’t so bad.

It isn’t so good either but it really could be a LOT worse.

Love to all,

Boomer

[karenz516]

#1179129

Hi Boomer, I was much like you. I had lost about 30 lbs over 3 or 4 months, frequent bathroom trips (which I was told by the endo that being hyper your body is in such high speed that it metabolizes everything so fast, hence I was in the bathroom after I took a few bites of food), I had no appetite but the little that I did it caused an immediate dash to the bathroom. My cholesterol dropped also which relates to the same issue. When my primary care doc said my thyroid numbers were out of wack and I went to see the endo he hospitalized me that afternoon. My heart rate was 180 bpm and I had a-fib. I was in the hospital for two weeks, during that two weeks the cardiologist had me on massive doses of Lopressor to try and stabilize and protect my heart because of all the thyroid hormone in my blood stream. I have an awesome endo who had my blood drawn every morning at 4:00 AM and was at the hospital 7 days a week by 6:00 AM to read the results and proceed accordingly. I had slightly elevated liver enzymes and he did not want to me on anti-thyroid meds so he kept me in the hospital because he said it was the safest place for me so I could be monitored. I was admitted on 12/6/12 and on 12/12/12 I received RAI, he also kept me in the hospital another 4 days to monitor me because he was concerned for me over the thyroid dump. It is now May and I converted to hypo about a 3 weeks ago. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease the first day and being hyperthyroid was scary. I cannot say enough about the great care I received from my endo and the staff at the hospital!!!! I live in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio so if anyone wants the name of my endo I will be happy to send it to them.

[karenz516]

#1179130

@ Boomer, I must also add that along with the Lopressor the cardiologist had me on Digoxcin to help slow my hear rate, even when I was released from the hospital my heart rate would range from 100-130, it took until March of 2013 to go back to the 60’s and 70’s bpm. After all this I know immediately when my heart rate goes up even just a little. They have me on the MMI only if my heart rate goes above 70 which is rare these days and is usually after a stressful day at work or home. It will take awhile for you to feel better but I too quit smoking two years ago and am very careful about what I eat, there are alot of good books out there (I had horrible insommnia and could go days with very little sleep) so I read everything I could about Graves and hyperthyroidism. I might also add at the hospital the cardiologist put me on Pradaxa, a blood thinner, because of the a-fib it could cause blood clots. My endo thinks and I tend to agree that the a-fib is temporary because of the Graves and hyperthyroid issues. If you have any questions about what I went through I would be glad to help or answer any questions relative to my experience.

[Stymie]

#1179131

Boomer,

Love your sense of humor!! If you can be so upbeat and positive during this process you are one step ahead of the game!

Diane

[Boomer]

#1179132

I’ve got to laugh lest I cry.

(Rest assured I’ll have done both by lunch time)

So is THIS what PMS feels like? I’m up, down, sideways, and all over the place metally/emotionally. I better hush – I’m outnumbered 7:1 around here huh?

I’m going to go cuss at the wind and kick a few rocks now. I’ll get in less trouble that way!

Peace to you and yours,

Boomer

[peppernnutmeg]

#1179133

I have to say I am feeling very lucky. I went in for my yearly exam with my doctor and she started requiring blood work before an exam and my TSH was out of whack and immediately she sent me to an endo. The only external symptom I had was an elevated heart rate which I didn’t even notice.

I lost my job and my insurance 2 months ago and had to stop taking my meds and definitely felt the symptoms you guys talk about until 2 weeks ago I was able to get back on my meds. The symptoms were awful, I don’t know how any of you have been able to stand them for any extended period of time.

Kudos to you all for what you have had to go through.

Megan

[Boomer]

#1179134

Relief!

My MMI dose was halved yesterday and today, lo and behold, the mega-poops have ceased and my guts feel as close to normal as they have in a year or two. I feel so good, in fact, that I’m going to go out to dinner tonight!

Don’t get me wrong- I’m by no means ready to dance a jig here but the fact that I can stray beyond crab-walking distance (c’mon- you know you’ve walked that way on the way to the toilet!) from a restroom makes me feel like a new man indeed. Woo hoo!

Have a great evening all,

Boomer

[Boomer]

#1179135

Yep the toxic-tasting and toxic smelling meds ( *shudder*) must be working for I actually slept last ngiht for more than 3 hours and only dashed to the outhouse thrice yesterday.

Woo hoo! Small victories as my sister (55 suffers with MS) told me.

Small victories.

Love to all,

Boomer

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1179136

Boomer wrote:

Yep the toxic-tasting and toxic smelling meds ( *shudder*) must be working for I actually slept last ngiht for more than 3 hours and only dashed to the outhouse thrice yesterday.

Woo hoo! Small victories as my sister (55 suffers with MS) told me.

Small victories.

Love to all,

Boomer

Huh? Did I miss something? What toxic-smelling and tasting drugs????? I try very hard not to miss any of your posts but you’ve lost me.
Sue

[Author]

Posts