[susan]

#1061705

Hi,
Wanted to contribute my 2 cents. I also chose RAI and had my treatment about 4 wks ago. I was on TWO propanonlol a day and had a heart rate of 100. I had a little nausea a few days later , some neck pain and a bout of Thyroiditis since. I have felt hyper(even decaf effects you)and tired but when I went for my first set of labs all levels were normal. So I started to wean my self off the beta blockers(internist told me to) but I am having trouble doing that. I will not take beta blocker for one day and the next evenong I have the heart racing. Anyone know why this is? Otherwise I feel like myself again. Going to go back to the gym in about a week….want to work on walking alittle every day. I find the more I share my experience the more amazing Graves people I meet.
Hang in there Superdave…we are here with you……………..Susan

[Ski]

#1061706

When we stop taking beta blockers, it can trigger a brief "rubberband" effect, bringing back the symptoms it was initially meant to correct. It’s usually short lived, as long as everything else is fine (in other words, as long as you don’t have another underlying condition that would require taking beta blockers, or your thyroid hormone levels are still a little out of whack for you). That’s why they do recommend weaning ~ perhaps you need to wean more slowly (half a pill less each day, something like that), but discuss with your doctor. If it’s transient and not too severe, they might recommend continuing along the path you’ve been on, with some instructions about when to worry, specifics on what to look for that would cause concern.

[superdave]

#1061707

I had to come back to give a update post RAI 5 weeks. The first two days after were my worst. Heart palpitations started back up again. After those two days, it has been relatively smooth. I don’t feel quite normal but I sure feel a heck of a lot better than the hyper state. I’ve gained back 16 pounds of the 30 pounds I lost and I’ve even played a few rounds of golf. I didn’t get a sore throat, I didn’t have fatigue too bad and I didn’t sleep all the time. I must say, I am sleeping much better. I took my second blood test yesterday and I am waiting on the labs to come back. The doctor said if I didn’t crash by now, chances are I won’t crash! Good news! As of today, I’m just waiting for the day to start my thyroid hormone pills. I hope this helps someone who is contemplating RAI. I know I read and read all the negative comments on the internet but thanks to the administrators on this site, I decided to go ahead and get the pill. Thank you guys for your knowledge and support. I know we didn’t talk much but I think I read several post on this site and you were the deciding factor!

[snelsen]

#1061708

Hi Dave, nice to hear from you again! That is what this site is all about. Helping others. You are so correct, there is so much incorrect and inflammatory garbage on the web. This site is such a standout from the rest, in every way.
I am glad it was helpful to you, and I know you will be helpful to others, so do check back to tell us how you are doing, and when you feel 100% again, check back to say hello now and then. You have made a lot of progress, making decisions, acting on them, worrying about them, waiting for (what seems like) FOREVER to see some progress and improvement. Sounds like you are on your way! Great.
Shirley

[Victor]

#1061709

HI Dave,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I just had RAI yesterday after being diagnosed 5 weeks ago. My reason for choosing RAI over meds was the heart palpitations I was having. Yesterday afer the RAI my chest pain as practically gone and I had less palpitations than I’ve had since this started. Today was even better, so far only had palpitations when I raised my arms over my head to stretch this morning. I did wake up with allergies for the first time this year, which is strange because even though I struggle with allergies year round, the hyperthyroidism had somehow kept them at bay, almost like my autoimmune system was too busy attacking my thyroid. It could just be cold symptoms, which I hear are common after RAI.
Hope you continue to do better and keep us updated.

[donnabgraves]

#1061710

Kimberly,

I have a question for you. I had RAI back in late March and now I have 2 doctors telling me different things. My endo wants me to remain on Synthroid and I keep gaining weight, so she ups my Synthroid from 100 mcg to 112 mcg and informs me that it will make me lose weight. I have another doctor that wants me to take Armour. So, I filled the prescription of Armour, but listened to my endo tell me Armour isn’t FDA approved and it makes your body work harder. This occurred on 10-30-2013 and on 10-31-2013 started taking the increased prescribed dosage. As of today I am experiencing anxiety, over the last several day experienced leg burning and leg swelling, and again additional weight gain. Oh, and severe depression and inability to get out of bed due to fatigue, which I’ve been experiencing for the last 3 years even prior to being diagnosed with Graves Disease.

I have a friend that I haven’t seen in years and ran into her about 1 month ago, she goes to the same doctor that prescribed me the Armour. She is no extremely thin and feeling wonderful, which she was a my current weight prior to starting Armor.

My sister used to take Armour and she began having heart palpitation and her cardio doc instructed her to stop the Armour.

So, I guess what are your thoughts? As of right now, there is no way after what I’m experiencing this depression and anxiety today I will continue with Synthroid.

Let me know what your thoughts are on these issue’s and again what your thoughts are on Synthroid vs Armour.

Thank you,
Donna

[Kimberly]

#1061711

Hi Donna – This thread had some good discussion on Armour:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://gdatf.org/forum/topic/43666/

This is an area of controversy in the medical community, and we tend to hear mixed reviews from Graves’ patients on this product. Ultimately, this is a decision that you and your doctor (whichever of the two you have the most confidence in!) will need to make.

[Author]

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