[Anonymous]

#1020382

Thanks for the info. Were you hoping that you would stay on the medicine for life? If you don’t mind me asking, why did you decide to go with surgery? Also, I am nervous about gaining weight. I am 31 and have never had a weight problem. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

#1076980

Jeanette,

They told me that you are only suppose to stay on the PTu for 18 months. I was on it for 3 years and I was never able to come off and go in remission. Trust me when I say the weight issue has been a battle that is very difficult. Once you get the ok to exercise from the Doctors I would recommend starting with that. Weight goes on me so easily. I am also perimenopausal so that probably doesnt help things. I have to watch everything I put in my mouth and if there is anything extra I make sure I exercise a little more that day. Hope this helps. Good luck. Katie

[Anonymous]

#1076981

I would strongly suggest that while you are on the PTU to have the dr. check you blood count regularly (as you should with any medication you are on for a long time period). I was on PTU for 2 years, I was able to go off the beta blockers not long after I started the medication. But I unfortunatly incorporated the one RARE side effect the PTU can effect. My white blood count dropped VERY low. I was noticing that I was having a heck of a time fighting viruses off, the winters were HORRIBLE for me. When I mentioned it to my endo she said the graves will have an effect on my immune system. Well, awhile later my levels had FINELY came down but I was having a lot of health problems. When I told my endo she immediatley had me do blood work and found my white blood count was .8 (normal is 4.8 or higher). I was immediatley taken off the PTU and put on neupogen shots and another strong antibiotic. I was then put through the ringer for 2 months doing tests to make sure I didn’t have cancer. When everything came back normal and my WBC finally went up they concluded that it was the PTU that had caused this. My endo said she never checked my blood count because this effect is so rare. So if you find you have getting a lot of illnesses that your body can’t fight off tell your endo about it. Other than that PTU is very safe.

[Anonymous]

#1076982

Hi Everyone.

I just got diagnosed with graves disease along the hyperthyroid and goiter. I am still tyring to reasearch and find some good reading material. If anyone has any suggestions it would be very helpful. Also if you have any advice for me that would be appreciated too. I am 27 years old and this is the firt medical issue I have ever encourntered. So I new to all this and I just do not know where to begin.

[Anonymous]

#1076983

Hi, lilmiss: Welcome. There is a list of books on the top of the bulletin board (“Reading List”) that contain good information in them. These books have been vetted by experts so we are pretty confidant that the information in them is good . And the web is actually full of information, but a whole lot of it is not reliable, medically. Be very careful of info you pull off the web: check it with your doctor first, or against the information in one of the books listed above. When I was first diagnosed I found “The Thyroid Sourcebook,” terribly helpful. But other people have found other books to be helpful, as well.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

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