[Ski]

#1073279

Hi Aravindh,

We’re glad you found us. It’s true, Graves’ is rare in men, but it certainly does happen (several men post here regularly, including one of our founding members, Jake). How? Well, that’s really the 10 million dollar question. All that’s really known is that is is much more common in women, but men do get it. I think the last I heard was 8 to 1.

You will return to health. Our thyroid hormone levels are something we don’t consider, until they go haywire. Thyroid hormone, you probably know, is the "fuel" for every cell in our body. When Graves’ comes and forces our thyroid to release more thyroid hormone than we need, every cell in the body is potentially affected while the levels are high. The medicine you’re on (Tapazole) performs a chemical function that brings things back into check and allows your thyroid to release ONLY what you need. At the point that your levels return to normal, the rest of your body can begin to heal. So the real goal is to get your thyroid hormone levels into the normal range, and ultimately at your normal point, which is a little tricky to find, but very worth it. The range of normal is very large, because people feel normal at many different points along that range, so finding YOUR point is important to feel really truly good. That process can be a little bit slow, so be patient for now, but know that you’ll be okay eventually. Take it a little bit easy, give yourself some breaks, and don’t feel guilty about it. You’ll be back at full force eventually, but for now it’s a good idea to protect yourself somewhat.

This should have no effect on your future fertility, no matter what treatment you use. (There are three ~ if ATDs are working with you, it’s easy to stick with that for now and do some research on the others just in case someday you need to or want to choose another.)

Palpitations should go away as your levels return to normal. The doctor will give you instructions on how to wean off the Inderal, because that just protects the heart, masks the tremors and reduces the anxiety while you’re still hyper. Your doctor will determine whether you will continue to need it after your levels are back to normal, but it is suggested that you should wean off it to avoid a rubber band effect with the symptoms you’ve been controlling. It takes a week or two to wean off, depending on the dose you are taking. Again, make sure adjusting your medications is done based upon your doctor’s recommendations.

Sometimes Graves’ goes into spontaneous remission (I think I had several episodes where it was beginning, but abated before anyone diagnosed it), but there is no "natural cure" that has been proven to reduce thyroid hormone levels effectively in any kind of reliable way. If there were, everyone I know would have chosen it. It is important to perhaps become more attuned to your body, because any autoimmune disease can be exacerbated by stresses of every kind. Learning to either remove the reactions or remove the triggers can be an important part of feeling well overall, but it won’t have a direct effect on your thyroid hormone levels.

I find that one commonality among all GD patients I know is that they are "Type A" "do everything" people. Not sure what the connection is, but it’s something we have to learn to let go of, a little, when we are recovering. We know it’s a struggle to say "no" to MANY things, and it’s frustrating for a while, but know that you will come out the other side. Do the things that satisfy you, that fulfill you, that bring you peace, joy, or a sense of accomplishment. Say no to things that are draining.

And keep asking questions! We’ll be here for you.

[Aravindh]

#1019673

Hi All,
This is Aravindh Male 27. I am from South iNDIA and came to the United States two years back. I was recently diagnosed of Graves disease. I have heard that it is very rare in males. So how did it exactly come ? I am still asking this question to myself ?
I have a few other questions
1) Will it have any effect on the normal and daily life of men ?
2)I have been on Tapazole and Inderal for 2 weeks now. The symptoms are starting to reduce but I am still not the normal Aravindh I used to be before. Will I be able to come back to normal in a few months ?
3) I took the Iodine uptake scan at NYU TISCH Center and they confirmed about this .
4) Will it affect the normal life of males like having babies etc at a future stage ?
5) I am having a low level of palpitations. Will that go away eventually.

I was young and energetic before and had a lot of urge to do things. This hamone thing is slowling down my activities. Could you please give me some information on this. I know there are a lot of senior members in this forum who are a lot more educated and have done a lot of research . I am just a young adult posting here..Please consider my aspirations and please help me out ..
I saw the website by Svetla Bankova on natural ways to cure this disease. Will that be of any use to us ?

Thanking you in advance. ARAVINDH NATARAJAN

[Aravindh]

#1073280

Dear Mr. Ski,
You were absolutely right. I am the type of type A person and I would actually feel happy only when I do everything myself. Otherwise I would feel like the work wasnt complete. You correctly judged on me. Infact my father and my maternal grand father are of the same type and it looks like I inherited this trait from them .I also shifted from one house to another recently. I had to do that because my roomie was getting married and hence I had to move out. Moreover I had to set all the things right in the new house. I did this all alone and everything seemed to weigh too much on me. I somehow forced myself into doing this and that night I felt like very tired and slept. The next day I woke up with a sort of dizziness. I somehow cooked that day and ate (as I am a pure vegetarian) and waited for a day. The symptoms werent that much before and I thought I could just go to the Doctor to do a routine check up. I went to the Doc and he took my blood. Within 3 days he called me and told him that I had HYPER THYROIDISM. I did not know what it was and was little nervous at the beginning. I repeated the blood test and the TSH level was very much lowered and the T3 and T4 were high.
After that the symptoms seemed to go severe and I was advised to go for the Iodine Uptake scan and Chest X Ray at New York University TISCH Center. I was first afraid to go to the hospital as I have never been to big hospitals. It was my roomie who took me to the hospital. There they had my Iodine uptake scans.The Doctors confirmed that it was graves disease. After that the palpitations seemed to rise and I could not get sleep. I wrote about this as a detailed mail to my father in Chennai India to let him know of my condition. Doc also told me that I should nt take any medicine till the tests were over and each day seemed to be like an year for me. My father and mother were very much worried because I used to feel very bad and used to talk to them as if I wasnt well.After all the tests were over atlast my Doctor gave me those tablets. It s been exactly 2.5 weeks now. Last Wednesday I went to the Doc and he said that the T4 level has come down a little bit. But he said there is a long long way to go. Now I am slowly starting to feel better and I have a little bit of palpitations. Dear Ski, Will the palpitations slowly go. The Doc has asked me to take 1/2 a tablet of Inderal in morning and 1/2 in night. Infact I feel very much better after reading your post. I will surely take rest as you advised. I am also having severe tooth ache. Can I go and have my wisdom tooth pulled ? Thanks for all your advise. You were really great and I would sincerelytry to change myself.
Thank You and Best Regards Aravindh K Natarajan

[Aravindh]

#1073281

Hi Mrs Ski,
I have been on medications for exactly 3 weeks (Tapazole and Inderal). Yesterday I just stopped the Inderal and I had palpitations coming back very much again. I also had a high Blood pressure and dizziness. So today I had to start it again. It has been 3 weeks and still this Hyper doesnt seem to have reduced. Will it reduce somehow in future ? I am taking 3 tablets a day (30mg total Tapazole and 20mg of Inderal)
Please help me out in this. Thank You
Aravindh K Natarajan

[Ski]

#1073282

Hyperthyroidism typically takes at least six weeks to abate, after you start taking the meds. It takes at least that long just for the excess thyroid hormone to be flushed from our system that was there when we started taking the meds.

Unfortunately, this is a LONG path you’ve started down. Each step takes a while. Patience should become your best friend right now.

In addition to that, the Inderal you’re taking should NEVER be stopped "cold turkey." Stop taking it only under a doctor’s orders, and follow instructions to wean yourself off the medication. It’s precisely because withdrawing the medication too rapidly can cause the effects you experienced (a fresh, more intense set of symptoms you’ve been controlling).

Depending on how long you’ve been sick prior to diagnosis, it may take a while for you to begin feeling "back to yourself." We are all so used to diseases that we can "conquer" within a couple of weeks (at the most!), but this one is not like that at all.

I remember when I was first diagnosed, my Dad sent a message ~ "I hear you’re in for a long haul on this one." I had NO idea how accurate he was. Don’t get discouraged ~ once you’re on the road to health, it gets better all the time, but absolutely by BABY steps. Look for tiny improvements, not "well." Not this quickly.

Let us know how it’s progressing for you!

[Aravindh]

#1073283

Dear Ski,
Thank you very much. Your answers were very much soothing. Yes I feel I shouldnt have stopped the Inderal. Now I have started taking it again regularly. The Dizziness is the only symptom that I worry much about. I have Dizziness in the mornings and that makes me feel very bad and very much emotionally down. Hope that goes away. I am also slowing learning to do lesser and lesser things on a day. I am also slowly getting to sleep more and coming to office a little late in the mornings. The only problem is that I am not able to sleep early in the night because I dont feel sleepy at all. Somehow I feel very active at nights and as I read several other posts I was able to relate this to Graves.Other than that I am not able to reduce my routine activities. I very much agree with you that I am on a long Haul on this one. I went to the Doc. yesterday and he took my blood to test my Thyroxine levels. The results would be out in about a week. Can you advise me on foods that can be consumed ?Should I be on a low Sodium Diet ? And.. Can I go ahead and buy Svetla Bankovas book on Curing Graves disease ? There is a lot of advertisement for the same and so please advise.
Thanks in advance. Best Regards Aravindh K Natarajan

[Ski]

#1073284

Typically there isn’t much in the way of diet that will affect us ~ seaweed is usually forbidden because of the enormous amount of iodine (it’s the only food with enough to be worrisome), but other than that, a good, low-fat, high-fiber diet, just like every nutritionist recommends, is the best. It’s not that it’ll help your symptoms necessarily, but a healthier body heals faster, keeps weight under control, etc. etc. etc. It’s just that it’s a good diet to follow, not as if it’s "just for us." Some people do take some time to find foods they may be sensitive to (dairy, wheat, sodium), but that’s an individual quest, and again, not proven to do anything to our thyroid hormone levels. Just a good idea to stop eating things that affect us badly.

Graves’ Disease has no cure, sadly. If someone had found a reliable, successful cure, we would ALL be jumping on that bandwagon, doctors and patients alike. I’m sure there are many sites that advertise such a thing, but none have been proven effective by any reliable scientific means. Some actually advise eating MORE iodine, which would be like throwing gas on a fire. Proceed with caution on any site that does not subscribe to medical guidelines or ethics.

[npatterson]

#1073285

May I make a shameless plug for the book Graves’ Disease, In Our Own Words? It is a book ABOUT Graves’, not FOR it. YOur doctor is there for you and the medical management of your Graves’. The book is about living with it, the long haul. It is optimistic, sad, and honest. I think it is still available on Amazon.com.

We try NOT to bash other people or things, but I can certainly RECOMMEND this one–I am the co-author.” title=”Smile” />

[Aravindh]

#1073286

Dear Nancy/All,
Thank you very much for your suggestions. It has been exactly 5 weeks since I have started taking medicines. My Doc did blood work last week and said that the T4 Level is at 1.5 . But in the evenings and mornings I still feel a sort of dizzy.. And I have nausea after eating food. Especially I have nausea in the nights and in the early mornings.. Can you please explain if that is a normal symptom ? The nausea is sometimes a little awful. Also, regarding sleep.. I am trying to sleep more and more .Please do help me out. Thank you very much in advance..

[DianneW]

#1073287

Dear Aravindh,

A minority of patients have reported nausea as a symptom. Do talk to your doctor about this.

Perhaps now as your thyroid levels are approaching the normal ranges you can discuss with your doctor if you can begin weaning off the Inderal. For me it caused intolerable symptoms and I couldn’t take it at all. Depression was the worst symptom, and so intolerable that my doctor thought it was more dangerous than the effects on my heart.

This may not be the case for you, but I think you need to have a good talk with your doctor to sort out which symptoms are caused by hyperthyroidism and which by meds. If your levels are now in the normal range you are well on the road to feeling better, and it’s just a matter of time. You may even be closer than you think. Still, it’s important that your doctor is completely aware that you are feeling nauseous and dizziness. I don’t think that’s completely normal as patients are approaching the normal range on ATD treatment. Once your thyroid levels are back to normal and remain there, it takes time (maybe even 6 months or longer) to regain your normal energy and well-being, but you should be getting close to the point where you can begin to heal.

I’ve read your previous posts and most of it sounds like the typical Graves’ patient (fatigue, but staying up late and having trouble getting up in the morning). I know it must be difficult as a young person to have your life interrupted by this. Feel fortunate that you are this much closer to being well, and that you (apparently) don’t have the eye disease. I wish you well.

[Aravindh]

#1073288

Dear Diane,
Thank you very much for your soothing reply and advise late in the night. So far, I am having nausea as soon as I have my food. I have read in a few websites that Nausea is one of the side effects of Tapazole ? By nausea (I would refer to this vomitting sensation) as soon as I have food. This is very much prevalent as soon as I take food in the night but not in the mornings and afternoons (donno why).
I have pasted an excerpt from the Web MD
"Tapazole Oral Side Effects
Stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, loss of taste, headache, joint/muscle pain, abnormal hair loss, drowsiness, dizziness, or burning/tingling of hands/feet may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, persistent nausea/vomiting, change in the amount of urine.

This medication may rarely cause a very serious decrease in the number of cells in your blood (blood counts), especially during the first few months after you start taking the medication. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop the following symptoms: fever, persistent sore throat, unusual tiredness, weakness, easy bruising/bleeding.

Be sure to keep all medical appointments so your doctor can closely monitor you.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The following numbers do not provide medical advice, but in the US you may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you may call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345."

The dizziness is there in the mornings and slowly goes away towards the afternoon and comes back in the evenings and goes away. As you said, I would surely consult my Doctor regarding this. I have started eating well and starting to feel a little confident. But I just wanted to know if I would return back to my normal state ? I was having palpitations even a week before and they are slowly starting to reduce (as my Doc changed me from Normal Inderal to Inderal LA – long acting) but I have a little bit of chest pain as well..( Very occasionally..). And I forgot one important symptom.. The Heat Flashes..(I have read other posts and I presumed that Heat flashes means the body feels hot suddenly from within.) – I have these heat flashes occasionally in the evenings when I walk back from office to my house. This heat flash comes as soon as I enter from the open area to a closed area where the temperature is maintained.And still — I feel very hungry in the mornings… Would you please advise me on how this disorder would treat me in days to come ? ? Will this affect my normal routine of work ? I have read several posts by people stating that they have even discontinued college and schools for getting this treated. Only now I have understood the disadvantage of being a TYPE A Person..Thinking and sweating to accomplish everything is also BAD as it builds up a lot of stress on us. I should learn to be more care free and I feel that would be a life lesson to me.Can I continue on with these tablets in future ? I have basically come from India on a Onshore deputation and I suspect there would be adequate facilities to continue treatment there. Could you please throw some light ? Thank You Aravindh K Natarajan

[Ski]

#1073289

All of this would be great to discuss with your doctor ~ if the medication you’re taking is making you nauseous, you may want to try the other ATD (PTU) to see if the nausea goes away.

The dizziness and heat flashes may be the hyperthyroidism still showing itself, but again, take everything with you and discuss it with your doctor.

Deciding whether or not to continue with school or work is a very tough decision, and it has to be made individually, as you go through the process of treatment and see how you feel. Each of us has a very different experience through treatment, so unfortunately I can’t really tell you how it will go for you. It’s something you need to evaluate for yourself, whether you are able to continue with the schedule you’re living with. If it’s possible for you to test the waters ~ cut down on the schedule without quitting ~ you may get some valuable insight.

If your treatment goes relatively smoothly on ATDs, you may find yourself starting to feel much better in a month or two, but if you have complications (such as side effects), that may set you back. As I said, it’s very much an individual thing. Your doctor may have some information for you, based on their experience treating Graves’ patients and your current status. Schedule a good, long talk with your doctor and try to either take notes or bring a friend with you (or both!) so you have a better source of recollection after the appointment than your own memory. Right now, your memory might not be so reliable.

[Aravindh]

#1073290

Dear Ski,
Thank You. I just went to the nearby Blood Center (New York Blood Center) for a Blood Pressure Check up. The Blood Pressure levels also seem to be elevated. Wouldnt we have expected the level to come down ?

Regards
KN Aravindh

[Ski]

#1073291

If you’re still hyperthyroid to any degree, that could account for the increase in blood pressure. Remember, this is going to be slow to resolve. Patience. The hardest thing in the world right now, I know. ” title=”Cool” />

[Aravindh]

#1073292

Dear Ski,
Yes sorry.. You told me to be patient..Thats the only thing we males lack. So accustomed to see things happen fast. Ok would surely be patient. Thank You..
Aravindh K Natarajan

[Author]

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