[MRHabetz]

#1068743

"Kimberly":2z264qpi wrote:

"MRHabetz":2z264qpi wrote:

My doctor talked last week about staying on tapazole in hopes of keeping my levels down and said that works for years sometimes……I was like, really?? What’s the point???? [/quote:2z264qpi]

Hi Michelle – It is true that some folks are able to maintain their levels long-term on ATDs, and others who are able to enjoy remission. So it’s not a "given" that all Graves patients will eventually have to go the RAI or Thyroidectomy route.

With that said, it’s important to research the pros and cons of all the options, listen to your doctor’s opinion, and then make the decision that’s right for you.

Best of luck![/quote:2z264qpi]

Well……..right now I’m on medicaid until I finish school in December and get a job. That said, I want to get it over with before I get a real job with insurance as I don’t want to go through the hassle of a pre-existing conditions……etc. So, I just feel that I should get it done now and get leveled off that way all that’s left is medication, no procedures that will be a big hassle. So…….I want to be done with it!!

[belldandy112]

#1068744

I just went for my check-up with my endo. We had the "changes in eating habits" talk …

I didn’t do RAI, but opted for anti-thyroid medication instead. My levels have been steadily within the range of normal for years now, and the endo said that he doesn’t anticipate that I’ll have any more problems with hyperthyroidism — which is both good and bad. Good, because I feel fine. Bad, because some of my eating habits are still the same as when my Graves was active.

I’m trying to change this, but it’s really hard to tell myself that I can’t have the donut or the fried foods anymore. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop — you know, the other shoe being weight gain?

[susandemarco]

#1068745

Hi,
I was wondering how long you have been on the anti-thyroid medication and when you were diagnosed
with hyper-active thyroid.

I was diagnosed twenty years ago, and chose to take the meds rather than the RAI. I have been on
and off since then. Right now I am on 50mgs a day to maintain it. Are you still taking it to maintain, it
and if so what is your dose.

Thank you for any information you may give me.

Susan

[Kimberly]

#1068746

"susandemarco":1pwdnbn8 wrote:

I was diagnosed twenty years ago, and chose to take the meds rather than the RAI. I have been on and off since then. Right now I am on 50mgs a day to maintain it. Are you still taking it to maintain, it and if so what is your dose.

Susan[/quote:1pwdnbn8]

Hi Susan – Your original question wasn’t directed at me, but I’m curious if you are having your levels checked periodically to make sure you are staying out of HypO territory. Are you on Methimazole or PTU? If it’s Methimazole, 50mgs would be a pretty high maintenance dose. I’m not as familiar with how the PTU dosing works, but I do know that you have to take a larger amount for some reason to get the same result.

Just for reference, I started off with 15 mgs of Methimazole, and I am currently stable on 7.5 mgs. I’ve been taking the drugs for almost 2 years now.

Oh, and I missed a weigh-in because I was in Atlanta last weekend, so I missed my WW meeting. I found out my job is being terminated effective 10/9, and I am sooooooooo wanting to stress eat! Between that and vacation, I’m thinking Saturday’s weigh-in will not be pretty.

[ewmb]

#1068747

Kimberly,
Sorry to hear about your job situation. That stinks…….. I am trying to get WW at work on the way for more people at my job. If I can do that I might go back myself. I’m not sure I can start that again until I get my levels under control. Mentally I’m just not ready I guess.

ewmb

[MRHabetz]

#1068748

Maybe I shouldn’t say that I would join in here……….since I don’t have a scale. I guess I just need the moral support and know that someone else in my situation (trying to get to a good level on tapazole in preparation for RAI) and is having success controlling their diet and not gaining anymore weight or in fact losing it. I know that most people lose weight at this point but for me I’ve gained close to 40 pounds from what my "normal" weight is…….and am very discouraged!! I am even considering taking myself off of the tapazole and seeing if I would lose some of this weight because I feel like my doctor is dragging this out and has no clue what he is doing (a GP). I just wish he would send me to an endo so I could get better input. Sorry for hijacking this thread!!

I wish everyone the best success losing/maintaining weight and overall feeling good again!!!

Thanks so much,
Michelle

[susandemarco]

#1068749

Hi Kimberly,
I am currently on PTU and have been on and off for twenty years when I was diagnosed.

Yes I am being monitored and I have an appointment with my endo 10/7. She will then check my levels.
I really do not think I am going hypo, as I am at my normal weight of 114. I have been feeling pretty
well, but I am always worried about the side effects of the medication, even though, thank God, I have
never had a problem. When I see my doctor next month we will have this discussion.

Are you considering staying on the meds rather than having RAI?

Thank you for your input, as this is a very hard decision to make.

Take care and stay well,
Susan

[Kimberly]

#1068750

"susandemarco":3cnsxkid wrote:

Are you considering staying on the meds rather than having RAI?

[/quote:3cnsxkid]

Hi Susan – Yes, I do plan to stay on the meds and not pursue RAI or TT unless I have liver or WBC issues. I don’t feel 100%…but I do feel OK…and at this point, I figure the devil I know is better than the devil I don’t. ” title=”Wink” />

Best of luck – I know this is a difficult decision!

[ewmb]

#1068751

Michelle,
I would ask for a referral to an Endo. You have a right to see a doctor who specializes in this area and a second opinion. Check with your insurance or coverage and see if you even need a referral. Sometimes you don’t. I started gaining weight while on ATDs and eventually went hypo on them. Since then I went off all ATDs to see if I could stay in remission and didn’t. After about 10 months of no ATDs I had RAI. During that time and since I’ve done nothing but gain weight. I know how you feel……. It’s so discouraging to think that you aren’t in control of your body at all. I know they say you have control over what goes in your mouth but that’s only possible, I think, when you are mentally stable and I don’t feel that way yet. In fact on my replacement hormone, only two weeks, I feel more out of control mentally than in a long time. I’m pretty sure that it will resolve itself but it’s a pain to go through.

I am just trying to make sure that I still do the smallest things I can to keep on track. I do my stretching every morning and am trying to make sure I drink enough water. I bought a small exercise set of pedals, the kind that just sits on the floor. I sit in a chair and pedal that now when I think of it. I am up to 12 minutes. Sounds sad but when you haven’t really exercised for several years you have to start somewhere.

Keep on trying to get to an Endo for that second opinion. Your health is worth it.

ewmb

[susandemarco]

#1068752

Hi Kimberly,
Thank you for answering so quickly. It makes me feel so good to hear someone say they feel the same way that I do.

Exactly what you said is the way that I feel, unless I have issues with WBC and Liver I think I will stay on the meds. LIke I said
before, I have been on an off for all these years with no problems, and I think as long as you have your levels checked, and you
know what symptons to look out for everything will be ok.

Thanks again for your input, as it makes me feel I am not the only one who feels this way.

God Bless,
Susan

[Kimberly]

#1068753

"ewmb":3uor32se wrote:

Kimberly,
Sorry to hear about your job situation. That stinks…….. I am trying to get WW at work on the way for more people at my job. ewmb[/quote:3uor32se]

Thanks! WW at Work is how I originally lost my weight…it’s great to have the built in support at the office. Unfortunately, it’s kind of a tough sell right now with the economy the way it is, since you have to pay for the session in advance. In the long run, it’s actually cheaper than paying the fee each week at a regular meeting…but it’s still hard for a lot of folks to come up with the $$ all at once.

Today’s weigh-in was the worst ever in 5 years: 141.8.

I was on vacation in Atlanta for a few days, which didn’t help…and neither did the urge to do some olympic-caliber stress eating.

My goals for this week are to get back in gear with my tracking and exercise and to focus on foods that are low GI and that have anti-inflammatory benefits.

I have an emergency fund, so I have the $$ to tide me over until I can find another job…but I am just really ANGRY at the way employees have been treated. We received a memo last week about how important the cost-cutting measures are…because the company is currently slightly off track on its goal of making $230 million dollars this year. Gee…I would sure hate if the CEO didn’t collect on his multi-million dollar bonus…

I have GOT to get my head in a better place. For me, stress is pretty much an express train ticket back to HYPERland.

[runlacie]

#1068754

grrr, this is bad here, too. I have been in the 142-145 range all week. uggh. Means I’ve gained almost 15 since rai. And I’m tracking everything daily~ 1500-2000 range and running 5-10 every day!!!! I feel the BLOAT, so I do think some is water. Sure hope I get to go on replacement next week, don’t know how much longer I can take this!!!!

I lost on Nutrisystem before. Been thinking about that again, but it is pricey and I really don’t feel like having to eat those little meals and still worry about what the rest of the family will eat. My eating habits really aren’t that bad. It’s just being hypo that’s doing this to me.

[hyperm]

#1068755

Hey all sorry its been a while

Ok here goes 163lb! ” title=”Sad” />

Fed up – Am wearing Magi-fit trousers which conceal and hold in your stomach now!

Gutted and fed up! My bloods are not good but GP advising me against surgeon to weight until endo of October until I increase my thyroxine as it should take around 8 weeks for TFT to reflect the medications effect on my TFT post surgery. Until then and probably much later I will become like a "pure wee bloater" as they would say in Glasgow. uggghhhh!

Here’s to be better a week for all. xxxx

p.s sure the trip to Pizza hut tonight won’t help with weight loss for next week

[mamabear]

#1068756

I’m sticking my tongue out at ya! Saying neener neener neener… i’m 150 lbs and was trying to loose some weight but it didn’t happen so I’m sticking out my tongue and sticking my fingers in my ear saying la la la la and not listening to anyone say anything about loosing weight LOL LOL LOL

How is that for being a brat ! LOL

Dealing with something today so once i"m done with that I’m going to really try to loose some weight. Hoping tonight stops the stress of what I was waiting for. after this I can work on loosing weight.

Get er done!

[runlacie]

#1068757

haha, mamabear, yeah- you’re a brat all rrrright! ” title=”Wink” />

hyperm – good to hear from you! the bloat stuff is awful, huh? I betcha lots of this weight is water, don’t you feel like it? My neighbor just had a total thyroidectomy- she’s had Hashi’s for years and now some oddball results on biopsies, so they just decided since her’s wasn’t doing anything may as well go ahead and take it out. She’s doing well, but then she’s used to replacement. I hope you get your labs and dosages straightened around soon!

I started 50 mcg Levo yesterday. My TSH was finally up- 29.something. I feel much happier and energized already. Weighed 143 this morning with time of month here, so I am very much thinking I can beat this thing and get it heading in the right direction now that I finally got my Levo-fix. I swear I was going to have to start bartering on the black market if that doctor wouldn’t prescribe it! My HR is back up around mid 40’s which is right where I should be. Feels so much better than 30, lol. Since yesterday started this new chapter in my life I have been trying to eat better. Plus I had a cold, so I have not felt so hungry.

I’m 9 pounds up over my normal weight, so I guess that’s not all that awful. I’m still nowhere near as fast as I was just a few months ago, so I’m not running in a race this weekend that I’d been hoping for. But I can see that my muscles are coming back- those poor muscles that disappeared overnight when I went hyper!

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