[Anonymous]

#1020146

Dear Jake, Bobbie, Ski, and fellow TED patients,
Thought I would give you and update on my condition. I decided to try the radiation treatments before consenting to the decompression surgery. I received 9 treatments and, thus far, there seems to have been some improvement. This could also be attributed to the high dose of oral Prednisone — 50 mg q day — that I’m still taking. This will be reduced to 40 mg a day for 2 weeks, then 30, etc. Even the eye MD (who would have performed the surgery– seemed rather surprised at my improvement. I know this may not last once I’m on a lower dose of steroids (which I’m starting to feel the side effects of). Although I’ve only gained about 2 or 3 pounds, my face is puffy, etc. Only time will tell what course my condition will take. I’m more prepared psychologically now to have the surgery if it’s necessary to preserve my vision. I just don’t have any energy, but am hopeful this returns. I continue to take 20 mg of Tapazole a day —I really question the results of my last TSH as it was 11.2 ( I believe) because just 4 or 5 weeks prior it was 0.51 and my Tapazole dosage was the same. Is it possible to have that much of a change in such a short period of time? Could the steroids be affecting the results? On Monday, I have an appointment to get an second opinion from another endocrinologist and plan to ask him re this. Any info you might have would be most helpful. Thanks much for being there and your responses.
Nina

[Anonymous]

#1076136

I am currently on a substantial dose of prednisone, due to a neck problem plus a severely pinched nerve. I was reading through the drug information sheet, and one of the things it said was that while taking the prednisone one could be in greater danger of getting a bad infection. In fact, if signs of infection occurred, this sheet said that I needed to seek rather immediate medical attention. This suggests to me that the prednisone may have an inhibiting effect on the immune system. Graves is autoimmune, i.e. caused by our immune system. If, indeed, this guess of mine is correct (about pred. inhibiting the immune system), then the antithyroid antibodies could also be suppressed — albeit temporarily — which could call for less of a dose of antithyroid drugs.

That is all just supposition, so do ask your doctor. And I would be interested in hearing what the response from the doctor is, too.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Author]

Posts