[Anonymous]

#1153257

I just had RAI treatment 12/24/97. Your symptoms seem normal in relation to mine. You are tired because your metabalism is going to fast for your body to keep up. I have and AM experiencing all of the symptoms you describe. Make note that RAI is IODINE, and Iodine is what your thyroid uses to overproduce the hormones that are making you ill. This is one thing the doctors did not tell me. It made me worse for about a 10- 14 days. Did this happen to you?

As everyone tells me, and I know they are right, things will get better. It is just a matter of waiting for that to happen. I am just thankful for this technology that lets us console, and compare notes with, each other.

[Anonymous]

#1052122

Thanks to everyone who calmed my nerves with your information before and after the RAI. I think I did Okay,(RAI treatment 1/5/98) however, I am feeling VERY Tired, sleepy, forgetful, weak, sometimes clumsy, itchy, and quite irritable. Are these any type of symptoms anyone has experienced?? or am I losing my mind?

Moni

[Anonymous]

#1153258

your symptoms are quite real – there may be some muscle cramping later too
once you are started on meds and they get things stabilized, it will get better

[Anonymous]

#1153259

Hi Steve,
Yes I have been feeling this way since the treatment. Your previous question about work was similar to me, however, I have been trying to keep my boss aware of what has been occuring to me throughout this waiting period. Of course, I think he can actually see how tired I am because he always tells me I look as if “I didn’t get enough sleep”. ( Go Figure…dahhhhh!) With all of the tossing,turning, hot and cold spells, and sweating during the night, I guess I wouldn’t get enough sleep. It really surprised me that I am still going through most of the things I went through before treatment. My boss is trying to not be so hard on me at this time.
I do remember my endo giving me 25 millicuries of RAI. My uptake was 82%. Yet because my goiter was rather large, he gave me a little over the dosage I should have had if my goiter was regular. Sorry, but I forgot the levels of my T-Panel prior to RAI. I am going to the Endo on Monday for blood levels. Has your Endo started you on any Meds yet?
Hope I could be of some assistance. I’ll let you know of my results on Monday.

Moni

[Anonymous]

#1153260

Hi Jodie,
What type of muscle cramps?? Legs, arms, stomach, back, or all over?
Was there anything that you did that helped to ease you during your time of cramping??(ie..hot or cold compresses, warm baths,hot tea, etc…)

Thanks for the warning for the next turn I’ll have on this rollercoaster!

Moni

[Anonymous]

#1153261

Hi, Moni:

If possible, get some bloodwork done to make sure you are not, now, in Hypo-ville, or getting very close. What you describe MIGHT be hypo symptoms. The only way to tell is through bloodwork. Call your doctor, tell him/her what is going on, and ask for the bloodwork. We all respond at different rates to the RAI and sometimes it can work rather quickly. The shorter the time frame from entering hypo to getting on replacement hormone, the sooner you will be feeling fine again.

Wishing you good luck, and I hope you are feeling better soon,

Bobbi

[Anonymous]

#1153262

I am 9 months post RAI and finally in the normal ranges after 5 months of switching dosages of s;y;nthroid. I had two perfect weeks during Thanksgiving where I had tons of energy and felt great. Since then, I have been fatigued, mellow as opposed to panicky and very shaky. I have been at 50mcg for 3 weeks. I went to the er yesterday because I had 2 episodes of heart trouble (pounding and irregular beats, tightening of the chest). The er dr and my endo don’t know why I am shaky and having atrial fibrillation as they call it since my levels are normal. They wanted to give me inderal but i had such a terrible time taking it before I refused. The er dr gave me lopressor and I do feel better taking it 2 times a day. Every now and then I feel a little shaky but on the whole I feel much better. I don’t know what to do. I don’t like taking the lopressor without knowing why I feel this way. Does anyone have any idea what to do? Should I look for another endo or go to a cardiologist?

Thanks and sorry so long

Ros Ps I have learned more on this bb than from my doctor

[Anonymous]

#1153263

Ros, interested to read your post because I’m 6 months post RAI and the last week have been having hyper symptons again – even though my TSH is at the low end of normal, and my free T3 is mid-normal. I had RAI because sensitivity to too much thyroid hormone gave me an “attack” of atrial fibrillation. I’m wondering wether I’ll have problems with this when I’m on replacement hormone, and so am interested in your experiences. Please post again – especially if you get more information re your problems. leo

[Anonymous]

#1153264

Leo

Hope you feel better. I am feeling good today so far, but a little nervous that I am out of lopressor and I have to wait until Feb 21 to see a new endo at Emory. I think the heart problems and shakiness are the worst part of this whole thing for me. I have a 2 and 3 year old and I feel like I am always too tired or weak to play with them and run with them. I lose my patience with them especially during bedtime struggles every night which is when I am the tiredest. I am very grouchy when my chest is hurting and don’t have much patience with anyoene. I usually am very mildmannered and easy to get along with but I find myself being a little more aggressive lately with others wondering if it could be the prednisone I am on?

ros

[Anonymous]

#1153265

Hi,

This is my first posting. I found this site by accident. I was diagnosed with GD in Dec 2002. My PCP changed due to insurance, and my new PCP decided to send me to an endo. Unfortunately, the first available appt isn’t until APRIL! Is is ok/normal? I’ve had the tyroid uptake/scan, the blood work (twice; once by each PCP), and I’ve even had a gall bladder/liver ultrasound. My current PCP said that my liver enzyme levels were high (?). Again, is this normal? The ultrasound found nothing wrong; I don’t have a gall bladder, so their work was cut in half. I’ve noticed in the last couple of days my throid feels HUGE! I feel like I’ve pulled a muscle in my neck! Both PCP’s told me not to continue my aerobics schedule. I can walk for 30 minutes on the treadmill. This was fine at first; now I feel like I’m not doing enough. I’m on Methimazole (5mg) and Toprol Xl (50mg). My current PCP increased the Toprol from 25mg to 50mg. She claims I was a bit nervous at my one and only consultation/appt with her. What is going on? Anyone who can shed some light with info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Trish

[Anonymous]

#1153266

We can wait a long time to get in to see an endocrinologist. I would not be “ok” if you were not on some type of medications to control the thyroid hormone levels, but since you ARE being treated, waiting to see the endo is not necessarily a problem.

The Toprol is a beta-blocker: it is there to protect your heart from the excesses of thyroid hormone. (It also can decrease the hand tremors we often get.) Excessive amounts of thyroid not only make the heart beat too rapidly, even at rest, but it also can interfere with the rhythmic beating of the heart, causing arrhythmias in some patients. Exercising while this is going on is a VERY bad idea. So try to remain patient until your treatment has had a chance to really work to bring your levels under complete control. Your doctors WILL let you exercise again, when it is safe.

As for the liver issues, that is a question for your doctor — and only your doctor. The medications you are on might be involved; it also might be a product of the excess hormone. The only way to know what is going on is to talk with your doctor.

Please take the time, while you are waiting for the endo appointment, to get one of the books recommended on the main NGDF website, and read up on thyroid disease in general, and Graves’ in particular. It canhelp you to understand the issues you are facing, and enable you to communicate better with your doctor about what treatment option you prefer.

Wishing you good luck,
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1153267

Thanks, Bobbi, for the input. I’ll just sit tight on the exercise thing. It’s not like I’m an aerobics junkie, I was excersing to get back in to shape and shed a few pounds. I thought the exercising what working; I lost 30 pounds in two and half months! Yahoo! But then other things were happening too: rapid heart beat, tired, moody, nervous, hand tremors, very hot and glistening . I thought it was pre menopause, but I’m 36! Luckily, my husband convinced me to see the doctor.
I’ll also wait on the endo. It just seems like a long time to go without blood work. I’ll buy the book this week and read up on GD so that I can be prepared by April. I suppose I should keep a journal on my symptoms/side effects? Plus I can jot down my questions.

Thanks again for your help!

Trish

[Anonymous]

#1153268

Hi Trish; I feel like we have alot in common. I was diagnosed in Dec. 2002 also, I am a mom of 3, and I too am waiting to see the endo. (My appointment is Feb. 18th but one endo had a waiting list to get an appointment!) I’ve used this time to get as much info as a can from this site and I folowed the advise here and got a book. Waiting is hard because our “coping mechanisims” are poor with out of wack thyroid levels. I’m not sure what your meds that you listed are for, but they have me on a beta blocker for blood pressure and heart rate. This has helped my hand tremor too. Alos I have a anxiety med if I need it. I have waves of great worry about many things. Your not alone in this journey. I called my endo and asked to get on a cancellation list for a appointment eairlier. Maybe you can too. They were very understanding. My prayers to you and all the great people on this BB. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

#1153269

Hi Trish, I’m also a mom of 3 and “36”. My blood levels were so high that I saw an endo one month after my primary doctor sent me for blood work. I too had the fast heart rate, trembling, always hot and my eyes were always wide open and people either thought i was going through the change of life young or on something. My difference from most people is that I have gained 20 pounds instead of loosing weight, oh lucky me who is already over weight! I can only blame the weight gain on me and my changing life, I’m and emotional eater, love sweets. I have decided to put this hyperthyroid to work and trying hard to loose the weight before they do other treatment. Right now i’m on a strong does of PTU, antithyroid meds and a beta blocker for the heart. I have to wait until the end of the month to do blood work and see the endo March 12th to see how things are working. My endo told me the only option was RAI and to go Hypo after treatment, take a pill and so on. This is very confusing, hope the book helps all of us.

Has anyone else gained weight? I would love to know.

Have a blessed day,
Jacqueling

[Anonymous]

#1153270

Yep…I have Graves and am heavy…lost some weight and stopped, gained a few pounds back….see the posting here titled Cytomel Info…

Chris

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