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  • LeslieH
    Participant
    October 3, 2012 at 3:14 pm
    Post count: 2
    #1059412

    Hello everyone, I am so happy to have found this forum! I was diagnosed with Graves about 6 weeks ago. I have been taking 20mg of methimazole, biprosol and a water pill (for ankle edema.) I just received my first set of labs after being on these medications for 5 weeks. My endocrinologist said I am now VERY hypothyroid and to stop taking the methimazole until my appt. next week. And they moved my appt. up. Is it common to move so quickly from hyperthyroid to hypothyroid?

    Any advise will be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks,
    Leslie

    Ski
    Participant
    October 3, 2012 at 7:21 pm
    Post count: 1569
    #1174561

    Patients can react quickly to methimazole, and initial doses are something of a guess to start with, then you work out your best dose with your doctor — the usual protocol is to begin on a high enough dose to ensure that the hyperthyroidism stops, then adjust in smaller increments until you find the right dose to put you, and keep you, at normal levels. It’s possible to end up at a fairly small dose, but it’s so important to stop the hyperthyroidism that sometimes you drop into hypo range fairly quickly from the initial dose. Sounds like the doctor is doing exactly the right thing, and moving up your appointment is a real bonus point.

    LeslieH
    Participant
    October 4, 2012 at 4:49 am
    Post count: 2
    #1174562

    Thank you so much for your reply! I’m new to this and still learning.

    shakira7
    Participant
    October 5, 2012 at 4:10 pm
    Post count: 82
    #1174563

    Hi Leslie,

    Nice to virtually meet you.
    I’m a newby to Graves disease since mid-September.
    I’m very glad, too, to have found this forum.

    Yes, the Methimazole is a very strong drug; my endocrinologist only prescribed me 5mg per day, as a start. He is aware of my fear of becoming overweight.
    I’ve always been around 112-114lbs and I’m 5 feet 2.

    It’s been exactly a week since I’ve been on 5mgs Methimazole, and I feel the difference.
    I don’t feel hungry like I have been for the past several months.
    So, I think my metabolism started to slow down.

    I started to reduce my food intake as a result, and I am working with a personal trainer, a dietician, and a naturopath along with my endocrinologist.

    Are you also experiencing weight gain as a result of becoming hypo?

    Ah…I wish the treatment only fixes the TSH / free T4 levels and leave the metabolism the way it is, meaning let it stay high, so that I can continue to eat whatever I want. :-)

    Take care, Leslie.

    Shakira7

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