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Would like to know if some of you take selenium what difference have you notice? Also how much do you take?
My endo recommends I take 100mcg twice a day.
I take Selenium but it’s drops for my eyes that my ND gave me. I don’t know much about this stuff until my ND and recently my Endo told me to take. Is it really that good??Also, how do you know you’re in remission? My endo asked if I wanted to come off Methimazole-I was on 2.5mg-and I told him I don’t think so. My last three test came out normal. Latest was T4,free 1.2 and TSH 1.45. He also wants me to do an uptake scan? He did an ultra sound on my thyroid and it showed two minimal dark spots on my thyroid which is autoimmune disease. He said he could barely see it. And my TSI came out negative. And the fact that I have NO history of thyroid disease/condition in my family. So he thinks I probably have thyroditis? I don’t know too much about that. Well I’m confused now!!
My first endo said I have graves disease and this second endo thinks it’s thyroditis. But both asked if I wanted to come off Methimazole. Hmm!! I think I’ll just stay on it and ask if I can ween myself off. Like everyother day or something.There was a study in Italy that showed that selenium supplements (100 micrograms twice a day) might have a positive impact on mild TED. However, the study was done in an area known to be selenium-deficient, so more research will be needed to determine whether this might be helpful to other patients. However, since the low dosage is considered safe, I’m hearing of many eye docs now recommending this for their patients.
Officially, remission is defined as maintaining normal thyroid hormone levels for one full year or more after withdrawal of meds. The American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists released some guidance last year that recommends testing antibody levels (TRAb) prior to withdrawing Anti-Thyroid Drugs, as normal levels indicate a better chance at remission.
I recall seeing one study out of Japan that there might be a benefit to weaning off of ATDs vs. quitting “cold turkey”, and I’ve heard stories from many patients who believe the weaning approach worked for them. I haven’t seen any official guidance on this issue, though.
Hope this helps!
My doctor says there are studies that selenium helps, and there are studies that say it isn’t effective at all. I think I took it when I first had Graves, but I don’t take it anymore. I’m not in remission now, but I’m not taking medicine b/c my levels are normal. Now they say remission is a year w/out meds, so I can’t claim that for another year if I am very lucky.
Some would say that if you are taking 2.5 w/ normal levels and have normal antibodies that you want to go down to 2.5 every other day and see if that holds first. I even went down to 1.25 every other day, and I did that with a year of good antibodies (TSI and TRAB), and so now I’ve stopped taking medicine. We will see. I’m nervous.
Anyway–I’m all in favor of weaning as long as you’re not hypo. But your doctors probably know more than me b/c they’ve dealt with many many patients.
I would suggest doing the uptake scan. I was reluctant to do it initially because I’m breastfeeding. So, based on my bloodwork (I have antibodies), my endo. prescribed methimazole with a fairly certain diagnosis of Graves. But, when it came down to knowing with 100% certainty whether it’s Graves or thyroiditis, my endo. said an uptake scan is necessary. So, I weaned my baby for the 4 days needed to do the scan to be sure. If you have thyroiditis, I was told that the percentage uptake is under 4% and it takes a long time for the technician to record a picture of the uptake. Normal uptake is 4-18% at 4 hours and up to 30% at 24 hours. Mine were 19% & 34% and it only took 2 minutes to get the picture. Plus, one side I saw was very dark- so I could see the iodine had been taken up pretty well by my thyroid. To be sure, I would do the scan, then you will know that, with thyroiditis, your thyroid will eventually right itself and you won’t need the medication. To do an uptake scan though, I think you have to be off your meds. for a week. I was off them 10 days at the time.
Alexis
Since my diagnosis with moderate TED in July 2011, I have been taking selenium. I started at 200mcg per day, and in January I dropped down to 50mcg per day. I can only find 200mcg pills around here, so I take half a pill every other day. I never took it for Graves – I always took it for TED. Both my endocrinologist and neuro-opthamologist recommended it for my eyes. In fact, my endocrinologist in Florida knew the Italian researchers who performed the study, so he was very much in support of selenium.
Thank you for your responses : )
I decided not to do the uptake scan even though my second Endo thinks it’s thyroditis and ND thinks it’s a good idea. My first Endo says it’s graves, so I’ll stick with that. Besides if you have TED that right there confirm graves, right?
I started E & Selenium 100mcg three days ago, so hopefully that helps even if it’s a little.If you’re looking to add some good, healthy fats to your diet, Brazil nuts are an excellent source of selenium. I used to eat 1 ounce a day instead of taking the selenium, but it got expensive (the only place I could find them was at Fresh Market) and I didn’t want the extra fat. They are quite delicious but you can eat a whole bowl without even realizing it, so be careful. And make sure you get the raw ones, not the ones roasted in oil and salt.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/
Hi, as I read your first post, it seemed that you are referring to Graves’ disease. All the following posts provide other thoughts re selenium.
In my own experience with Graves’ and later TED, I did not take selenium for my eyes.
You mentioned selenium, which indicates to me that you have some eye involvement, can’t tell from your post for sure. But if you do, realize that Graves’ and TED are different autoimmune processes.” Besides if you have TED that right there confirm graves, right?”
Well, no, I do not believe that is correct. Check with your docs about that thought.
To put it another way, you do not take ATD’s to treat TED, and a person can have TED without having Graves’. Having said that, more people have TED who have had Graves’. If you have eye involvement that seems to be getting worse, I suggest you see an eye doctor who is familiar with TED. But it does not seem that is the case.The one study Kimberly mentioned, in reference to TED and mild eye involvement, is not at all conclusive, for it was conducted in a part of the world which is selenium DEFICIENT. She pointed this out in her post, plus all the other information that you might need about selenium. I think the most important thing to know is that there are varying views, as The study was not done as a treatment for Graves’.
But as I read the rest of the posts, concluding with your last post, I would like to offer one piece of information or thought that you may have misunderstood. Please check with one of your doctors about this.
TED is NOT diagnostic for Graves’.
So I am assuming you are taking the ATD for Graves’.
And I guess some doc has said you have mild TED, and suggested selenium??If it were me, I would like to know if I have thyroiditis or Graves’. The scan could give another piece of information for an accurate diagnosis.
Regarding what to do and how to take your ATD’s, I suggest whatever you do, that you continue to be in contact with some doctor so they know what you are doing with meds, in the event that you have further issues.
ShirleyHello – Just to add to what Shirley said, “Thyroid Eye Disease” used to be called “Graves’ Eye Disease” or “Graves’ Ophthalmopathy”.
However, the more common name now is “Thyroid Eye Disease”, as it has been discovered that patients with Hashomoto’s Thyroiditis can also get this condition, although it’s much less common in Hashi’s than in Graves’.
The RAIU Uptake & Scan is generally used when a patient is hypER, but antibody tests are not conclusive. This test can help determine whether the cause of the hyperthyroidism is Graves’, overactive thyroid nodules, or thyroiditis. Because the cause of your hyperthyroidism will determine your treatment options, getting a correct diagnosis is important.
Take care!
Thank you for your response. I’m starting to rethink my decision about not doing the uptake. Should I get my antibodies retested before I do the uptake? I had my TSH receptor tested last June came back positive. My TSI tested in march came back negative. My thyroid levels have been normal the last four times it’s been tested. My eye doc say it’s very, very mild. My 2nd Endo recommended the selenium to help with my mild TED.
I have an appt with 1st Endo next week and with my new lab results he will determine whether I’ll stay on 2.5 or 1.25mg. Hoping for the best. : )Laree08 wrote:Should I get my antibodies retested before I do the uptake? I had my TSH receptor tested last June came back positive. My TSI tested in march came back negative.Hello – This is a decision that you and your doctor need to make. But since it’s been a full year, it certainly makes sense to me that you might want to check again to see where your antibody levels are.
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