[sickofgraves]

#1018974

Hi, Just thought I’d check in. It’s been awhile. I have been on 10mg of Tapazole twice a day now for 3 months and my TSH has gone slowly from 0.0 to 2.6 and my t3 and t4 look good as well. Been doing the low iodine diet and watching what I eat, as I have gained 5 lbs (some of those lbs I needed) but, it could keep climbing if I don’t watch it. Now I enter the Hypo Zone and will be monitored a bit more closely. I am still on a little bit of beta blocker…just a little..tapering down.

I really thought I would do RAI, but I am so far glad that I am doing the medicine and diet route. So far so good. The only change is that I did get the sore frozen shoulder on my left shoulder, that I had on my right shoulder last year. Endo created discomfort, but I am managing.

Has anyone else out there decided to give meds a chance in lieu of RAI? This website is pretty RAI involved. Understandably. I really appreciate the support. PS. I can’t say enough about Elaine Moore’s book, Graves’ Disease-A practical Guide. Although a bit technical for me as a reader, it gave me the inspiration to try this route again with Tapazole and not jump so fast to RAI. Thanks!

[ewmb]

#1068225

HI,
Read back in the posts if you have the time. A lot of us who ended up doing RAI were hoping that ATDs would work. Some of us were allergic, had remissions that ended etc.. Since a good number of us just had it done recently I think you are seeing a lot of posts about it. I think it’s great for those who can get it to work with the numbers and the sense of wellness. I just never felt well even when my numbers were good on ATDs. Glad to know that you are doing so well. Keep feeling better.

ewmb

[LaurelM]

#1068226

Hi,

I was well controlled on ATDs for a little over a year and heading toward remission. I then became pregnant with out 2nd which likely cinched the deal and was off ATDs within a month of becoming pregnant. I have been in remission ever since and our ‘baby’ is now nearly 3 yrs old. The only issue that I may have had was that I developed hives right when I became pregnant. Was it the methimazole or the pregnancy? My gut feeling is that it was the pregnancy because of the timing, but we’ll never know. I was switched to PTU for that last month and had no problem with it.

I was happy with the ATDs and would consider it again should the need arrise. They worked well for me. They gave me time to learn about GD and my treatment options and I am now comfortable with considering all of the treatment options should I come out of remission. My decision would just be based on my circmstances at that point.

I know that I have seen posting from others who opted for long term use of ATDs (usually at a low maitenence dose) who have done very well with that route too. You may want to look for older threads on long term use.

Hope that helps some.

Laurel

[Kimberly]

#1068227

Hello – I have been on ATDs for two years now, and am currently maintaining my levels on a dose of 7.5 mg/day. I do not plan to go the RAI or TT route unless I develop complications such as liver or WBC issues.

I don’t feel 100% compared to when I was first diagnosed, but I am probably at 80%. At this point, I don’t much feel like rolling the dice to see if I would end up better or worse with one of the other treatments! ” title=”Smile” />

[susandemarco]

#1068228

Hi,
I have been doing the meds, PTU, on and off for twenty years, and have been low maintaince of 50mgs a day for about six months. I would like
to stay on low dose to control it.

I would like to know where you received the information about the Graves Disease diet.

I would appreciate any information you have on that.

Thank you and feel well,
Susan

[Hopeful23]

#1068229

Hey
I have someone you could talk to on here. Mongo26. He is also on tapazole and trying to obtain remission. I think you should PM him and maybe you two could share your thoughts, concerns and any other information. He isn’t so good with the low iodine diet so maybe you could slap him around for me. LOL. Good Luck!

[Author]

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