[trinateacher]

#1060163

I was diagnosed with Graves About a month ago after 6 months of frightening and strange symptoms. My doctors for years told me that my thyroid was not the problem, but that I was suffering from depression and anxiety brought on by stress. I never agreed with this, and lately when things became extreme, I discovered 10+ years of labs that indicated hyperthyroidism. I was shocked, and dismayed. I am very mistrusting of doctors at this point. I am now on 10 mg of Methimazole, 25 mg of Atenolol. The first week on meds I felt euphoric; I felt like a dark cloud had lifted, and my mood and energy improved immensely. My physical symptoms even lessened a degree. This past week I feel like my physical symptoms are again out of control, and I am so depressed. I have pins and needles tingling and numbness from my scalp to my toes. I have a sharp headache that originates on right side and travels across my skull. My muscles ache to the point that I feel like I have been punched all over. My joints hurt so bad; especially in my shoulder, foot, and fingers. My face goes numb, and I feel a stabbing pain in my eye. Again this is all on my right side only! I also have experienced night blindness a few times in my right eye. Weird! I feel very off balance-Has anyone else felt this way? I do have very mild physical symptoms on the left, but not debilitating like the right.

[Kimberly]

#1180877

Hello – I can totally understand why you have a mistrust of doctors, especially after they failed to pick up your hyperthyroidism for so long. However, we aren’t qualified on this forum to give medical advice, and you *definitely* want to get those symptoms checked out ASAP. Muscle/joint aches can be a side effect of Methimazole, but the other symptoms really deserve immediate attention and an expert opinion. A separate visit with an experienced ophthalmologist would be a good idea as well, to see if the eye issues might be Graves’-related. More common initial symptoms of thyroid eye disease are dryness, grittiness, swelling, and light sensitivity, but the symptoms that you mentioned are worth checking out. Please check back to let us know how you are doing!

[meemeej]

#1180878

hi trinateacher

i feel like you are talking about me in your post i too was diagnosed with gd almost a month ago. and im having those same symtoms but mines is on my left side not my right. i had been having symtoms for the past 2 years i just didnt know what was going on.. im on 20mg 1x day methimazole and 60mg of propranolol 2x a day. i truely wish you well and hope you feel better soon.

-MeeMee-

[Raspberry]

#1180879

I experience a different sense of the two sides of my body as well starting a couple of years ago. It worried me enough that I asked my doctor to evaluate me for neurological/stroke indicators but I always came back okay. For the last year I’ve been dealing with some swelling in my lower legs, but it is far worse on the right side – particularly my right foot is almost one full size bigger than the left! Graves is one crazy disease.

Trina, I am totally on board with you on the loss of faith with doctors, but yet there still are some good ones out there. And even if they miss some things, they can still be very good for other issues. Unfortunately with Graves being as serious as it is, we don’t have the choice anymore to go it on our own. I see it now as a rather wary partnership. I wish you luck and I hope you do find the right doc to help you – he/she must exist.

[trinateacher]

#1180880

Thanks everyone, I am just so frightened, and wonder if it will get even worse. I mentioned these symptoms to my endo, and my primary doctor, but no one seems as concerned as I am. I had to have a fit to get my initial referred to the endocrinologist, and wonder what it will take this time. I think because I look fine on the outside I am not taken seriously. I am in a lot of pain, and wonder how long I can endure. Endurance is a must, as I am a 4th grade teacher and the parent of a teen with autism! It takes great force of will to get through most days, and I manage to pull it off without giving anyone the sense of how bad I feel. I collapse when I am in the privacy of my home. Do you know if the physical pain symptoms subside after a time on the meds? I know this is not going to be fast, but need some hope. Strangely, Motrin, and other OTC pain killers do not touch the pain, even 800 mg!

I have been to an opthamalogist and have mild TED symptoms. Swelling lids, itchiness, pain behind eye, and very light sensitive. Treating now with drops and eye wipes.

I will call my doctor and see about a referral to a neurologist. I wonder if the weird symptoms could be migraine related? I have read about complicated migraines causing similar symptoms on just one side of the body. Also, certain eye migraines…do you have migraines, too?

Thanks again, I needed a place to ask questions…so many worries right now! On a good note, the anti- thyroid meds have made me soooo much calmer, and the beta blockers have stopped most of the heart racing, and fine tremors.

[meemeej]

#1180881

hi trina

Yes i too have chronic migraines and was reffered to a nuero doc. i also was diagnosed with hydrocephelus {i dont know if i spelled that right} in 2009. Sometimes i cant tell some of my symtoms apart thats why it took so long for me or my docs to see what was really going on…it wouldnt hurt to see a nuero doc if you are having migraines often. i just had an mri friday..im waiting for my results..i hope this helps in some way. So happy to know your meds are making you feel better.. that gives me hope that i will feel better soon too…

-MeeMee-

[trinateacher]

#1180882

Let me know how it goes, meemeej! It seems we are starting this journey together… I have never had migraines that I know of, but reading about them makes me wonder if I just missed the symptoms. I guess a migraine can occur without classic headache symptoms. My pain starts in the back or side of my head, and travels. My twin has severe migraines that put her to bed for days. I hope we both feel much better soon!

[meemeej]

#1180883

trina,
i will post an update when i get the results of my mri. it does seem like we are in the same place in this long processes. its nice to have someone to compare notes with and get much needed support.. im sending lots and lots o prayers your way…. Pm me anytime

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