[mikew]

#1018188

Hi all and thanks for providing this forum
I am one of the lucky ones that have been diagnosed with Graves quickly
I’m a 47 year old male who’s blood test on the first of December showed free T4 51 pmol/L. (normal 10 – 24) free T3 23.8 pmol/L. (normal 2.5 – 6.0) and TSH 0.01 mIU/L (normal 0.40 – 4.00 )
…. sorry about the long winded results but I’m not sure you guys use the same units of measure ” title=”Wink” />
I’m not sure if I’m just soft or what but this has hit me like a speeding train
I work in hi stress job and we have a small farm to come home to at night. The problem is that now I can’t do anything.
When I walk only 50 meters I run out of breath, pulse shoots up to over 120 and feel like I’m about to tip over if I don’t sit down or hold onto something, even going to the toilet leaves me short of breath. I will not drive as I don’t think I am safe and cannot work at my job. I have never been unable to do anything before.
I had a scan on Friday which confirms Graves, but I cannot see a specialist until 10 Jan (christmas)
My GP has started me (10 dec) on 10 mg of Carbimazole twice a day (20 mg total) and I will have another blood test on Monday to see what has happened.
Do others get the symptoms as bad? I mean I am unable to do anything and the symptoms appear to be getting worse
thanks

[Bobbi]

#1063157

Hi, Mikew, and welcome to out board.

Yes, hyperthyroidism is horrid on the body, and it is not at all uncommon for someone to experience the weakness, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, etc., that you are experiencing. I know it is scarey. But our treatments do work, and we can regain our health, particularly if the disease is caught early enough.

The fact that you must wait til the 10th of January to see a specialist is probably no big deal, inasmuch as your GP has started you on a medication that is designed to block the production of thyroid hormone (carbamazole). There typically are adjustments required in that medication, to get it to the right amount (not too much block, nor too little), but it starts to work immediately, and you should feel some relief soon.

The main problem is that you won’t feel relief instantly. That is for two reasons. First, the thyroid not only makes hormone, but it stores it for future use. The drug you are on only interferes with the production of "new" thyroid hormone, so it has no impact on any of the stored supplies. Until they are used up, we typically feel no difference when we start taking the meds. Second, the body takes a beating while hyperthyroid. For example, we actually lose muscle mass while hyperthyroid — which is why you are aware of how weak you are now. There are lots of problems created by being hyperthyroid. We need to get to controlled normal levels of hormone, so that the body can BEGIN to heal. Here in the States, we liken things to hurricanes. You might think of photos of typhoon damage, and think of hyperthyroidism as a metabolic typhoon. Once the winds are gone, things are not immediately back to normal: it takes time to rebuild and repair. That is what happens when we regain control over our thyroid levels — our bodies start to rebuild and repair. The muscle mass we lost starts to come back, and we regain our strength.

The important thing for you to do right now is work closely with the doctor, making sure you get the proper blood tests as needed. Get good nutrition – your body needs a healthy, balanced diet of nutrients right now more than ever. Pace yourself: don’t wear yourself out trying to do what you normally do. My rule of thumb was whether or not I would recommend to my best friend that I do "X" if she felt the way I did. If the answer was "no," then I shouldn’t do it either. Also, when you are given an OK by your doctor, to go back to "exercise" or activities that require muscles strength and stamina, do it slowly: BABY STEPS. When I began exercise again, after treatment, it was determined that I had EIGHT ( percent of the strength of a normal woman my age. Hyperthyroidism is nasty on the muscles, as you have experienced. Again, we do regain our strength. But it’s necessary to go about restrengthening wisely.

Wishing you Happy Holidays, and I hope you are feeling better soon.

[snelsen]

#1063158

Hi Mike, you will find lots of friends here, with a wealth of experience to share.
I am wondering if you should call your GP doc, asking if you should be taking any medication for your fast pulse rate. Hearts don’t like to beat that fast. Same with high blood pressure. Usually people at your stage are put on a beta-blocker, which is a drug (different than the anti-thyroid drug) to slow the pulse rate. I am reflecting my own experience, and that of everyone who has an initial diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. I think it is worth calling your doc on Monday and asking this question. It is possible to end up in an ER with a very very fast pulse rate, and it can be dangerous. Yours is fast, but it can get faster at this stage.

You will have plenty of time to read, hear the experiences of others, and make a decision on further treatment. People on this board have pretty much chosen their treatment based on their personal preferences. Some are concerned about radiation, some are concerned about surgery, and some are concerned about the unpredictability of taking ATDs, and do not want to ever be hyper again. All choices are represented on this board.

It is good that you are going to the endo. A suggestion is that you call the office and ask them to notify you of any cancellations they might have. At this time of year, it is a pretty good possibility that this could occur. The office allows a longer period of time for the first appointment. Be sure to take your labs.

You WILL feel better. I know this is very discouraging. I grew up on a farm in Iowa. Chores don’t wait. As Bobbi said, the ATD will kick in pretty soon.
Shirley, snelsen

[mikew]

#1063159

Hi Guys
I hope you realize how much your words of support, help. Yes my Dr said the medication will take a while to work, but he didn’t explain how and why like you have, thanks.
When I first started my ATD I also started Atenolol which is a beta blocker, It didn’t agree with me at all and I got very sick with a grey clammy complexion and my wife who is a registered nurse, thought I had all the symptoms of a heart attack. a my Dr’s approval I stopped the blocker, and felt much better.
Thanks again
Mike

[snelsen]

#1063160

Makes sense to ME! Keep track of your pulse rate. Glad your wife is a nurse. I am also, but believe me, the world of Graves’ was totally foreign to me. Studying the endocrine system does not address what it is LIKE to experience this crazy disease.
This site tends to tell the stuff that you simply do not hear in a docs’ office, even though they are good docs.
Shirley

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