[flora]

#1060129

Hello again,
I have been on varying amounts of Tapazole since March, as we work toward my Goldilocks dose, and am feeling much better since being diagnosed then, after likely years of being Hyper. My biggest “complaint” (hate to complain!), though, has been weak and painful joints and muscles, mainly while in use – one hip, the other knee, feet, and the large muscles of the calves, thighs and gluts. Sometimes, it feels a little bit “swelly” at the top of the calves. I believe that being hyper for so long before diagnosis has likely weakened my muscles, so that joints are not yet being properly supported. I also understand that muscle and joint pain are often a side effect of Tapazole. My question is, has anyone with this complaint, just soldiered on through it all and started back anyway to their exercise activities again (e.g., modern dancing)? or waited until “it all went away”? and if waited till it all went away, about how long after reaching the right TSH/T4 levels did it take for it all to go away? I’m anxious to get fit again, and am wondering whether others in the same boat started slowly to rebuild at this stage, or held off till the weakness and discomfort subsided – and equally anxious to know how long it took for that to happen. Help and input welcomed! Thank you.
Flora

[Gabe]

#1180626

Hi Flora. Good to hear from you. I remember having those symptoms (not as bad as you) and if I remember correct, they are also side effects from the ATD meds. That was one of the reasons I was desperate to get off the meds. I felt so weak. Unfortunately I didn’t have the patience to soldier thru it. Hopefully once you find your ideal dose these symptoms will subside and you can begin strengthening your dancing muscles! I know there are many folks on this forum that treat long term with ATDs so hopefully they can give your some answers.

Best wishes, karen

[Gabe]

#1180627

Hi Flora. Good to hear from you. I remember having those symptoms (not as bad as you) and if I remember correct, they are also side effects from the ATD meds. That was one of the reasons I was desperate to get off the meds. I felt so weak. Unfortunately I didn’t have the patience to soldier thru it. Hopefully once you find your ideal dose these symptoms will subside and you can begin strengthening your dancing muscles! I know there are many folks on this forum that treat long term with ATDs so hopefully they can give your some answers.

Best wishes, karen

[Kimberly]

#1180628

Hi Flora – I know that you are eager to get back in to your regular activities, but I would suggest consulting with your doctor (and possibly a physical therapist as well) before you decide to “soldier on”. You don’t want to cause more damage by doing too much, too soon. Joint/muscle pain can be a side effect of anti-thyroid drugs, but there can be other causes as well, so hopefully, your doc is aware of this issue. Another thought to consider would be to make get copies of your latest labs, including Free T4 and T3 to make sure you aren’t sliding into hypo territory, as that can cause joint/muscle pain as well. Hope you can get some relief soon!

[flora]

#1180629

Thank you, Ladies – and yes, Kimberly, on my blood draw last month, we discovered that we HAD overshot the Normal levels that I had hit the month before. ByJuly 10th, I had slipped some into HypoLand, and because of that, Doctor has reduced me from 5mg of Tapazole 3 times a day (that we had started on April 9th), to 5mg twice a day, at my appointment with him on July 19th. None of my complaints are debilitating, thankfully – I’m just eager (over eager?) to be free of the “stiff and achey”s. Next bloods on the 14th/consult with Doctor on the 20th re: the numbers- we’ll see then where I am on the yo-yo string! Thanks again,
Flora
PS: Did I mention that the stress levels continue? Husband presently in the hospital (a good surgery this time – his stoma reversal), and I am helping my Mom (driving, banking, etc.) as she works her way back from her HyPO condition … we’ll get there!!!

[Kimberly]

#1180630

Wow, you definitely have a full plate right now…hope you can carve out a bit of time to take care of YOU!

[flora]

#1180631

You know, I seem to remember reading in a post not long ago, that our condition hates stress – hoping that once things get sorted out in our family, much of this “feeling like 105 years old” stuff will subside. In the meantime, thank goodness for horses and dogs, good friends – and this forum!
Flora

[flora]

#1180632

Hello everyone,
I have noticed recently that others, too, are experiencing joint/muscle pain on their Graves journey, so have bumped this thread up, in case it might be of some encouragement. Sometimes just hearing “Me too” helps a little, along with chats with sympathetic doctors.
As for myself lately, after slipping hypo (TSH went to 39 over the summer), my Tapazole dose has been adjusted back downwards, to where I am now on the high side of Normal – at least I respond well to the ATD! Doctor and I hope to get to my Goldilocks dose before too long. Just wondering, though, how long is the wait, once stable in the Normal ranges, before I can get into activities like dance, long trail hikes, etc.? Weeks? Months? I know we shouldn’t do too much, too fast, but I would like to hear about how others have managed returning to favourite exercise activities ….
Thanks, as always,
Flora

[Kimberly]

#1180633

Hello – I remember doing a VERY gentle 3-mile walk at around the 8 week mark…but if you get 100 different people to respond here, you will probably hear 100 different stories! Be sure to listen to your body and be patient with yourself!

[flora]

#1180634

Thanks very much, Kimberly – I’ll wait until I settle in the Normal Range for a few weeks, then, before taking on too much. Dose adjustments have swung me up and down over the months, but hopefully we are coming close to stable. Once there for a little while, I’ll start back (even though it’s tempting to get going now!)
– Flora

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