[lucylamm]

#1058927

I was treated with radioactive iodine two years ago. I have no TSH but my endocrinologist reports that my T3&4 are in normal limits. I still have the anxiety I had before I was treated. One minute I am freezing, the next minute I am sweating and have the night sweats every night. Can’t relax for one minute and cannot sleep… Feel exhausted !

I am not taking any medication and wonder if it is normal to still feel this way?
Is there anything available to help with these symptoms?
Thanks
Lucy

[Kimberly]

#1171006

Hello and welcome! Hopefully, you will hear from others who have been through RAI…I know that TSH can remain suppressed for quite some time in Graves’ patients after treatment, although most of the patients I’ve been in contact with who had RAI have seen TSH rebound more quickly than the two-year mark.

You might ask your doc if he/she feels that antibody testing would be of value. One theory is that antibody activity is responsible for TSH suppression, and one study noted that antibody levels can remain elevated for up to 5 years following RAI.

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18166819

Having suppressed TSH with normal T3/T4 is referred to as “subclinical hyperthyroidism”. There is some controversy over whether this requires further treatment, but many docs do recommend treatment if the patient is experiencing hypER symptoms. However, it sounds like you are experiencing some traditional symptoms hypo (cold intolerance) mixed in with symptoms of hyper.

Do you feel your own doctor is really working with you to get to the root cause of your symptoms? If not, a second opinion might be helpful. Referral sites for endocrinologists are available at http://www.aace.com and http://www.thyroid.org. On the AACE site, be sure and select the specialty “thyroid dysfunction.” The Foundation has also just launched a physician registry of doctors who have told us they have particular expertise in Graves’. To access the registry, go to the home page at http://www.gdatf.org and click on “physician registry” in the box on the top right-hand side of the screen. Because we are just getting started, we might not yet have a lot of listings in your part of the country.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

[VanIsleGal]

#1171007

My Grave’s has returned for the 3rd time. My 2nd endocrinologist put me on the beta blocker, Bisoprolol permanently due to heart palpitations. He said take more than the maintenance dose if Grave’s symptoms return and it really helps! I wonder if this would help minimize your symptoms?

[Kimberly]

#1171008

Just a quick note that beta blockers can provide symptom relief from rapid heart rate, tremors, etc. — but they don’t treat the actual hyperthyroidism.

For someone who is symptomatic, beta blockers can be a huge help, but it’s *also* important to find out for sure if the Graves’ has returned…and make sure that is treated via anti-thyroid drugs, RAI, or surgery if it has.

Take care!

[Author]

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