[Madisma]

#1060530

I have loads of questions and am so glad I found this website! I was rushed to the hospital in May 2014 (Mothers day weekend) with the feeling of thousands of but flies in my chest~ had been very tired, shaking hands, restlessness for a few months but had been under a lot of stress with my daughter’s health (16 year old very active/healthy having chest pains) arrive at hospital to find I am in AFib, after spending the weekend in ICU, I am dmisgnosed with hyperthyroidism and Graves Disease. began medication to lower my levels which were extremely high, still taking beta blocker and low dose aspirin every morning and nite. My shaking hands and rapid heart rate have calmed, i had my RAI August 25 which everyone was vauge about. I have been suffering for weeks with total exhaustion (I am 55 yrs old, my Mother who is 80 has loads more energy and memory than I), cold, numb arms from elbows down and legs from knees to toes that ache from being so cold (even my nose is cold!!), hot flashes that drive me nuts, night sweats that feel as if I have stepped out if the shower. I have made it thru the RAI, just began my first week of synthroid (I think that is how it’s spelled) low dose to begin with, have more blood work scheduled In two weeks and follow up appointment on Oct. 25. My hair is starting to come out more than normal, weight gain with low appetite. I push myself to walk and stay up during the day as much as possible but am just struggling!!
My question: is ALL this normal?? Is there anything that I need to do or know? What is next? There is no way that I can work, how long until i will have the energyband mindset to work? I don’t know if disability is an option, or what the answer is??
ANY answers, suggestions you have would be so welcomed!!
I am praying for a stronger back to handle all this and just keep on looking up!!
God Bless!!! ~Jennifer~

[Kimberly]

#1183167

Hello and welcome! It takes some time for Synthroid to build up in the body, but you should start to see some relief within a few weeks.

I don’t know if you are receiving hard copies of your labs, but that is very helpful, so that you can see where your TSH, Free T4, and T3 are compared to the “normal” range that your lab uses. If you are hypothyroid, TSH will be too high and T4/T3 will be too low. Common symptoms of hypo include fatigue and weight gain – and hair loss is common when levels are moving either higher or lower. This usually improves once thyroid levels are normal and stable.

Disability is tough for Graves’ patients, as the symptoms are difficult to quantify and the majority are able to keep working or return to work after treatment. I’ve only heard of a few successful cases of Graves’ patients filing for disability, and those patients either had severe eye disease that affected vision or had a second autoimmune disease.

I know this is a difficult rollercoaster ride, but hopefully, you will start to get your energy back as levels stabilize. Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

[flora]

#1183168

Hi Jennifer –
I just want to add my “welcome”, too! You have found the best place to come for sharing and support, as we roll along together on these rollercoaster rides. I happen to be on the Anti-Thyroid Drug ride (which does feel an awful lot like yours, by times), but you’ll be hearing from more new friends here, who can share their journeys with their RAIs and TTs with you, too, I’m sure. We are all looking forward to landing on our “sweet spot” dose – can take a while, we know, but we’ll get there!
All the best,
Flora

[JEH]

#1183169

So glad you found this forum. It has been quite helpful for me. There is a string of posts going by several years by AzGravesGuy that details virtually day by day his experience with RAI. If you can find it, you might benefit from his “diary.”

I was diagnosed in 1998 and chose to treat with meds rather than RAI. Subsequently I went off all meds in 2006. However, have never been able to get relief from weight gain and heat sensitivity. Went back to my original endo a few months ago and he started me back on Synthroid (38.5 mcg), a very low does to avoid kicking the hyper back up again. After six weeks there was no change in my free T4, so recently he kicked it up to 75 mcg and we will check the free T4 in another 4-6 weeks.

The point I’m making is that apparently it takes what it takes for the meds to have an impact. I know it’s hard to be patient when you feel like hell. However, treating Graves is more art than science and it takes what it takes. The good news is it’s not fatal as long as your bp and heart rate remain in the normal range so your heart and circulatory system are protected (beta blocker time).

Good luck and hang in there.

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