[PixieJo]

#1073293

Aravindh,

Just an idea, but it seems like a lot of the questions you have would be really great to ask your doctor (ie "should i stop my pill"). Perhaps printing out what you have posted on the board would be a great way to remember some of your questions and concerns for your next appointment? I know that quite often as soon as he asks me "so do you have any questions" – I go completely blank!

peace and health,

jo

[Aravindh]

#1073294

Hi Jo,
Yes. I am planning to take a print out of all the questions and go to him. Thats what I am thinking..
Thanks for your heads up.
Best Regards
Aravindh K Natarajan

[Aravindh]

#1073295

Hi All (Kim and Dianne),

The Graves disease make me browse a lot and go through a lot of references. A leading american Athlete called Gail Devers had Graves Disease. She has won a lot of Olympic Titles and overcame Graves disease very quickly. Please refer the excerpt from Wikipedia below(They say that she had radiation theraphy– Does that mean she was on Iodine Ablation Theraphy ?):

"Yolanda Gail Devers (born November 19, 1966 in Seattle, Washington, USA) is a three-time Olympic 100 m champion in athletics for the US Olympic Team. Devers grew up near National City, CA and graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1984.National City, CA. Sweetwater’s football and track stadium is named Gail Devers Stadium.

A young talent in the 100 m and 100 m hurdles, Devers was in training for the 1988 Summer Olympics, started experiencing health problems, suffering from among others migraine and vision loss. She qualified for the Olympics 100 m hurdles, in which she was eliminated in the semi-finals, but her health continued to deteriorate even further.

In 1990, she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, and started radiation therapy. Amazingly, Devers recovered quickly and resumed training. At the 1991 World Championships, she won a silver medal in the 100 m hurdles.

At the 1992 Summer Olympics, Devers starred. She qualified for the final of the 100 m, which ended in an exciting finish, with five women finishing close (within 0.06 seconds). The photo finish showed Devers had narrowly beaten Jamaican Juliet Cuthbert. In the final of the 100 m hurdles, Devers’ lead event, she seemed to be running towards a second gold medal when she hit the final hurdle and stumbled over the finish line in fifth place, leaving Voula Patoulidou from Greece as the upset winner.

In 1993, Devers won the 100 m World Championship title after – again – a photo finish win over Merlene Ottey in an apparent dead heat, and the 100 m hurdles title. She retained her hurdles title in 1995.

The 100 m final at the 1996 Summer Olympics was an almost exact repeat of the World Championships final three years before. Ottey and Devers again finished in the same time and did not know who had won the race. Again, both were awarded the same time, but Devers was judged to have finished first and became the first woman to retain the Olympic 100 m title since Wyomia Tyus. In the final of her favourite event, Devers again failed, as she finished fourth and outside of the medals. With the 4 x 100 m relay team, Devers won her third Olympic medal.

After these Olympics, Devers concentrated on the hurdles event, winning the World Championship again in 1999, but she had to forfeit for the semi-finals at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Devers left competition in 2005 to give birth to a child with her husband and returned in 2006.

On February 2, 2007, Devers edged 2004 Olympic champion Joanna Hayes to win the 60-meter hurdles event at the Millrose Games in 7.86 seconds – the best time in the world this season and just 0.12 off the record she set in 2003.

She is most easily identified by her long nails."

Please read the following article and let me know your comments. Thank You

Regards
Aravindh K Natarajan

[Ski]

#1073296

Yes Aravindh,

Gail Devers had RAI (it’s not really being "under" RAI treatment ~ the goal is to do it once and you’re done with it ~ the article is a little misleading in that regard). I remember seeing her on Oprah, urging people to "check your thyroid" when weird things happen with your body, because it’s SUCH an easy test to do and, if that’s your issue, can shorten the process to wellness. She suffered terribly before someone figured it out for her.

AND she returned to competitive sports. Truly a beacon for all of us, proof it can happen.

[Aravindh]

#1073297

Dear Mrs Ski,
I read the post and the comments that you have given under the topic Emotions .. Even I feel the same way.. I feel as if my blood is boiling and I get angry at others for reasons unknown to me. I try to control them.. But when I cant I start crying. I especially feel impatient when the train that is supposed to come at 8:15 comes even a minute late. And I feel really nervous when the Mobile phone says NETWORK Busy.. I suddenly feel as though all of this is happening at the same time to me.. I try to remain calm these days.. Thats what I am trying to do.. I would like to know when you were diagnosed and whether you have been cured of this fully ? Thank You Aravindh K Natarajan.

[Ski]

#1073298

Well, cured, never (technically), but as to the bare bones of my history: my symptoms began in earnest in November 1998, I was finally diagnosed in March 1999, and went through a rather frustrating treatment sequence (seems to be the norm, actually, as I think of other stories I know!). I am WELL now, levels stable, feeling good, my eyes went back almost completely to normal, on their own. I’ve never had pretibial myxedema.

The anxiety you’re feeling is absolutely typical of the stage of treatment you’re in, and I’m sorry to hear it frustrates you so, but I know it’s hard not to be frustrated. I certainly had my seemingly hopeless days. If you’re willing, you may want to explore an anti-depressant, just until your levels even out and stabilize. Anti-depressants can take up to six weeks to take full effect, so keep that in mind as you make the decision (in other words, it’s POSSIBLE that your levels will have stabilized by then, but also possible that they may not). To the extent that this frustration is proving debilitating for you, anti-depressants may provide you some welcome relief.

[Aravindh]

#1073299

Dear Ski,
Thank you very much . Could not reply over the weekend. I am surely starting to feel better . in Baby steps as you have clearly stated.. It is going to be six weeks of medication and I have clearly seen the difference. The only time I feel bad is when I watch action movies and at certain times during the mornings and evenings. At those times I see my heart pumping a little fast. May be it is very psychological. I have started to eat normally (touch wood ..) but I as other people have suggested I have digestion problems and gas problems. Am I allowed to take tablets like Gasex ? With regards to my sleep.. I am clearly sleeping better that what I used to .. But still not the same old sleep. Are we allowed to do some light exercises at this point ? I remember a lady (29 yr old) asking you a few questions regarding whether she could go to the GYM.. But I have not yet come to that level of going to the GYM and working out.
Other than that you have given a lot of confidence to me.. Thanks again. Aravindh K Natarajan

[Ski]

#1073300

Hi Aravindh,

There should be no problem for you taking Gas-X or other meds for your digestion problems. I would suggest that you try not to take anything else at exactly the same time as you take your thyroid meds, unless you’ve spoken with a pharmacist or doctor to determine whether one could possibly affect the other. I think there are fewer possible interactions with ATDs than with replacement hormone, so it may not be an issue at all, but until you know for sure, just separate the two by an hour or more.

The gym is a trickier question, and one you should ask your doctor. Until your levels have tested normal at least once, I’d say hold off except for very light walks and stretching.

[mamabear]

#1073301

Hello and welcome. I just wanted to suggest that taking an antacid with mint flavor might help a bit better. Mint tends to settle the stomach. Peppermint is good in tea form or in antacid as well. I have tried different flavors and even plain and nothing works for me but the ones that are mint flavored.

Good luck on your long journey. Keep asking questions and keep getting your answers. You are doing great and the best thing that you can do is what you are already doing. And that is keeping up with your medicines even though you were getting sick, baby steps is all anyone can take with this disease.

Prayers for your patience and keeping up your strength to get better.

[Aravindh]

#1073302

Dear SkiMaamaBear,
Thank you very much. Today I went to the General Physician for giving the blood test. He took the blood this time and he gave me the results of the last test. The Free Thyroxine has come to 1.61 (normal range 0.93 and 1.7 ng/dl). But the TSH is still low. It is 0.010 (Normal range of 0.27-4.2 uIU/mL). He has asked me to be under the same medication of Tapazole 20 mg daily (10+10) and one Inderal L A per day. He also adivsed me to take a tablet called as Lotrel 30mg per day as the Blood presure was a little bit High (150/90) . Hope this comes down in due course. These are the updates from me now from the General Physician. The next Endocrinologist’s appointment is on this Friday and he said that he would fax over the latest blood test results (that were taken today) to him. I am actually starting to feel a lot better. I am having only a little bit of dizziness, little shortness of breath, little bit of gas trouble.. Hope this goes away too. Hoping to see the old and normal Aravindh in days to come.. Thanking you and Best Regards Aravindh Natarajan.

[mamabear]

#1073303

"Aravindh":u1ma9o0t wrote:

Dear SkiMaamaBear,
Thank you very much. Today I went to the General Physician for giving the blood test. He took the blood this time and he gave me the results of the last test. The Free Thyroxine has come to 1.61 (normal range 0.93 and 1.7 ng/dl). But the TSH is still low. It is 0.010 (Normal range of 0.27-4.2 uIU/mL). He has asked me to be under the same medication of Tapazole 20 mg daily (10+10) and one Inderal L A per day. He also adivsed me to take a tablet called as Lotrel 30mg per day as the Blood presure was a little bit High (150/90) . Hope this comes down in due course. These are the updates from me now from the General Physician. The next Endocrinologist’s appointment is on this Friday and he said that he would fax over the latest blood test results (that were taken today) to him. I am actually starting to feel a lot better. I am having only a little bit of dizziness, little shortness of breath, little bit of gas trouble.. Hope this goes away too. Hoping to see the old and normal Aravindh in days to come.. Thanking you and Best Regards Aravindh Natarajan.[/quote:u1ma9o0t]

Aravindh, Good for you to get your results and be a good advocate for yourself. I saw you mentioned NYC, I would like to suggest that you ask the Dr. this friday when you see him that if it is at all possible that you can sign a piece of paper each time you get blood drawn so that the Lab company sends you the lab results directly to your home. And that way you have a clear copy for your records to either put into a spreadsheet or keep just like that in a file in date order. I’m in NJ so I know that NJ requires you sign every time you have blood drawn so I am not sure what NY laws are. You might want to ask him so then you always have it even if he gives you the numbers you know you’ll get a copy in the mail as well.

Graves’ disease is a waiting game slow and steady wins the race. Keep your brain active and try to focus on what you have to do and your work to keep you occupied.

I do hope you told your dr. about your symptoms. Keep him informed that you are still feeling these things even if they are just a little bit.

Just to talk about the gas for a moment…I know how embarrassing that can be but I need to say this. Not sure of your heritage but consuming rice and beans or rice and green leafy vegetables can cause this, Seafood also causes this as well as many Indian and Thai dishes. Although they are all so yummy and just saying it makes me want to go out and eat Indian or even Sushi hmmmm i’m hungry ” title=”Very Happy” /> , the point is is that rice and carbohydrates is a huge factor in the gas problems and Medicine for Graves’ disease doesn’t help the situation. Just a thought for you. I have learned that keep a journal of what I have eaten helped me figure out what the worst offender was and help keep it out of my diet till the TSH levels were better.

I know you are a guy but wanted to comment on this as well…how is skin and hair? Drink plenty of water for your body weight and use cream to keep dry skin from getting worse.

You are doing a great job keep up the good work.

[Aravindh]

#1073304

Dear Mama Bear,
Yes I am from Jersey City (Hudson County)too and work in NYC.The Doctors office today boasted that New York City has the best medical facility in the entire USA and I was indeed happy about that ” title=”Very Happy” /> . I dont remember signing any paper work. But I am asking for the copy of the results every time as you said. I will surely make a note of everything in an excel. As you said since I am from S India.. I tend to eat a lot of rice and lentils.. Starting to eat a lot of fiber too…Yes I am trying to substitute it with more wheat from yesterday…When I spoke with the general physician as he was drawing blood he said that there is a good chance to obtain remission.. Hoping to actually .. This Friday I am having an appointment with the ENDO.. currently having a little bit of dizziness.Nothing much for now. Will keep you posted. Thanks
Aravindh

[DianneW]

#1073305

Dear Aravindh,

I too have been watching your posts with interest because I feel some empathy for you, coming to a new country and then also having to deal with the issues of being ill with Graves’ Disease. I’m happy to see that your thyroid levels are returning closer to normal and that you seem to be feeling a lot better.

Are you aware that your TSH can take a long time to return to normal, even when your actual thyroid hormone levels are completely normal? The reason this sometimes happens for some patients is that a certain category of antibodies that cause Graves’ Disease can also directly suppress the TSH. When thyroid levels have been normal for a while, these antibody levels reduce in number, and then their action in suppressing the TSH level decreases. When that occurs, the TSH can also rise to a normal level to match the normal Free T4 and Free T3 levels. Until this happens your doctor can’t use the TSH as an indicator of whether you are still hyperthyroid.

This doesn’t happen for all Graves’ Patients, but it does for many. For me, my TSH remained at 0.002 even when I became hypothyroid following RAI. It was suppressed for six months before it finally began to rise.

Some doctors aren’t aware that this happens. Your endocrinologist will know about this.

As mamabear suggested it’s a good idea to request copies of all your lab tests and keep them for your records. You will soon have a good idea where your numbers are when you feel best.

Best wishes to you, and I hope your experience in our country improves very soon. Dianne

[mamabear]

#1073306

Aravindh,
Although I no longer live in that area, I am aware of jersey city and yes I agree, NYC is a great place to get treatment for Graves’ disease.
Good luck you are doing great and have a great dr. on board if he is hopeful of you going into remission. That dr. I would say is a keeper for now since he is looking at the whole picture and not just saying oh have your thyroid removed. What a great out look on your health he has and I like that with any dr.
prayers that this keep going well for you.

[Aravindh]

#1073307

Dear DianneMaamaBear,
Thanks for your emails and prayers. I actually went to the Endocronologist today. As all our members had suggested he was as busy as ever and asked how I was very hurriedly. Then he checked my blood sugar levels to check if it was normal. After that he read the blood work taken by my general Prac. and then he said that the T4 Level was normal. He said that my general prac hadnot done one particular test and hence requested one more blood test and then asked me to go. He talked about the RAI treatment and asked me whether I wanted to have the RAI treatment. I was first afraid at the thought of this. He also gave a pamplet and referred me to a url http://www.thyroidawareness.com/hyper.php#t
This was the first time I saw such an url. I was a little afraid and said that I would think about this and tell him. He gave me an appointment after 2 months and asked me to come after 2 months. Thats all happened today. As most of our members, I started feeling that Doctors are too busy to take care of us (all a part of life.. What to do). .However I took some time yesterday and jotted down all my symptoms one by one. Then I gave the print out to him. He took the print out and started reading it as I left. Most of the symptoms are the ones that i discussed with our members in the forum. He said he would give me a call as soon as the results of the new blood test comes out. Thats the updates from my side. I still have a feeling of dizziness in the mornings and evenings and I dont know whether stopping Inderal LA would help. Endo. has asked me to stop the Inderal, if I wanted to.
As most of you I am going into a state of confusion as well. As ski stated only time can take care of me(us). Lets wait patiently to see what is going to happen. Thanks again Aravindh K Natarajan

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