[barbra]

#1060011

Just had my appointment with the doctor and he recommends RAI. He says we were lucky to discover the Graves at a very early stage.
Middle of this month will be an appointment with the Endo at the hospital to get his opinion and if he agrees it’ll be done towards the end of this month.
Also, then there will be the only one pill to take rather than the stuff I’m taking now.
I tend to agree.
Any thoughts?

Barbra.

[karenz516]

#1179673

Barbra, sounds like a plan. I am happy they caught it at an early stage. Mine had gone on for awhile and I had developed a-fib which is what started my whole Graves diagnosis and journey. They always say then you just take a little pill and move along. Nothing is every that easy!!!

[barbra]

#1179674

I understand, Karen, it sounds a bit simplistic, but if it works I’d rather get it done. I figure it’s worth a shot, depending on what the Endo has to say.
The doctor upped my Propranolol from 60mg once a day to 40mg twice a day. I’m also still taking Methimazole 10mg twice a day, and he gave me Nortriptyline HCL 10mg to help with the headaches and sleep problems.
In his office my blood pressure was sky high, which I find strange, but he checked it twice.
Next blood work in two weeks, next appointment with him in a month.
So, we’ll see.

Barbra.

[karenz516]

#1179675

Barbra, I had my RAI right away also, I was diagnosed on 12/6/12 and had the RAI on 12/14/12. My heart rate was 180 bpm and I was hospitalized for two weeks because of all of it. I wanted the insomnia, fatigue, rapid heart beat all to stop!!! I agree with you about wanting to get it done!

[Kimberly]

#1179676

Hi Barbra – My only suggestion would be to do your research on *all* three treatment options prior to making a final decision. The “Treatment Options” thread in the announcements section of this forum has a couple of nice links that go through each option.

All three options have risks and benefits. And we have posters here who have been success stories with all three. But with RAI or surgery, you don’t get a chance to change your mind afterwards!

[mwhitney]

#1179677

They discovered my graves at the end of Feb, this year. I had rapid heart rate but normal blood pressure, jitters, the shakes, it was terrible. I had never fely physically that sick, I was scared for my heart.

I spent barely 5 weeks on methimazole before I had a allergic reaction.
I waited a week and a half and did the RAI on April 15th.
Just one little pill, 3 days on suto isolation and my levels were already plummeting by 2 weeks (I’m a rare exception though, it usually takes longer for most people, I’ve been told I’m the fastest they’ve ever seen the levels drop ever, but my body tends to be over sensitive). I’ve currently been talking 100mcg of synthroid for a few weeks now.

I’ve been falling asleep a lot, like I lay down for 10 minutes and pass out somewhere from 2- 4 hours. But I’m already hypo in the T3. And my TSH had been coming up a bit. I just re did my blood tests yesterday, I fell asleep again today, I’m expecting I’m still very low.

I’m glad they caught yours early, they caught mine right as it was setting in as well, but I’ve heard horror stories from others who’s probably went on for months and possibly years, untreated graves can make you very sick.

What ever your decision there are plenty of people to ask on every facet of this process and disease. Hang in there! and good luck!

[Author]

Posts