[tired1231]

#1058665

My mother was diagnoised 5 years ago with graves, they removed hers, she was 48 years old…. I have been diagnoised just a month ago at 31…. I did the uptake scan and it showed very high levels…. She sent me home and told me to take these meds and she will see me in 6 weeks…. no info or nothing…. the ultrasound looked terrible my thyroid looked like swiss cheese, and very inflamed…. I am a mother of 3 kids, so the R. Iodine is not an option. but I would like it to be removed, I dont like this rolercoaster, I would like off soon…. She told me to take the meds and hopefully it will burn itself out, then what happens? she said it could come back and high again ? Please someone help me Im lost and Im the heavyiest I have ever been…. I even asked if Im Hyper then why am I gaining???? oh Im one of the special ones!!!! HU???? I dont want to be special anymore…. Im fustrated and completely loosing it…. UGH….

[Bobbi]

#1169255

The meds you were put on — most likely — were what we call antithyroid medications (or ATDs). They act as a chemical block to the thyroid cells being able to make new thyroid hormone. But the thyroid also has stored supplies of hormone, so it takes a while after starting the pills before we can tell that we are less hyper than we used to be. Your body has to use up the stored supplies first.

The meds (methimazole or PTU, whichever your doctor prescribed) do start working immediately, and they provide some people with total relief from their hyperness. Kimberly, one of our moderators, has been on them for quite some time.

As far as the weight goes, it does seem unfair, I know, when you gain rather than lose while hyper. But the main reason we lose (or gain) weight is that we lose actual muscle while hyper, in addition to the revved metabolism, and having muscle means we can eat more without gaining weight. You undoubtedly feel weak right now, too, yes? So, when your thyroid levels get normal again, some, if not all, of that muscle starts to slowly come back. Those of us who lost weight see weight gain. And you might, too, temporarily. Muscle weighs more than other tissues. But it’s GOOD weight to gain, because it raises your metabolism. The typical pattern is for our weight issues to go back to normal over a period of time. Some of us have more trouble than others regaining our normal weight. You may have to be really careful for a while about what you are eating.

[tired1231]

#1169256

I was put on methimazole 20mg a day for a little while then to 10 mg a day in a couple weeks…. I loose hair so bad that Drano is my best friend…. My hands hurt so bad some days that I can’t even cut a sandwhich in half for my daughter ” title=”Confused” /> *SIGH* yep…. Im here because my coping skills are really not that good, and Im sad all the time thank you for your post….

[Nat82]

#1169257

Hey There:
Re your coping skills, it’s good you’ve found this site to help you deal with it all. I’ve learned more from this site than I’ve ever learned from doctors, and I’ve had GD since I was 12 (I’m 30 now)! We’re all trying to cope in one way or another so we can all relate to the things you’re going through and the way you feel. For me, there’s nothing better than having other people with GD to relate too ” title=”Very Happy” />
Nat

[Bobbi]

#1169258

Part of the problem right now, tired 1231, is that it looks like your doctor is still trying to find the correct dose of the drug for you. We have to be on just the right amount. If we take too much, we become hypothyroid — that’s when hair starts falling out typically. Just try to be patient with the process — because it is a process, not magic.

Hang in there

[Kimberly]

#1169259

tired1231 wrote:I even asked if Im Hyper then why am I gaining???? oh Im one of the special ones!!!!

Hello – Unfortunately, some patients do gain weight *above and beyond* the weight they lost while hypER — *if* they lost weight at all. I’m one of them. I even had to quit leading meetings for Weight Watchers — which I’d done for 6 years — because I was having so much trouble keeping my own weight in check. ” title=”Sad” />

There was a recent study that looked at this phenomenon in children; I wish that more doctors would take this issue seriously in adults. (Note: you will need to use your browser’s "back" button to return to the boards after viewing).

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/ea … 1.abstract

In the meantime, if you do a search on this forum for "weight", you can see that you are not alone. Here are a few tips from a nutritionist who presented at our 2009 conference:

1. Include breakfast daily within 2 hours of waking up.
2. Don’t go longer than 5 hours in between meals
3. Select “high volume” and “high fiber” foods such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains
4. Limit servings of healthy fats to 1 per day
5. Prioritize at LEAST 7 hours of sleep a night

Once a doctor’s clearance is obtained to engage in activity, she also recommended 150 minutes per week of physical activity, plus strength training 2 times per week.

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