[Ann1960graves]

#1059973

Hi. Been dx’ed for one month. I am losing muscle tone. Two months ago I was enrolled in a local bootcamp. Now I can’t climb the stairs without feeling lightheaded and exhausted.

Are these normal symptoms?

[letsgomets]

#1179247

I think you need to postpone the bootcamp until your doc gives you an okay to pursue physical activity. I wouldn’t take risky chances.

[vanillasky]

#1179248

Yes you might even have to get clearance from a Cardiologist. That’s what I do. Make sure your heart can take the exercise and excertion Are you are beta blockers?

[Kimberly]

#1179249

Hello and welcome! I’m not clear on whether you are still doing the bootcamp – and whether you are being treated for Graves’.

Lost muscle mass can definitely occur with hyperthyroidism – if this goes untreated, patients can lose so much muscle mass that walking up a couple of stairs or holding up a hairdryer can become really difficult.

As others have noted, docs generally do *not* recommend that we do strenuous exercise while hyper, as it places extra stress on the heart.

Once your levels are normal and stable again, you *can* start working on rebuilding muscle, but it’s important to wait until you have a doctor’s clearance – and to start slowly to prevent injury.

The “Treatment Options” thread in the announcements section of the forum is a great place to start in terms of gathering information on the available choices: anti-thyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, and surgery.

Take care – and please check back to let us know how you are doing!

[Ann1960graves]

#1179250

Thank you for your very kind responses.

Yes I’m on beta blockers and haven’t been to boot camp for 2 months.

I can not exercise even if I wanted to. I am shocked at how fast I went from being “athletic for my age” to panting when just walking a flight of stairs.

I am seeing an internist and an endro. I wonder if I should be seeing a rheumatologist?

Another quick question. I am aging at mock speed lately. I wonder, just regular aging or is it the disease? Im getting flabby everywhere all of a sudden.

Thank you again!!

[Boomer]

#1179251

Howdy Ann

I had/have the same symptoms: Shortness of breath, loss of muscle mass, and strength. I also had a pounding fast heartbeat. Laying in bed the pounding was keeping me awake!

I went from a slim but toned workhorse who could hike 10-15 miles with a full pack (and often carried the pack of another) to a panting gasping weakling of a stick-figure who now has trouble climbing stairs. Like you I attributed these symptoms (and others) to aging.

I mean hey- this was my first time in my late 40’s so I had no point of reference as to how one should feel right? I thought this was simply “What happens now that I’m older”. Obviously I could not have been more incorrect for here I am newly diagnosed with Grave’s. At least what was happening my former friend (my body!) now at least makes sense.

For now I accept the fact that this is my new but temporary body. Once I am treated I hope to reattain my ideal weight and then gently build my strength, stamina, and muscle tone.

I am realistic in that I will most likely never be the same but I remain hopeful that I’ll get back to “next best” and will hike again. The more I study and the more I read the posts here the less I feel depressed and hopeless. I’ve found hope that I might indeed return to health. Stick around and maybe you will join myself and others in this sentiment. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, do our parts, and things can very well get better!

No matter the case I wish everything good for you and your loved ones and I look forward to perhaps knowing you a bit better as we all move forward through these challenging times.

Rest up, heal up, and keep your eyes forward and your chin up. We CAN do this!

Love to all,

Boomer

[snelsen]

#1179252

Cool photo, boomer!!
You sure are an asset (as everyone is) and a breath of fresh air, to the forum.
Shirley

[Boomer]

#1179253

snelsen wrote:

Cool photo, boomer!!
You sure are an asset (as everyone is) and a breath of fresh air, to the forum.
Shirley

Surely you jest Shirley…

Lets just leave my description at “ass” and leave the “asset” tag to those more deserving. And about that “fresh air”, um, haven’t we talked about the bathroom troubles enough?

Just teasing- thanks for your outstandingness (I make ’em up as I need ’em)!

Big ol’ loving hippy vibes comin’ atcha at the speed of light: BLAM!

Boomer

[Ann1960graves]

#1179254

Thank you Boomer. I like your positive-ness!

Why is your name Boomer? Were you a submariner for the Navy?

My part time job/love is photography. Carrying a backpack with 3 camera bodies, multipule lens, 3 flashes, etc is physically demanding. Especially when shooting for 12 hours. This weekend I have wedding to shoot. I am praying that I will make it through the event. I committed before I got sick.

Lately all I think about is laying down. So different than my other life.

Take care and thanks for responding. Ann

[Kimberly]

#1179255

@Ann1960Graves – Most patients do see an endocrinologist; the few that I’ve heard from that see a rheumatologist also have had other issues such as arthritis or lupus.

Beta blockers can provide temporary symptom relief, but they don’t treat our hyperthyroidism. Ultimately, patients with hyperthyroidism will need to choose one of the available treatment options: anti-thyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or surgery. Hopefully, your doctors are talking to you about one of these choices. If the problem is long wait times for a first appointment with an endo, many general practitioners are comfortable getting patients started with anti-thyroid drugs during the waiting period.

Take care – hope that all goes well this weekend!

[Boomer]

#1179256

Ann1960graves wrote:

Thank you Boomer. I like your positive-ness!

Why is your name Boomer? Were you a submariner for the Navy?

You really think they’d let me anywhere near a piece of expensive and dangerous gear such as a submarine? Heck no! The only sub I’ve worked with is a sandwich…

I got tagged with “Boomer” years ago. That was my busness partner’s nickname. Over the years customers would come in, approach me assuming I was him, and they’d call me Bomer in error. After years of saying “No, sorry, he is Boomer and I’m Eric” I just started answering to it when they’d call me Boomer as it was much easier then explaining it for the umteenth time.

My partner eventually retired and I bought out his half of the company and the nickname “Boomer” has stuck ever since.

No cool story. A total *Yawn*… The next nickname story, however, is a little more interesting:

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s in Detroit we all watched a Saturday afternoon movie host who dressed like Count Dracula and played cheesy old horror movies. He and his crew did silly skits and contests in between segments. Most big cities/TV markets had similar movie hosts back in those days. Cleveland, for instance, had “Ghoulardi” who was cut frm the same cloth.

It was a Saturday afternoon ritual in the winter and on rainy days- every kid in Detroit was inside watching the b-grade scary movie at 2:00pm. I never missed a show except when it was summer and I was outside playing.

I liked the show so much that my folks and my sister would call me by the host’s name.

Here’s the “spooky” part:

It was hosted by none other than……

Are you ready for it?……

Sir Graves Ghastly!

Yep, to this day my family still affectionately calls me “Sir Graves”.

Oh the irony indeed….

Love ya’ll!

Boomer (the artist formerly known as Sir Graves)

[cmac]

#1179257

Ann, I went through a similar period a year ago when I got GD. Lost 50 lbs and all my stamina in 2 months, couldn’t jog a 1/2 mile, whereas before i could knock off 4 miles with no problem. They put me on methimazole and also a beta blocker and they worked. I strongly suggest you try and get on the ATD, I don’t think you will get your strength back until you do. Try and get your MD to prescribe the methimazole as was suggested while you wait for your Endo appointment. I had to lobby a little bit it it worked. They started me on 15 mg a day, that’s a moderate dose, but it worked for me, everyone’s different. I’m now down to 2.5 mg a day. As far as I know, the initial treatment for GD is almost always methimazole, if your MD understands that he may be more willing to try it. Good Luck

[Ann1960graves]

#1179258

Thanks boomer. Real quick, my son who was in the navy drove the billion dollar nuclear sub. However, he has yet to drive one of our cars!!! Lol

So far my drug tx is 10mg methimazole & 60 mg propranol. I have been on it since 4/25 and little to no improvement. Patient?

Thanks so much for taking time to respond.

[Boomer]

#1179259

Ann1960graves wrote:

Thanks boomer. Real quick, my son who was in the navy drove the billion dollar nuclear sub. However, he has yet to drive one of our cars!!! Lol

So far my drug tx is 10mg methimazole & 60 mg propranol. I have been on it since 4/25 and little to no improvement. Patient?

Thanks so much for taking time to respond.

Toss him the leys, close your eyes, and cross your fingers!

To be totally honest I’m not even close to qualified to answer any questions about meds. I will, however, give you the answer that you already know you’re gonna get: Talk to your doctor – make him earn his keep

If we were all exactly the same one med/dose would fit all but fortunately we’re all a little different so, well, there you have it.

I do hope, however, that you feel improvement right away. No matter how fast it might come it won’t come soon enough will it? Hang in there.

Let us know how things play out, okay?

Good vibes comin’ atcha!

Boomer

[Kimberly]

#1179260

@Ann1960Graves – Methimazole starts working right away to block production of *new* thyroid hormone. However, you might continue to have symptoms until your body burns off its existing stores of excess thyroid hormone, which can typically take a few weeks. “Patience” is definitely the watchword!

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