[Anonymous]

#1076333

Hi Renee,

I’m glad you’re feeling better, but all the beta blockers really do is mask your hyperthyroid symptoms and make you more comfortable. They do absolutely nothing to control your thyroid hormone levels, so they are no substitute for proper treatment of your hyperthyroidism. They protect you from arrhythmias and keep the tremors away, but underneath it all you are still hyperthyroid and there is still damage occurring to your body due to that imbalance.

I completely understand wanting to stick with something that seems to work, but it is exceedingly dangerous to remain hyperthyroid.

Good luck with your RAI! We’ll be here for you.

~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1020207

Hi all-

Just a thought. Ever since I made my decision to have the RAI I have been feeling good. The only symptom I am still having is the heart palpatations and only sometimes. However I am taking a beta blocker. My question is can I stay on that instead of the RAI since I feel so good? I guess I hate to struggle with going the other way when I feel just about perfect now. I seem to work better at around a .5 TSH and I guess my fear is they will stop once it shows normal with the doseage of synthroid and not give me more depending on how I feel. Thanks all
Renee

[Anonymous]

#1076334

The beta blockers give us a false sense of wellness. They are — for Graves’ patients — comparable to morphine for a cancer patient. The morphine makes the pain go away, but does not remove the cancer. Similarly, the beta blocker makes the symptoms go away, but does not remove the hyperthyroidism (and all it’s nasty effects).

You absolutely must have an effective treatment going on for your thyroid hormone levels — whatever that treatment is. Do not let it lapse or lag. That way you can be truly well again, not just temporarily feel better.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1076335

Thanks Bobbie and Ski-

I guess in the back of my mind I figured that. I am soooooooo looking forward to this being over. One good thing that im thankful for is that my hair stopped falling out! Yeah!

[Anonymous]

#1076336

Standingfirm,

Hang in there. I know how you feel. I was completely against RAI in the beginning, but I am not unhappy that I did it. I don’t feel normal, but I have a goal. I am going every week for blood work and they told me last week that I am no longer hyper. I know it’s not long now. If your heart is affected and you need the beta blockers, you need to fix the problem. You don’t want to permanently damage your heart.

I firmly believe there is a “normal” life after RAI and Graves. I plan to have one by this summer.

Trish

[Anonymous]

#1076337

Hello everyone,
I didn’t mean to wait this long before posting, but I have been reading the posts regularly. I wrote back back in March concerning being on PTU and not feeling well. My endo was not available and I had a regular checkup with my internist, so I told him how I was feeling. He diagnosed me as depressed and gave me a prescription for an antidepressant. I would have been fine with taking this prescription, but in my heart, I didn’t feel this was what was happening. I put the prescription in my drawer, and told myself I was giving in to the symptoms. This didn’t work because unfortunately the “symptoms” got worse. I even missed a couple of days of work(this is very unusual for me). This was a wakeup call for me and I called my endo’s office and issued a cry for help. They got in contact with her and I had levels drawn. My PTU was lowered and I am finally feeling human again.
I can’t tell all of you how much your posts have helped me. I don’t take pleasure in anyone feeling bad, but I see myself in little parts of so many of the posts. It really helps me to realize that I’m not imagining the way I’m feeling.
I took some time and looked at what I was trying to do during this time of adjustment of my thyroid. I gave myself “permission to take school a little slower and started being nicer to myself.
Like so many of you, I am so glad I found this site. I know there will be ups and downs for quite some time, but I’m finally realizing that I really need to take care of myself.
Even though I am feeling better, I am looking forward to the day when I truly feel like myself again.
All of you are in my prayers, and thanks so much for the input to my previous post.
Just one last note, I am well aware that depression can be part of this at times and I will not hesitate to take an antidepressant if I feel it is what I need at the time.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

#1076338

Hi Gran-

I am so glad to hear that you are finally feeling better. Like you I have a hard time taking care of myself. I think as a Mother I am so used to doing everything for everyone else that I forget to take care of me. This disease def does take time to recover and I will pray that it comes sooner than later.

Renee

[Anonymous]

#1076339

Hi all,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing very well after my RAI had my visit with the endo today and she is very pleased with everything, of course we will keep a close eye on the levels for the next couple of months but I just wanted to pop in to share some encouragement for all of those who read this board, we tend to ask lots of questions when we are feeling bad and then nothing when we are good.

Renee

[Anonymous]

#1076340

Renee,

Glad to hear you are feeling better.

Trish

[Author]

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