[barbra]

in reply to: How long does it take after RAI to feel better? #1182358

Hi,

I had my RAI on the 1st of July 2013 and just started feeling good and normal about a month ago after lots of ups and downs [more downs than ups, sadly]. My medicine was changed in December from Levothyroxine, 88mcg, to Synthroid, 75mcg, and so far that has done the trick.
I have blood work and a visit to the endo coming up next month and will see then what the numbers are.

Take care, don’t get discouraged!

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Compound T4/T3 #1182333

Hi,

I have been on Cytomel, which is the T3, twice in addition to Levothyroxine and it really helped with the body/muscle aches and sluggishness. But both times it was only for a short while until my T3 levels came up and I felt better.
Now that I have been switched to Synthroid, 75 mcg, in December 2013, I seem to have evened out and am feeling fine. We’ll see what the numbers look like next month at my endo appointment.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: RAI on Thursday #1182270

Hi Amy,

I was diagnosed in April 2013 and had RAI in July 2013. I had been taking beta blockers along with the Methimazole since the diagnoses so my heart rate was pretty much controlled. Does your doctor know about your heart rate?
I was treated with 24.2 millicuries of I-131 in the form of 2 Sodium Iodide capsules. The RAI itself was easy to do, just swallowed capsules and off I went. But I had to eat a special diet for 5 days before and stay away from everyone for 5 days afterwards. Since your procedure is tomorrow you’re probably very familiar with the rituals.
Once you’re able to go out again and see people, just do as you’ve always done, the best you can. Sometimes it’ll feel like you’ll never be right again, and we’ve all been there, but it’ll get better.
See your doctor, don’t be afraid to let him/her know if you think the treatment isn’t working for you. And keep up with your blood work.
I had a small goiter and it’s still there. Sometimes it seems that it shrinks and sometimes I can not only feel it but I can see it. So I don’t know if it will ever disappear, but I don’t think so. I am now taking Synthroid and for the first time I feel good again.

It’s OK to be scared. We’re all here to answer your questions and lend you some support along the way. We’ve all bitched and cried and muddled our way through.

Keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Could it be I’m there? #1182222

Hi Kimberly,

Thank you for the info. I had forgotten about the soy and calcium/iron. Neither applies to me but it’s always great to have your help.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Could it be I’m there? #1182219

Hi Sara,

I don’t remember any doctor ever mentioning specific foods to avoid after taking the Levo or Synthroid. All they said was to take it on an empty stomach, which for me means in the morning, and not eat for 30 minutes to an hour. So, I lounge in bed for 1/2 hour and then, after spending another 30 minutes doing whatever, I am good to go. I do drink my coffee, though, after I get out of bed.
And I really don’t know, ingredient wise, what the specific difference is between Levo and Synthroid but I feel so much better. On the bottle it says: No substitution! Medically necessary!

A small note on that Kennedy thing: I don’t want you all to think I’m insensitive but, according to the law, ignorance or stupidity is no excuse.
I have no children in the house but my Ambien, which is also on my nightstand, is the only bottle with a child-proof top. That’s so I can always tell the difference.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Do you wonder if others have thyroid issues? #1182256

Hi Raspberry,

One thing I have noticed is that after I was diagnosed with Graves and mentioned it to a few people they all knew someone who had thyroid disease, either Graves or Hashimoto.
All of a sudden there were a bunch of people, even some I had known for a while, who were taking meds for it. None had obvious signs of TED, but it surprised me that evidently I was the only one talking about it.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Could it be I’m there? #1182217

Hi Kimberly,

My phone wakes me at 7:30 every morning to take the Synthroid which, together with water, sits right by my bed. Then I get to lounge around in bed a while longer since I am retired and have no specific time I have to do anything. No more kids to send to school either.
Synthroid is round, Ambien is oblong. No confusion here.
And that Kennedy thing? She’s lucky I’m not on the jury cause I don’t believe a word of it.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Could it be I’m there? #1182215

Hi Sue,

To answer your question, I feel much better with the Synthroid. With the Levo there was adjustment needed with every doctor’s visit because I was tired, worn out and had lots of muscle pain and was just plain miserable. In the last month I have consistently felt good and therefore had no labs done and am going to wait until before my next appointment in April. At least I’m hoping it’ll work out that way.
One would think that my levels may be pretty good according to the way I feel.
I do have a work order for labs, just in case I need it.

I’m on the “Stay away from the fridge” diet, which translates to no breakfast, fruit for lunch and a yummy dinner, and no snacks allowed!

Take care.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Today is the day #1182073

Hi,

I don’t know where you are but according to my clock your RAI should be over. I’m hoping everything went well and you’re OK.
I had mine done in July 2013. The therapy itself was easy after getting through the before and after rituals.
About 6 weeks ago the endo switched me from Levothyroxine to Synthroid and aside from some minor complaints, all the big ones seem to be resolved so far. I am feeling the best I have in a long time.
I’m just trying to assure you that it’s going to work and you’ll get better.
If you have questions or just want to vent we’re all here to listen.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Smoking. #1181954

Thanks Shirley and Kimberly,

I would have mentioned the not smoking thing sooner but I wanted to make sure that it was really working. I finally took down the sign on my fridge, which read: NOT TODAY! Maybe I should have left it there to warn me away from all that yummy food. Oh well, one thing at a time.

Take the credit, Shirley, it was the graphic description of your journey with TED that must have shaken something loose in my brain. You have something that I DO NOT WANT, sorry, Dear.

And I would have replied to your nice posts some days ago, but I haven’t felt like doing much of anything. It’s not the Graves’, for a change, it’s the depressing weather. It seems we DO snow here in the greater Washington DC area, Shirley, lots of it, at least this winter, and extreme cold. I hate it when I look outside and my car is just a ball of ice.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181891

I’m sure my hair dresser was holding her breath as well. And she wasn’t sure if my dead-looking hair was even going to hold a curl.
But all is well, I feel good and I’m hoping that I’m not walking blissfully and blindly towards another cliff.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: How long for effect from methimazole #1181929

Hi Jennifer,

I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling so bad and I know us telling you that it’ll get better is no consolation right now.
We’re all in the same boat, some have been there longer than others, we started the same way, so if you have questions or feel miserable let us know.
The people on this forum are terrific. Believe me, I’ve done my share of whining and complaining here and have always found a sympathetic ear and good answers.
Hopefully in a few short weeks you’ll start to feel that your symptoms are easing up and you can function better.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181889

Hi Sue,

Thanks for kind of paving the way with the perm and giving me the guts to go ahead and get one too.

It worked out, looks great and I feel like a new person.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181877

Hi Sue,

I guess we’ve all been busy over the holidays and are just now getting back into the swing of things.

I’m not one of the TTers, but rather a RAIer.
The Synthroid, 75 MCG, seems to be working out much better than the Levothyroxine did. Muscle aches are less and so is the hair loss. I feel pretty good, actually. My next appointment with the endo is not until April and now that my whining stopped I may not even have to get labs until then, provided it stays this way.

I have a question for you, talking about hair. Remember when you said you were going to get a perm? Did that work out? Still got your hair, or most of it? The reason I’m asking is that I’m contemplating getting a perm. It would be great to hear that it went OK.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[barbra]

in reply to: Too long between tests? #1181865

Hi Nancy, hi Raspberry

Thanks for your answers. I have been fairly specific with the endo that’s why he put me on Cytomel, which does help with the muscle pains. I did wean myself off of it during early December, thinking it may help with the hair loss. Don’t know about that yet, but I’m sure the Cytomel is what brought the T3 up.

It seems that my TSH fluctuates rapidly, or does it?
09/05/13 TSH at 34.1, ref.0.4-5.5
09/30/13 TSH at 26.8
10/31/13 TSH at 3.5
12/17/13 TSH at 0.02

I hope that the Synthroid will help getting all this evened out. Just thought it would have been nice to catch the TSH before it got to 0.02
Whenever I leave the endo’s office they always hand me the order for the next labs. There would be no problem getting blood work done before April.

As I said, I wish it wouldn’t take 6 weeks for my body to say: This isn’t it!

Hugs.
Barbra.

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