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Hi Karen,
I’m guessing by your user name you’re a mom! Me too! I have 4 boys- I’m not a cheer mom, but I’m a gymnastics mom! I was started on methimazole (an anti thyroid drug) for 7 weeks- 5 mg. a day. It helped get my thyroid levels normal, but I was one of the few who had issues with the medicine because it escalated my liver enzymes 8 times the normal range, so I had to stop it right away. Six weeks later, I had a thyroidectomy. That was over a year ago, and I’m doing pretty well now!
I would suggest asking for liver enzymes labs to go with your first set of labs to check your thyroid levels after being on the meds. for 6-8 weeks. It is a good precaution.My symptoms started to go away on the methimazole – about 2 weeks after I started it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better. I must say that I feel better after my surgery than I did on methimazole. I’m on Synthroid now and have my life back, homeschooling my boys, living life, exercising, and enjoying life again. So, yes you do get better!
I had terrible anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, weakness, slight tremors, diarrhea, quite a bit of weight loss and didn’t eat anything. All I “ate” was Ensure drinks; if it wasn’t for those, I would’ve starved as all foods, smells made me gag. All of the above symptoms are now GONE! Yay!I didn’t choose RAI because I didn’t want to be away from my family, I also was (and still am) nursing my youngest. I didn’t want to wean him. I was concerned about possible eye involvement and also didn’t want to wait for my thyroid to die out or be dead inside me. I wanted to move on with life sooner than later so I opted for surgery. There is no “right” answer though as everyone is different.
I haven’t had any other complications from Graves and am hoping it will continue that way. I know eye complications can happen at any time. I have a little bit of dry eyes off and on, but I use Systane eye drops (the non preservative vials) and that helps quite a bit.
Start with the meds., get labs done, and then go from there- that would be my advice.
Hello!
I was started on methimazole (ATD)- a low dose of 5 mg a day for 7 weeks. It got my thyroid levels normal, which was great! Unfortunately, I was one of the few who had liver issues. My enzymes went up 8 times the normal amount, so I was told to stop the drugs right away. They had my liver enzymes run 2 days after stopping the drugs to make sure they were coming down- which they were. Eventually, they returned to normal. I also had a liver ultrasound done to make sure no damage had been done- all fine. So, if you have liver labs along with your thyroid labs at the 6-8 week mark after starting the drugs, you should be okay- even if you do have liver issues. From what I understand, when caught early, any problems reverse themselves. I didn’t have any symptoms of liver issues, but my enzymes were still quite high from the ATD’s.
So… 6 weeks later I chose surgery. That was over a year ago and I’m doing well!
I’m on Synthroid and have my normal life back again! Yippee! It’s not perfect, but it is good! And, I am grateful. I recently found out my dose was too high (112 mcg) even though it was fine for awhile. So, I’m on 100 mcg twice a week and 112 mcg five days a week, and I’m feeling better now. I didn’t chose RAI bc I have 4 young boys including a nursing toddler (who at the time was an infant). I didn’t want to stop breastfeeding or be away from my family. I also had worries about eye involvement and didn’t want radiation. I also didn’t want a dead gland in my body or wait for it to die off. I wanted it out and wanted to move on with life with Synthroid. Yeah, I’m a bit of a control freak.
Although not as bad as I used to be!Everyone is different, so you weigh the risks and benefits of each treatment option and go from there. My endo didn’t want me to do surgery- he recommended RAI, but he did support me in my choice for surgery as medically, I was a good candidate.
Personally, I would start with the ATD’s, get labs done (with liver labs too- enzymes) and go from there instead of jumping into RAI. But, that is just me. Sometimes it’s hard to think clearly when we’re hyperthyroid so the ATD’s get us back to a normal place so we can be and think more like ourselves. Maybe you are okay there, but if you’re suffering from worry, anxiety, fear, and all the other mental issues that go with hyperthyroidism, you might want to try the ATD’s so that those symptoms subside and you can make a decision more clearly.
Hi!
Starting on methimazole or PTU would be the best way to start getting well again. After 6 weeks or so, you can get labs to see where your levels are. Also, get liver function labs to make sure the meds. aren’t upsetting your liver (like mine did). It isn’t a common thing, but it does happen. I didn’t have any symptoms of fever, sore throat or dark urine, but my liver enzymes were 8 times too high all the same. So, I’m glad I asked for the liver labs when I had my thyroid checked. I had to stop taking the methimazole at that point and had surgery 6 weeks later. That was over a year ago. I’m doing pretty well now on Synthroid.
I think the methimazole not working for me was a blessing in a weird way. The surgery went very well, and I’m much better now. I’m on Synthroid 112 mcg. 5 days a week and 100 mcg 2 days a week. I was on 112 all 7 days, but it was too much med. where 100 mcg. wasn’t enough (all 7 days).
Also, whether on methimzole or Synthroid, it takes time to feel better- so try to be patient while your med. dose is adjusted. Waiting 6 weeks for labs is frustrating sometimes, but it will get better.
Hi!
I was diagnosed 2 months after my 4th baby was born. Initially, I thought I was just over tired from having a new baby along with homeschooling my older 3 boys. I felt “dizzy”/ off center a few times, but it went away (that was a month after the baby).
Then 2 months postpartum I really felt dizzy, off balance, I had a panic attack (which I never had before), my heart started racing and I went to the ER as I thought I was going to pass out. The ER doctor said I had a sinus infection (which was true) and that I blew my nose to hard and that’s why I felt dizzy like I was going to pass out. Yeah, no… anyway… so I was put on a Z-pack for the 1st time of my life. THAT was what broke the camel’s back. I had a terrible reaction to it and it pushed my body over the edge. Once the Z-Pack wore off, I still had heart palpitations (120 just walking down the hall), horrible fear and anxiety (I never had that before), diarrhea, ZERO appetite. I ate Ensure drinks for 2 weeks and no solid food as food made me gag. I lost 13 lbs. in those 2 weeks. I was shaky and a mess. So, back to the doctor. That doctor told me I had an anxiety disorder and he wanted to give me a valium and sent me home with a paper bag to breathe into… I kid you not. I couldn’t take (nor would I take) valium as I was (and still am) breastfeeding (and I still wouldn’t have taken it anyway). So, back home.
Went back AGAIN to a different doctor who finally ran some labs & discovered my screwy TSH of 0.01. She thought initially it could be postpartum depression (which I knew it was not). I really had to be persistent. I ended up at the endo. where my free T4 & T3 confirmed hyperthyroidism. I had antibody labs that confirmed (with a 95% certainty) of Graves. I was put on 5 mg methimazole daily, but my liver enzymes ended up being 8 times the normal amount 7 weeks later, so I had to stop it right away. Fortunately, my thyroid levels normalized on the methimazole and I was able to have a thyroidectomy 6 weeks later. That was 1 year and 4 months ago! What a ride! I’m on Synthroid now and doing pretty well. It isn’t perfect, but it is good. I am healthy again and able to care for my children and am still homeschooling & breastfeeding.
I didn’t choose RAI for many reasons, but everyone is different. Glad to hear you’re on methimazole and hoping it all works out for you. I understand that not being able to describe how you feel. I had all these odd symptoms that I’d try to describe. The only 2 that were easy to describe were headaches and insomnia. Otherwise I felt “off”, slightly off center, but not exactly dizzy- I’d describe it like I felt like I was walking on a trampoline or that all of a sudden I’d feel like I was about to float into the air for a split second- really odd. It all went away though.
Hi!
3.5 weeks?? Hmmm… My endo. did tell me that your body’s stores of thyroid hormone last about 2 weeks to 2 months post TT. So, it is possible that you’re almost done with your natural hormone supply. Your body is probably transitioning to just relying on Synthroid. I remember feeling sooooo many symptoms that I thought there was truly something wrong with me. Every doctor from the endo, to the GP to the neurologist (yes, my headaches were so bad and frequent I thought I had a brain tumor and asked for a CAT scan!) told me it was my body trying to heal and find it’s new normal. It’s possible your Synthroid dose isn’t quite right and my guess is you’ll have labs done in another 3 or 4 weeks to see if your current dose is right or not.
I think that what you’re going through is par for the course (unfortunately). I still battle insomnia on and off (right now I’m going through a rough bout of it). In general I’m well, but there are good days and bad days, but that would be true with or without a thyroid I suppose! Hang in there and see what your labs say when you have them done and then go from there. It’ll get better (especially once your levels are stable). Good luck to you!
