[beach45]

in reply to: RAI or Surgery? #1172988

Kararoot,

It is not easy making a decision as I was there not long ago. I was on Methimazole 20 months and up and down like a rollercoaster with no endocrinologist getting me balanced so I was given the choice of RAI or surgery this past April 2012. I decided on RAI. I am 11 weeks post RAI yet I feel better than I did on that ATD Methimazole and have had some issues of weight gain from that drug and never lost it even when I went hyperthyroid again, yet the RAI part was very easy. I had 15 millicuries and was told to stay away from adults 2 whole days, my cats for 5 and I know for children it may be longer too. So right now I’m pretty okay with my decision and hoping that I go eurothyroid or hypothyroid soon, yet it is not so bad and if I had listened to all the horror stories on the Internet, I would not have gotten through. My thyroid eye doctor was okay with me having RAI even with moderate TED and so far I’m good and actually my eyes feel better. Eye doctor will be monitoring this for at least a year. My endocrinologist will follow me for a year also and then I move on to my regular doctor. I know some who had thyroid surgery who had families and did very well. I know people who took RAI and acted like why am I so afraid as they did it and are doing very well now years later. I am very selective of what I listen to and believe on the Internet. This is an autoimmune disease and one endocrinologist that I consulted with recently told me whether you have RAI or thyroid surgery, you can get TED as it runs it’s own course. Yes having Graves predisoposes us to other autoimmune diseases. Why I found out it is even more important to take extra special care of myself. My Functional/Integrative doctor said he could not “cure” my Graves and I would probably end up doing RAI or TT if the ATDs did not put me into remission, which they did not, yet he said he could help me more after RAI than prior. I was warned not to play around with natural remedies to so call cure this disease.

My current endo who is a thyroid specialist too said that yes we are trading one problem for another yet hypothyroid conditions are easier to manage and he said with hyperthyroid conditions it effects the heart and the bones. We have a better chance of getting back to normalcy with being hypothyroid and yes some people have more of a struggle than others yet I hear many success stories. I also believe I have had a hard time because I had untreated hyperthyroidism for years that doctors were not catching and being told I was “slightly hyperthyroid” yet never getting further testing; at that time back in my 30s I had no clue what thyroid did and nor cared and wish I had known as much as I do now.

I researched medical journals and reliable medical articles and books written by MDs and got a lot of good information from the facilitators here and information that is posted. I learned not to go by hearsay. It can be scary yet the fears I had back 2 years ago when this started for me are no longer there and I believe in time I will be back to feeling even better than before.
After doing research, then I could make an educated decision of what to do.

To answer your questions direct, I chose RAI due to what I found out from research and talking to different doctors, my husband’s cousin who is an anesthesiologist who had RAI 20 years ago and is doing great for years said she cannot understsand why so many choose TT as she puts so many under who have TT for Graves and she said RAI is so much easier (yet she wasn’t the deciding factor for me to choose RAI) and I had surgery myself in 2009 and it was a nightmare recovering for months; it was so easy as the isolation thing was the worst part being away from family yet it went quick, and right now I am happy with it as I am seeing that I’m feeling better 11 weeks later; heavy still yet happy and I’m not worried because once I get to balance, I think a lot of things will fall into place with my efforts too.

Good luck with this; I know it is not easy….beach

[beach45]

in reply to: Accepting Graves #1172965

Tomas,

I can relate as I was similar to what is sounds your girlfriend is going through prior to being treated. I argued with everyone and just wanted to be alone even though I am married. I won’t go into detail yet it was pretty bad. Since I have gone to a therapist who specializes in people with anxiety and depression problems with some who have thyroid issues which can cause extreme mood swings and if not corrected timely and properly will linger and mimic Bipolar disorder. The book “The Thyroid Solution” written by Ridha Arem, MD, helped me tremedously to see that I was reacting strangely in relationships due to a chemical imbalance. I am told to get the thyroid corrected and do not expect that even after being balanced that I will be perfect as healing can take a lot of time. Yet, the person has to want help and it took me a long time to accept that yet now when I look back I see what was going on. My husband has been very supportive and I had him read different writings that were addressed to family and friends of those who have thyroid disease. We still have our issues, yet things improved and I’m still in the process of working on getting balanced unfortunately after 2 years yet my circumstances are different and some get better with treatment quicker than others. This site has great resources and one of the first things I read is what Kimberly is referring to below. I wish you the best of luck with all this.

[beach45]

in reply to: TSH Testing Only Once Stabilized Post RAI #1172142

Jules, sorry to hear you going through all this and thanks for sharing.
I have no clue now at 11 weeks post RAI if I will be still hyperthyroid like at 7 weeks yet my right hand still shakes although I seem to be gaining weight. The weight issue though started when I was on Methimazole 20 months and through that timeframe even when I went back hyper, I was never able to lose. I think maybe I am having a cross of symptoms, hyper and hypo. The Methimazole seemed to do something to mess up metabolism as I too never had problems with weight control either. I get tired of doctors saying diet and exercise as there is more to it. I’m sitting and waiting to see if I am going eurothyroid or hypothyroid soon. Doctor gives me 6 months and then if not, I get to choose to have another small amount of RAI or TT. Now both endos I saw said if by 3 months you are not looking like you are going in the right direction, I may need more RAI. They said most people go hypothyroid by 3 months post RAI and then it is a slow die off after that 3 months to 3 years after. Around here TSH is the only thing tested for hypo and told if the TSH is good the Frees should be also. I felt best on my journey with Methimazole like you with Frees middle range to higher. No one listened though when I went hypothyroid on that Methimazole and then I could look at food and gain weight. I am hoping that I don’t get to that point again post RAI. I have a lot of allergies and asked if someone is allergic to the Synthroid what to do; endocrinologist said what Kimberly said that this is an alternative without the dye. Well I’m not there yet except. I hear you about the doctors as I’ve had my share of troubles. I don’t want to go there though and trying to be positive that things will turn out well. Good luck to you on your journey.

[beach45]

in reply to: New yearly ish update #1172903

Thanks catstuart. Oh I go to the beach even too for relief in the water which is like bath water anyway, yet the rest of the time yes I am glued to the AC. Plus upstairs in a condo where that heat beats down on the roof and AC is going most of the year even moreso than the heat. Big difference to when I lived north. Well like your endo, my current one said about 3 months there should be significant changes post RAI and another endo I consulted with said if not going toward hypo in 3 months post RAI, it may look like I need another dosage and that the 15 millicuries I had was not enough as the objective is to get it done quick and get the patient on Synthroid as ASAP. Well they all seem to do things differently at least by me and my current endo said we will wait 6 months to see if things get better. I am thinking maybe this time around I will see some significant changes, yet I’m not holding my breath. Throughout this journey which started more than two years ago now, I have not been the norm! I have hope though! Stay cool!…beach

[beach45]

in reply to: New yearly ish update #1172901

Catstuart,
Thanks as I was quiet because I just do not know where I’m headed right now yet I feel okay yet tired all the time and I’m still heavier from when I was on Methimazole 20 months (never lost the weight) so I don’t know how I’m still hyperthyroid. Doctors don’t have answers about the weight thing either; maybe it’s my age too; anyway, I am hoping for better reports this time around blood work this week at 11 weeks post RAI. I hope you are doing well. I know anything about 70 degrees I feel miserable and I live in the south! Every middle night even with the air conditioning on I’m hot as anything and I know with this heat intolerance thing I am not alone! I’ll probably report more when I see things hopefully improving soon!…beach

[beach45]

in reply to: New yearly ish update #1172898

Thanks for sharing Mike as it is great to hear someone share who is now doing well after time.

I am the same age and having struggles as I had RAI in May 2012, still hyperthyroid, yet gained weight with 20 months on ATDs and never lost even with good diet and exercise and believe it or not at 2 months post RAI still hyperthyroid and I ask then why can I not lose weight and then they say don’t exercise yet except walking is good so I do a lot of that.

It is great advice about the diet as I know I need to alter some things as I never had a problem yet since being treated for Graves things really seemed to change with my metabolism.

I was a very active person for years until back a little over two years ago when I developed Graves (and again told not to exercise), probably in the best shape of my life. Now I feel like a marshmellow at times with my cholesterol rising and thank goodness my bp is still good yet lots of middle weight gain and that is also getting older too yet I think this thyroid business just messed my metabolism up and I need some kind of a jump start.
Too early to tell as I kind of look forward to going hypothyroid post RAI now and on some thyroid hormone and get on some normal routine again where I can do more exercise than just walking.

Cannot tolerate heat either and for a while when I was drug induced hypothyroid on Methimazole back when, only time the heat did not affect me. It gets irritating at times, hopefully it will get better.

Seems some people have better luck than others. I have not as of yet and still hoping for that light at the end of the tunnel here yet you give me lots of hope! Thanks….beach

[beach45]

in reply to: Future weight gain? #1171605

Hello, I had RAI May 3, 2012, and did not put any weight on just yet. I am still hyperthyroid now 7+ weeks out post RAI. I gained about 20 pounds on antithyroid, Methimazole prior and never was able to take it off. I was told by my endocrinologist because I am still hyper, do not exercise except for slow walking.

I ask a lot of questions of my endocrinologist which weight gain was one of them prior to RAI; he told me that most people may gain up to 10 pounds post RAI once they go hypothyroid and that once the patient goes on the proper amount of Synthroid, that weight should even out. I was also told that I cannot eat the same as I did when I was hyperthyroid where I did not gain easily. That was me though as everyone is different. I had to adjust my diet. I went too hypothyroid at one time on Methimazole not being monitored more carefully. It is good to be monitored closely post RAI as I get blood tests every 3-4 weeks now and my endocrinologist said I should not have many problems post RAI if we catch me going hypothyroid in enough time. Plus he warned this is a slow process to get my body balanced so not to expect miracles and for some it can take up to a year to get balanced once the patient goes on thyroid hormone. I asked about TSH and where he keeps the patient and he said for me, over 50, that he plans to keep it around 2-3 which is actually where I know in past where I feel the best yet again everyone is different. Some doctors/endocrinologists keep TSH closer to 1. And some go by the older guidelines although the ones I know do not.

I just know for me it was a big effort to keep my weight down when I went hypothyroid on Methimazole and I am prepared now for when I do go hypothyroid post RAI yet levels make a difference too.

Wishing you the best of luck with this….beach

[beach45]

in reply to: RAI coming up…what to expect?? #1172553

Hello,

I had Radioactive Iodine Treatment (RAI) May 3, 2012. I was on Methimazole, antithyroid drug for 20 months prior. It did not work to get me into remission. I know I had a pretty bad case of Graves prior to treatment and I chose to use antithyroid drugs yet my doctors felt it would have been better to do the RAI first. At least I tried.

So I was nervous about RAI yet I educated myself as much as possible. I stayed away from negative sites/forums also.

It was not bad at all and even though I do not work currently, I probably would have been able to work right away afterwards. I had 15 millicuries (15 mCi) of the I-131/RAI. I asked my nuclear doctor a bunch of questions and he told me 2 whole days isolated was sufficient. I did 3 days myself and the rest of the time I was still very careful. I do not have children, yet my vet told me to stay away from my cats for 6 whole nights because they both sleep up near my neck. He did say I could have them near me for about 20 minutes tops while I sit on the sofa. My husband stayed away for 6 nights also because he just wanted to take extra precautions. The Nuclear department where you have the RAI will give you a sheet of what to do as precautions afterwards (they should). I received my post RAI instructions 2 days before when I had my Radioactive Uptake and Scan (I-123). I used throw away utensils, kept my laundry separate, flushed my toilet twice, drank a lot of water especially the first two days afterwards, and cleaned my bathroom up well afterwards. The instructions should tell you everything and I personally always ask a lot of questions.

That part which I was fearful of prior, was much easier than I thought.

I am going on eight weeks post RAI and I am still unfortuntely hyperthyroid. My endocrinologist told me being on antithyroid Methimazole for 20 months will help me not to have as much of an increase of heart rate post RAI when things get stirred up a bit. He explained what could happen post RAI as also a result also of me asking a lot of questions. Everyone is different. I have friends here who went hypothyroid in six weeks. My husband has a relative, a doctor who had RAI and did not go fully hypothyroid until one year afterwards. We all get different dosages of the I-131 depending on the uptake and what the endocrinologist decides, along with the nuclear doctor in my case. My endocrinologist said I would get 8-15 millicuries which I got the highest due to my circumstances. I no longer see an endocrinologist who gives only 30 millicuries to guarantee total ablation of the thyroid gland.

Kimberly, one of the online facilitators here on GDATF forum, provided the below link (I provided the one video) in a message on this forum, regarding the videos by doctors at the 2011 GDATF conference for patients and families. I found this video very helpful as I wish I had seen it prior to my RAI. It has a chart in it in one of the Powerpoint slides of post RAI and how many millicuries a person receives and days of precautions. I find it very helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNejWQCwB10&feature=plcp

Even though I am still hyperthyroid, my numbers are changing from four weeks ago thank goodness and I started feeling more myself a week ago. I also did not need a beta blocker or another round of Methimazole post RAI as I do some supplements and other stuff which my doctor is okay with yet I will not discuss that here. One note, for me my resting heart rate was much worse pre-Methimazole than post RAI these past few weeks. I will say for me about the 6th week post RAI my pulse started going into the 80s more consistently.
I monitored my heart rate with a pulse oximeter I have here post RAI to make sure I was not having a resting heart rate of over 100 bpm consistently because if so, my doctor would have given me a beta blocker. He reassured me that because I was on Methimazole so long pre-RAI, that I should not have major problems. I did okay, glad to be on the road to getting better and looking forward to hypo and going on to taking Sythroid or some T4.
I did not feel well at all pre Methimazole with my hyperthyroid symptoms and with 20 months on Methimazole and I actually have more moments of feeling better post RAI. We are all very different. Some do very well on antithyroid drugs; I know of others who live by me who had much success with RAI and are living productive lives taking Synthroid. My doctor actually has two patients post RAI who are eurothyroid never needing to take any T4.

Best of luck. Please keep up posted.

Beach

[beach45]

in reply to: TSH Testing Only Once Stabilized Post RAI #1172140

NLBatten, Thank you for sharing that as it does make me feel better about this post RAI situation.

My TSH prior to RAI was 0.130 and then with the blood test 3 weeks later was 0.005. Worse than even in 2010 when started Graves/hyperthyroid as it was 0.007; well not that big a difference!

Worried that 20 months on Methimazole was not a good thing. Although my doctor said if I stopped the medication 7 days prior to RAI, this should work.

My endocrinologist said like what you are saying; it is going to be up and down; now he told me for a long while in fact maybe a year. He’s a real honest guy! Did not want to hear that as I am finding out he likes to give a worse case scenario. He said some people go hypo at 6 weeks some much later. Not to worry and stop being anxious he told me yet I’m a worrier as partially because of so much up and down for months on Methimazole I’m ready to get off this rollercoaster. Why he said to me, well you could have done surgery! Well he did not discuss in such detail before RAI as he is now post RAI yet I won’t get into that.

I appreciate that as yes I’ll hang in there. As we know, this is not easy yet I think there is a rainbow out there somewhere! My endo said like you all of a sudden you will start going hypothyroid and he said in between you will probably feel pretty good. I know hypo being there twice on Methimazole and one time especially it was miserable. He said don’t get a gun! LOL! I know it takes time and that my doctor is testing me every 4 weeks as some of the endos wait 6-8 weeks in between and my internist if he had given me RAI would have waited every 3 months between testing. My endo said that is not good.

So please keep us posted. I will try to share my story too as right now I’m in a bad mood about all this yet I will get over it. Lots of patience needed! Good luck in your journey!…beach

[beach45]

in reply to: TSH Testing Only Once Stabilized Post RAI #1172138

MVK,

It definitely is something to think about. My book here that is also recommended by the GDATF “The Complete Thyroid Book” by Kenneth Ain, M.D. and M. Sara Rosenthal, Ph.D., chapter 12 says that “about one-third of the time a second treatment with I-131 is needed to provide sufficient treatment.” Well I kind of wish I had taken that more seriously prior to my decision and I wish I had really read that paragraph provided in this book. I was treated 20 months with Methimazole prior and I hope even though they say that stopping the medication 7 days prior to RAI should make the I-131 work, I am now wondering. It now is 1 day past my 1 month post RAI and I do not feel well at all and feeling more hyperthyroid still. I feel my endocrinologist did not go over very well what can happen post RAI as he did this past week after the fact. I was told now even do not exercise until I start to go hypothyroid and get balanced. That moods can go up and down for 1 year post RAI and that with the TT you get on thyroid hormone right away and acted like well you should have known all this. I only knew stuff because I researched through good books and solid medical journals and talking with other medical practitioners yet if I had all the facts given to me out on the table, and I asked about how well his patients did and I did not get a good answer pre-RAI. Well after I do get better, someone is going to hear from me and I will make sure moving forward, that patients are made more aware so they can make the most informed choices. I also realize that there is no perfection with any of the treatments and given my extreme sensitivities to medications and treatments and surgeries, I was on the fence myself what to do. I personally think that doctors need to take individuals into consideration and not that we are all lab values. I will not go into any more details because I do not want to influence others who may want to take RAI eventually because there are people I know who it went very smooth for and then some who it did not.

Well I hope you do get off the beta blocker soon. My bp is too low to consider right now yet I keep checking my pulse. I’m having terrible insomnia again so it is like when I was hyperthyroid. Also terrible headaches which it is very rare in my 50+ years to ever have gotten a headache ever! So I have to give this time and patience and know enough if I feel too miserable to either go to the ER or my primary doctor as my endocrinologist is 1-1/2 hours away. I have a friend here who had RAI 7 years ago and she did not have a fun time the first few months post RAI so I know I’m not alone and I keep saying this too shall pass and it will be much better before I know it!

So best of luck with this and keep us posted!….beach45

[beach45]

in reply to: TSH Testing Only Once Stabilized Post RAI #1172136

That is cool mvk! Well my TSH is low too and Free T4 and Free T3 elevated. I’m kind of upset right now as it’s like I’m going in the wrong direction yet my doctor says this happens post RAI with some people and that don’t worry it will calm down in time; or else another dosage of RAI if by 6 months no improvement. That is questionable because if that ever happened, I think I’d go with the thyroid surgery. He is concerned yet said he has to see me every month to make sure my heart rate is okay and I cannot take a beta blocker if my heart rate is not consistently over 100 bpm yet it is around 96-98. My blood pressure is lower so he doesn’t want to introduce something until I have consistently high heart rate. So June 20th is the next blood work. I felt better here and there and then I get these spikes of anxiety. It was 20 months on Methimazole up and down and now this post RAI and I think I’m just losing patience. Plus my doctor did not tell me about what happens post RAI and I know other patient’s who have similar yet I think it is better if they advise patients first. I’m glad to hear you are doing well and I am being optimistic I will get there too in time!…beach45

[beach45]

in reply to: TSH Testing Only Once Stabilized Post RAI #1172134

Bobbi, Thank your for the quick response!

My endocrinologist is also a professor at a Medical University. Apparently, these medical practitioners in this endocrinology group are up on the lastest and greatest. His concern is just that; bone loss and heart rate levels for over 50s. Keep the TSH at a reasonable level. Some endocrinologists want to keep TSH at 1 and I know of two, one practicing for many years and a Harvard Graduate, another a Thyroid doctor. The latter is not in my area.

I am seeing there is no universal agreement like you say about replacement hormone being the best.

I am actually too ahead of this anyway. Yet I like to know ahead of time. Right now I’m still very hyperthyroid at 4 weeks yet of course it is too early and I know some endocrinologists do lab test post RAI every 6 weeks. This is a very different story though and I may post about my post RAI journey thus far. I know it takes a while. My endo said that some start going hypothyroid about 6 weeks post RAI, some much longer and he will give me up to 6 months. TSH right now is just about 0. Joy!

Thanks again. I always get great information here!

beach45

[beach45]

in reply to: how long till brain is back? #1172004

Catstuart, Thank you and I hope it all works out well for you on the PTU. It does take time and we are all so unique with how we respond to the different treatments for Graves disease. I wish sometimes it had worked out well for me to get into remission with antithyroid Methimazole, yet it just did not happen and yes it truly was a rollercoaster yet I have faith that now post RAI that things will get much better in time. It will for you too!….beach

[beach45]

in reply to: Had labs this weekend should get results this week–tired of Methemazole #1172088

Darcy, Sending you positive thoughts and vibes that your results are good.

I had a bad time on the antithyroid drug Methimazole (MMI). That is just me though. In the 20 months on this medication, I gained 20 pounds, went hypothyroid two times and the one time I was too much into hypoland probably because it was 3 months before I got another blood test, I was very depressed, sluggish, could not think, and had so much joint pain throughout my body. I was so puffed up and bloated and I was very uncomfortable. I realize now that it may have been because I was not regulated properly and not tested frequently enough on the medication. The first doctor who diagosed me back in August 2010, warned me it was very difficult to get some people regulated properly with Methimazole and that it takes a lot of blood testing and altering dosages. My last endocrinologist, as I had three so far (one I liked left my area), would not dose me on 2.5 mg as he said if I cannot be regulated on 5 mg dosages up or down, that I had to consider RAI or TT. He said we do not dose on 2.5 increments. By this time I was so disgusted with going up and down hypo, hyper, etc., etc., I decided to go for the RAI early this May. My endocrinologist commented this does not happen to everyone. I had put together an excel spreadsheet from the start in September of 2010, my MMI dosages, my blood work results and my physical changes during the timeframe I was on the different dosages. My doctors, including my endocrinologist, found this very beneficial in my treatment because it showed how up and down I was on this medication. I did exactly what you did eat right, exercise even though I could hardly move, keep stress down, surround myself with positive people, stayed off of certain sites on the Internet that would depress me more, and telling myself that this too shall pass! (It was a struggle keeping stress down as my elderly mother had from December 2010 – January 2012 major medical issues and I am the only daughter and her POA living by her to help out and the stress at times was overbearing.) My internist wanted to put me on antidepressants. I kept telling these doctors I am depressed because my levels are not right for me. Sure enough when my MMI dosage was reduced, about 6 weeks later I felt more myself; no more depression. It has been a constant battle for me and in my area there are not many good endocrinologists who work with thyroid and it is very difficult to switch or to find one to work with you; mine goes by lab values only, not symptoms so forget about me saying certain things about how I feel. I did not care though I still put my physical changes on my excel sheet. I felt better a little hyperthyroid yet I know that too it is not good for my heart or bones. Of course, balance is the key here. Things will get better yet in time. I believe this for myself now having RAI yet I also have seen people go into remission on Methimazole or PTU or whatever antithyroid medication or stay on low doses and maintain levels pretty good with frequent blood work. It just did not work out for me. I found I need a lot of patience with this disease and levels do not change overnight. I am not happy with the fact even going back toward hyperthyroid I have not lost the weight and fearful I’m going to gain more after RAI when I start going toward hypothyroid again. Yet I have to focus on getting well and that this is all just a stepping stone to where I need to be. It will get better because I have seen others get better also in time whether it is remission with antithyroid drugs or post RAI or TT.

Yes one day at a time and it is not always easy yet we will get there.

Best of luck with your results and journey with this disease!

beach

[beach45]

in reply to: Controversy over T4 vs. a T3 / T4 combo #1171982

NLBatten, Your welcome and I am happy for your response here!

Yes the facilitators here definitely come through always with beneficial advice and information. I hestitate on other forums because there is too much confusing information for me at times and some misinformation unfortunately also.

I appreciate your sharing your story with me. I had a miserable time on Methimazole (MMI) where my levels went hypothyroid pretty bad and I gained so much weight, was depressed and sluggish, aching all over and tired. Problem with me I’ve been tired for so long even before Graves diagnosis in 2010 that because I was told I was slightly hyperthyroid off and on for years prior, I do not know if I just never really was balanced; I experienced tiredness with both hyper and hypo. I am waiting for that hypo crash as I thought when I was drug induced hypothyroid I was in a dungeon! My internist wanted me to go on antidepressants at that time as my endo appointment was not due and it is very difficult for me to get into these endos to begin with around here, so I just said let’s please decrease my MMI dosage. Sure enough about 6 weeks later I was myself again as I’m not the depressed type in my entire 50+ years to begin with. I knew it was about thyroid levels not being balanced yet I find here my doctors don’t listen yet a different problem than what we are discussing here.

Wow that is a drastic jump. Sounds like me when I got dropped with MMI 5 mg. I was miserable when my TSH was only 3.3 and when it was 13 I did not even recognize myself. So probably why my doctor is checking me so frequently as I have a chart of all my Methimazole dosages, blood work including TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 and physical changes (even though my endo made it clear he does not go by symptoms only lab values and he is very firm about this!).

That is a good point that it takes time for levels to catch up. Yes, I’ve been on that very rollercoaster with MMI and I am prepared for anything right now post RAI. I said to my endo I know some people where post RAI it was pretty easy. He laughed and said that doesn’t happen too often.

I’m sorry to hear you are still having hypo symptoms. That made me crazy when I was very hypo and I couldn’t wait to have the effects wear off. My whole body ached so much, I was so bloated, well my hair was already dry and falling out for at least 5 years or more, and yes I notice that my nails were lousy although they were never great, and I think what bothered me the most was the weight gain and depression and feeling lethargic. Yet my endo says if he catches me at the right moment I should not have many hypo symptoms. Well I will confirm things with him this Wednesday when I see him as I am a bit anxious yet I try not to be as I am hearing this process takes a lot of time and patience.

I hope that things start going much better for you real soon. That is right I need to be patient and I don’t know if this new territory I am in will be worse than the 20 months of up and down on Methimazole, yet I’m somewhat ready. Well I guess I do not have much choice! I wish in some ways I was better regulated on the Methimazole as I know people who do just fine on it; it just did not work out for me. I hope that I can do that with my endo if I start feeling more hypo between blood testing because he says he only goes by lab values and he doesn’t want to hear about symptoms. Yet I still would call and I am going to discuss this with him Wednesday that I am concerned if I feel like I’m going hypo, can I get testing earlier! That’s right dosages can change and it can take a long while. From talking with people in I know who had RAI, a couple had no problems with hypo symptoms and got on the right amount of thyroid hormone right away when levels changed and then a couple of people had a lot of problems getting just the right dosage yet in time everything worked out just fine for them too.

I am fortunate I am not working although I wasn’t because my moods were out of control since Graves set in, 2010 and I never felt right. I actually feel better right now 3 weeks post RAI than I have in a very long time. Whether it was MMI making me feel miserable or maybe my levels are already stabilizing, I do not know. I am looking forward to balance and getting a job. I hope things get better for you soon because I cannot imagine working in a stressful job as I did for many years and dealing with all this. I do know of some it takes about 6-8 weeks to really start feeling better and my endo said that once I get on thyroid hormone, he said average is about 6 months to get stabilzed yet then again, every patient is different. Well I have to confirm this with him also.

I wish you good luck on your journey and please keep us posted.

beach45

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