[Alysonrn34]

#1059655

Hi all,
I am 34 and was just diagnosed with hyperthyroidism on 1/17/13. I have lost about 10 lbs and had some shortness of breath during a run last weekend, which prompted me to call my Dr. I am a pediatric nurse so I knew something was up. My TSH was 0.01 T3 405 and Ft4 4.4. I am currently on 10mg of methimazole daily and 12.5 mg metoprolol daily. I am scheduled for a thyroid u/s 1/28 and an endocrinologist appt 2/1 and repeat labs. I am terrified. Everything I have read so far is so negative regarding this issue. I would appreciate any help or advice before I drive myself and my husband crazy!! Thanks so much!

Alyson

[Kimberly]

#1176568

Hello and welcome! So sorry that you are going through this, but I’m glad that you found us. The first priority will be to get a definitive diagnosis. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, but there can be other causes as well, such as thyroiditis and overactive nodules, and this will affect your treatment options. Antibody testing (TSI, TRAb) and/or a radioactive iodine uptake & scan can help pinpoint the exact cause.

If you check out the “Treatment Options” thread in the announcements section at the top of the forum, the second link is to the latest guidance from the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. This is a nice document that goes through the different causes for hyperthyroidism and also the treatment options. It was written for doctors, but there isn’t a ton of medical jargon – and you should have no problem with it with your medical background.

Please hang in there…it does take time and patience, but once you do get a definitive diagnosis and treatment, you will start to feel like your old self again. Keep in mind that the stories you read on the internet are from a small percentage of patients. People who get diagnosed/treated and go right back to living their lives generally don’t take the time to post on the Internet. (Although we love it when our members stick around after treatment to support other patients — or come back here to post success stories!)

Take care!

[cmac]

#1176569

Hi Alyson, I started feeling unwell around last April, finally got medical attention in July, had labs and uptake scan and was diagnosed w/GD in August and begun on 15 mg of methimazole and 50 mg of metoproplol. Started feeling better w/in 2 weeks, cut dosage to 10, then 5, now 2.5 of the methimazole. I think I am in remission, that remains to be seen, but my December labs were all in range. I’ll see the Endo again in April. You are way ahead of me in that you got attention quickly, that’s to your credit. As a nurse, you know that stress doesn’t help any medical condition, so try and take it one day at a time and not worry too much. I remember when I got diagnosed, I basically felt my life was changed forever. Now I feel just as good as I did preGD, all my strength has returned. You may be lucky and have the same experience. Good Luck.

[Alysonrn34]

#1176570

Thanks so much. You both have made me feel better already. I am going to try and take it one day at a time and stop being so nuts!!

Thanks again,
Alyson

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