[Anonymous]

#1020077

I was diagnosed with Graves 2 1/2 years ago after I had a child. I was put on methamazole for a little over a year and after moving to another state was told by my internist it would do permanent damage to my thyroid and she took me off. Since being off the meds. my weight has gone up about 1.5 pounds a month and I only have about 1-2 weeks per month where I actually have energy. The other two weeks I feel exhausted and every month now I get sick with something (either UTI or upper respiratory infection). I have never gotten sick with these. The illness and fatigue seem to go with my monthly cycle. My internist has finally agreed to send me to an endocrinologist but still waiting for the referral. I have gone back to school too and notice that it is much more difficult to memorize information than it was when I went to college the first time. At first I thought it was age but then I noticed a posting for memory problems with Graves. Has anyone else had any other similar illness issues like mine? Could this be related to the graves? I just want to know what I should ask the endocrinologist to check for me and whether or not the memory issues get better. Thanks. I wish I had known about this board two years ago when I developed the illness.
julie

[Anonymous]

#1075937

Drugs like methimazole interfere with the chemical process by which thyroid cells take iodine and make thyroid hormone. It can be an important medication for someone whose thyroid cells tend to over-produce hormone, no matter what the reason. With the correct dose, the patient’s body will produce enough thyroid hormone for healthy cell functioning, and excessive hormone production will be stopped. If someone is hyperthyroid, they need this medication, no matter how long they have been on it, unless they have opted to control their thyroid hormone levels by removing the thyroid (by either chemical or surgical means). Being hyperthyroid causes major illness and it must be treated.

If you have Graves disease (as opposed to some other condition causing hyperthyroidism), whether or not you need methimazole (or some other, similar drug) is typically determined by the results of blood tests for thyroid function. It is possible for someone with Graves to go into remission and not need to take the drug for a while (sometimes even for years). But if the thyroid begins to produce excessive amounts of hormone again, it is necessary to bring that under control, and the drug will be prescribed again. Remission is typically defined by the medical community as being able to go off the antithyroid drugs for a year or longer, while maintaining normal levels of thyroid hormone.

As to the memory issues. Thyroid hormone is used in cells throughout the body. I think it is probably safe to say that EVERY cell in the body depends in some way or other on thyroid hormone levels. So the brain is no exception. If your thyroid hormone levels are out-of-whack, the cells in the body malfunction. One of the ways in which we Graves patients see this happening with our brains is that we have difficulty concentrating, difficulty remembering. We have to rely on coping mechanisms like lists, etc. The problems are a result of aberrant levels of thyroid hormone, however, not the Graves antibodies. Once thyroid hormone levels are controlled again, at normal levels, memory and concentration issues become normal again, over time.

I would strongly recommend that you go to the library, or a bookstore, and get a copy of a good book that describes (in everyday language) the function of the thyroid, and the treatments needed for Graves and how they work. WE have a list of books that contain medically sound information, listed on the Bulletin Board (under “Recommended Reading” or a similar title). It can help a lot in understanding what our doctors are saying, and why they might be saying what they are saying.

I would also recommend that you ask for a copy of your blood tests, so that you can double check the information that your doctor gives you. I had an internist misread my blood test results and tell me I was fine, that I had no thyroid malfunction. I was distinctly hyperthyroid at the time: the doctor erred. Doctors are human, and they can sometimes make mistakes. I have never had a problem getting a copy of my blood tests (or any other medical tests for that matter), and I keep them in a file. As a patient, I am not qualified to interpret blood test results. But by having my own copy, when I see that certain results are “out of range”, either high or low, I can, and do, ask questions of the doctors. And one of the things I now check, is to make sure that my doctors are ordering blood tests for thyroid hormone as a part of any test they request. Those of us with Graves need to have our thyroid levels monitored periodically — whether to check on remission status, or to check that whatever medication we are on is at an appropriate level.

I hope this information helps,
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1075938

Thank you so much for the information. I will look at your suggested list of books and read one before my appointment with the endocrinologist. I have just been worried that something is not right lately especially with the two week cycle of extreme fatigue and illnesses. In fact, I am coming down with another upper respiratory tract infection right now which is about the same time it happened last month. I decided to see an endocrinologist because my internist was only checking my TSH and has not been doing a full thyroid panel which concerns me. Will see what happens next month. Again, I appreciate your timely response and assistance!

[Anonymous]

#1075939

When thyroid levels are normalized most people have a major improvement in memory and concentration, but I think it’s also true that some people experience long-lasting changes in their memory and concentration.

One of our NGDF bulletins talks about this: Bulletin #43. It concluded that there are indeed residual cognitive deficits in some patients after euthyroidism (normal thyroid levels) are achieved. It concluded, “These findings suggest a possible central effect, either due to alterations of brain thyroid hormone homeostaisis,or perhaps, to autoimmune involvement in the brain.”

Anyone interested in reading more about this can order this bulletin from the NGDF web page.

If you’re interested in the emotional aspects of GD I also recommend bulletin #38, “An Open Letter to Husbands of Graves’ Disease Patients” and bulletin #9 “Me, Bush and Graves’ Disease” (the first President Bush had Graves’ Disease and so did his wife Barbara Bush). I realize the emotional aspects are separate from the cognitive, but I think this is an issue that affects many of us.

Best wishes,

Dianne W
NGDF Online Facilitator

[Author]

Posts