[Hopeful23]

#1070724

Hey:) well i sent you a pitcte message but ill just repeat some stuff here. Sometimes when you start medicine like this they ease you into it to help prevent to much at once kinda thing. I did the same thing. Everyone is different it depends on your levels and how severe your symptoms are. All the symptoms your mentioned are def graves disease symptoms. I actually gained a crazy amount of weigt and lost three times what i gained. I had to withdraw from work AND school. however that does not mean you will. I went three years without my gd diagnose. I was not stuck in my room at all. I just couldnt be around healthy thyroids for two days. However there are people that have been confined to their rooms for three days. It depends on your dose and how much your body excretes thru urine and sweat. You can read a different story on everyone with the same treatment. One rec i can make is make sure you know what your reading and make sure its good because there are a lot of horror stories on the web. There are great facilitators on here. Everyone on here will be happy to share stories advice or a hug:) go thru and read old posts and responses. You will find a lot of good informatio and hope. I promise:)

[Kimberly]

#1070725

Hi Michelle – Welcome to our little club. ” title=”Very Happy” />

Others can give you information on the guidelines for RAI, but I just wanted to mention that there are two other treatment options. One is to stay on the tapazole. Some people actually go into remission after a period of taking Anti-Thyroid Drugs; others manage to reach a point where normal thyroid levels can be maintained on a low dose. (That’s where I am at now). There are potential side effects to the drugs, including impaired liver and white blood cell function. However, there are tests (CMP and CBC) that will check for these issues, and stopping or reducing the meds usually corrects the problem. The third option is surgery to remove the thyroid.

Since you have some time, you might want to research the pros & cons of all three options and make sure that you pursue the option you are most comfortable with.

I’m not really sure what your doctor’s intent was with the dosing. Most folks that I know of take a certain dose for a specific period of time, and then run a blood test to see if their thyroid levels are returning to normal. The dose can then be either increased or decreased, depending on whether their thyroid levels are responding. Maybe the higher dose is that one that you need to be on, but your doctor wanted to ease you into it?? It might be worth a call back to the doctor’s office to verify.

Work, kids, school and Graves is a lot to deal with at once! Would it be possible to lighten up on your courseload…and get someone to help you out at home? Everyone’s experience is a little different, but my worst period during this whole journey was my first 10 weeks on meds, since my levels fell FAST. During that time, I pretty much had my hands full with just work and Graves…about half of what you have on your plate. ” title=”Wink” />

Best of luck!

[Mommy]

#1070726

Hi,

Yes…welcome. ” title=”Smile” /> I agree that you should try to give yourself a break if at all possible. You have a lot to manage! I also agree that you should really take your health into your own hands and read as much as possible about Graves’ and all of the treatment options. DO NOT let your Dr. rush you into a decision that you are not compfortable with. Just read a lot, talk to your doctor and follow your gut. Best of luck to you! ” title=”Smile” />

[MRHabetz]

#1019305

I was diagnosed yesterday with Grave’s Disease. For the past year I have had trouble thinking and remembering…….very shaky hands…weakness in my legs…..accelerated heart rate……..sweat alot more, always hot….gained some weight….teary eyes occassionally….constipation…..anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping

I thought I was going crazy!!!!!!

Now that I have this diagnosis that explains alot of my symptoms………I started taking tapazole (sorry if I spelled that wrong)……..the bottle says one twice a day but my doctor mentioned something about maybe taking one for the first week then starting to take two! Did anyone else have to do this? Needless to say, I’m quite confused! I tool one last night before bed and another in the morning with breakfast. Today I felt horrible……..I hadn’t felt this horrible in a year!!! Almost all of the symptoms that had lessened were so bad today!!! I don’t know if I can take this…..and work……and go to school………and take care of my 3 kids. It’s so frustrating already.

Someome please give me some insight on what’s to come……….and any words of wisdom.

Doctor told me to take this medicine for about two months then do the radioactive treatment………..how long do you have to stay away from people when you do this? What are the symptoms immediately after? My kids are already worried about how much time they will have to spend away from me!

Thanks for the help,
Michelle ” title=”Very Happy” />

[hyperm]

#1070727

Hey,

Firstly, welcome. Sorry you have had such a hard time, however, you will gets lots of support on here so hang in there and we will help you.

In the meantime try to take it easy – not easy when you have kids I know, as do many others on here but you soon realise that cleaning the floor etc.. is not as important as you thought it was! ” title=”Wink” />

Hopefully the meds will start to get into your system and you will feel the benefit soon.

In the meantime take lots of care.

M xx

[ely2009]

#1070728

Hi Michelle.

Boy you had "teaxtbook" symptoms of Graves. I did too until my diagnosis in March of this year. I’ve been in methimazole (generic for Tapazole) since and have improved greatly. I did feel worse before I started to feel better. Very frustrating. The worst part of it has been how it’s affected my family life and my kids. Mine are 9 and 5 so they understand somewhat, but I still hate not being the mom I used to be. It’s only temporary, though. And like hyperm said, you will begin to (be forced to) priortize what’s important to spend your little amount of energy on – the kids, work, etc…..not the floor or the dishes.

Be patient – which I know is hard. If you look at my postsfrom March/April you I sounded alot like you – felt like I was crazy and very anxious and frustrated. But it will get better – SLOWLY.

Take care.

Emily

[MRHabetz]

#1070729

Thanks everyone for the information and well wishes. I hope I can handle this…….but I know that there could be worse, so handle it I will.

I’m just lucky that my 13 and 9 year old are real good about helping around the house and helping entertain my 18 month old when I’m feeling drained!!
They are going to be my little lifesavers…….although I hate for them to have to help so much and do my "mommy" stuff……..it makes me feel guilty and I don’t want it to scar them in the long run. I guess I could get their daddy to keep them extra so they don’t see me when i’m feeling really bad.

They really are the best kids, and I’m so thankful for them!!

One day at a time……..and I know I have the willpower to push through!!

[npatterson]

#1070730

I am almost ashamed to post, because you have had such great support already! I can tell you that mostly the only thing you will have to do after RAI is stay arms length from folks. So, you read a book to the baby, but let her daddy hold her. None of us get enough RAI to be hospitalized. We have good information on all the treatments, and if you will send me a note, I can e-mail them directly to you. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net". I just can’t send them from the board.

[paloma]

#1070731

Welcome, Michelle. Yeah, it is scary. I was diagnosed last month, and I’m suffering the effects of methimazole too. Was the doctor who started you on tapazole an endocrinologist? Most G.P.’s don’t know a whole lot about Graves’. Although my G.P. did start me on methimazole, she won’t do anything else until I see an endo.
I understand from reading the posts here that life can be difficult for us, at times. But as you read more, you’ll see that a lot of us are doing fine. As near as I can tell, you’re doing the right thing. Count your blessings EVERY day. Best of luck to you

[Author]

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