[Bobbi]

#1170068

Hi, Barbsie, and welcome to our board.

It can take some months AT normal levels of thyroid hormone for us to feel healed and normal. And you may not be there, yet. When we first go on the meds, there sometimes needs to be adjustments done to find just the right dose. Our doctors try to guess, based on the results of the tests we were given, but sometimes we need a touch less, or a touch more. So you need to be a bit patient. I don’t know what time your doctor suggested that you come back for blood tests to determine how your mjeds are doing, but if you still feel rotten at the end of another month, call and ask for them.

There is no special Graves diet, but when we are hyperthyroid ingesting kelp (which is very high in iodine content) is like throwing gasoline on a flame. Alga ditto. I’m not sure about the reason for abstaining from soy at the moment. But other than that, what you need are nutritionally good foods to try to replenish your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to regain strength and health. Some people will tell you to avoid certain veggies that contain a chemical that can (in huge quantities) cause goiter formation. But it would be physically impossible for us to eat enough of these veggies (called goitrogens) to make any difference whatsoever. And they are things like broccoli which have really good nutritional content. So, don’t worry about anything other than the items specified by your own doctor.

As for the trip. You could talk with your doctor about what you are planning. If you are going overseas to lay on a S. Pacific beach, there is likely to be no problem. If you are planning to climb mountains, it’s probably not at all a good idea right now. Anything in between really depends upon what you think you can manage. But having some FUN can make a huge difference in your morale so try to figure out whether it is possible to still go and have some fun. Or whether some other vacation might be better this time around.

You condition is temporary. The treatments typically work well to give us back our health over time. Try to keep that thought in mind.

I hopeyou are feeling much better, soon.

How quickly you heal depends entirely upon how hyperthyroid you were, and for how long. If it was caught quickly, you should expect to regain strength and stamina relatively quickly once you get back to controlled normal levels of thyroid hormone.

[barbsie]

#1058797

I am relived and comforted in finding this site and I say thankyou thankyou thankyou so much for being here as there is no Australian version of this level of support group .

2011 was a year where i was sick alot , I developed Achilles tendinitis (for no apparent reason definitely not an overuse issue) and swollen ankles shortly after. I had very low energy spending a day per week in bed and every month taking time off work sick with virus like symptoms, fatigue and brain fog ending in over 45 sick days, after extensive tests and scans only an extremely low vitamin D and vitamin B deficiency . I didn’t know what was wrong with me and thought I had chronic fatigue syndrome.

My thyroid has been tested for since 2008 and for the first time last December my levels were extremely high. I had a heart rate of 110 and rapid pulse with the feeling of boom boom boom. My body felt as heavy as rock, and muscles weak along with intense nausea. I get waves of feeling hot and giddy breaking out in a sweat and having to lie down till it passed and then feeling freezing cold. I I was immediately prescribed meds 5mg Carbimazole 4/day, Propranolol 40mg /day. started regular blood tests and thyroid ultra sound, a nuclear radioactive iodine scan and an echo cardiogram .
It was the nuclear radioactive iodine test that determined graves disease. Endo said I probably got GD October /November

So where I am I up to after being on the meds for 4 weeks….. I feel awfully unwell like I have been poisoned, i think this is thyroid not med related. all the thyroid symptoms persist except the Achilles tendonitis is healing and was confirmed by my physio and endo as being related to thyroid issues. The edema has gone and I am weaning my self of the diuretic. Depression has set in I cry alot and feel alone and worried about loosing my job.

I am meant to go on annual leave in 2 days to got to overseas with a friend but the way I feel I just don’t think I would have the energy to go. the brain fog is stopping me from I thinking straight and make a decision about my trip… i keep thinking maybe i could push myself and go on the trip…… can t wait for the thyroid to regulate and to feel better/normal/strong/clear

My questions are:

1. could I have been getting sick with Graves before it showed in the blood test.?

2. is there a special Graves diet? Endo advised no soy, kelp or algy products?

3. will i be healed soon or am i in for a long haul?

as i m new i find its really alot of information to take in and i felt like i was in shock for about 2 weeks and now im up to th e 4 week mark i’ve had enough…..

[barbsie]

#1170069

blood tests, meds, soy milk, diet, weight watchers, relaxation/vacation

Hi Bobbi,

Thankyou for your response and I do feel welcomed to the board. Your detailed reply has helped and I have remembered some information on soy that my GP and Endo told me, which I mention later in my post. I saw my endo 3 days ago and had a blood test, she rang me this afternoon and my levels are still high but that my T4 levels have come down from 70 to 24. i cant remember what she said about T3 and TSH but she will post the results to me. Endo suggested to stay on same dosage but that I may have to change meds as my liver is a little inflamed (& too look out for signs of hepatitis) she will monitor liver function closely and i will have a blood test in 4 days. I feel properly looked after by both GP and Endo as they are both very thorough. I will have another thyroid function test in 4 weeks. I started counselling for the depression and nocturnal sleeping patterns that have occurred since taking medication and being diagnosed. Regarding the soy milk I have since remember that when i was first diagnosed my GP explained that a brand we have in Australia called “Bonsoy Milk” which in Oct 2011 has been found to have High Iodine Levels, I found this article that may be of interest for you http://www.health.vic.gov.au/chiefhealthofficer/alerts/bonsoy_milk.htm.

And then i remember that the Endo advised that Soy milk has a bit iodine in it and to stay off any vitimans that contain any iodine. Luckily I love broccoli, and thanks for all the info on the foods relating to diet. I have started to eat more purple and blue foods auberinge/egg plant, purple cabbage and blue berries, as I read they help in fighting all kinds of diseases. I have been a member of weight watchers for a year now and the endo is encouraging me to keep going as is I find it very useful and it will help keep in tune with nutrition even though the being treated for an overactive thyroid could make me regain the weight i have lost (6 kilos in a just over a month). Of course if I keep up with weight watchers I may just be able to keep some of the weight off. I have decided to not go on the o/s trip, the 6 hours flights would have been exhausting and stressful. The high heat and humidity of the destination temperature would have knocked me around and sent me running and resting for hours in the comforts of air con. A different kind of relaxation/vacation at this time is much preferable, one that involves no queuing for hours at international airports. I read that stress can worsen GD so I am focusing on relaxing and rejuvenating events and positive calm people, to give me the extra support and help that I need.

My question is:

Before I was diagnosed with GD my endo she said that I probably developed the overactive thyroid somewhere in oct/nov 2011. As Graves’ disease is one of the causes of hyperthyroid, is it then possible that I had GD for a good year or more before the thyroid became overactive. I am just wondering as all through 2011 I was so sick with some of the symptoms of GH, I had Achilles since april/may, dependant oedema in legs ankles and feet when legs are down since july 2011 in one instance in late Sept 2011 i was off work for upto 3 weeks with chronic fatigue, flu like symptoms – foggy head, sweaty sleeping all time, constant nausea, only up and out of bed for a few hours a day with is similar to how i have been feeling since i was diagnosed with GD.

P.s new website is looking great and is easy to navigate around.

[Kimberly]

#1170070

Hello – Glad you are liking the new web site!

It would be really difficult to pinpoint when exactly Graves’ started, although I had a doctor who said that some patients go on a bit of a hyper/hypo rollercoaster before full-blown hyperthyroidism kicks in. Also, some patients experience what is often called “euthyroid Graves’ disease” where antibody levels are positive, but thyroid hormone levels are normal. So it’s certainly possible that some of your symptoms before your official diagnosis were related to Graves’.

Take care!

[Bobbi]

#1170071

Thanks for the information on the soy milk. Iodine content would definitely explain the reason your doctor said to avoid it right now.

[Author]

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