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in reply to: On ATD two years-plus? #1183746

Hi All,

I’ve been on mmi for 2.5 years. I’ve been on 2.5 mg for the past year and was doing well at that dose, but in September, my Endo felt I could go 2.5 mg every other day. Unfortunately, that change seemed to rock the boat and trigger some symptoms, so I went back to 2.5 mg every day. I’ll just try to reduce again at a later time. Does anyone see a benefit in splitting daily dose…does it matter?

Nice thread and very informative…let’s keep each other posted with updates.

James

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in reply to: Share your Success Story! #1183865

genuinruby wrote:

Life goes on, no matter what path we choose. I know that, for myself, “success” was achieved when I realized I could go weeks, without obsessing over my thyroid (or, now lack of it).
Ruby in Reno

I agree wholeheartedly!!!

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in reply to: Share your Success Story! #1183858

Thanks Shirley!…I appreciate it. I followed many of your posts when I joined this forum and always found them very informative and helpful, so thank you very much for your feedback. This forum helped me get through a rough time, so it’s my pleasure to write an encouraging post.

Exactly, you hit the nail on the head…Graves was actually a good thing (as weird as that may sound)…it was a way for my body to slap me in the face and tell me to slow down…we can treat Graves and live a normal life, but a heart attack can be fatal…and diabetes is no walk in the park either (both my parents have type 2).

Take care!
James

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in reply to: Share your Success Story! #1183856

Hi All,

It’s been a year since I’ve checked in and happen to see this post. I haven’t reached the light at the end of the tunnel yet, and who knows what the future holds, but I’ve felt back to normal over the past year and Graves no longer has a grip over my life like it did a few years ago.

I’ve been taking 2.5 mg of mmi for the past two years and doing well at that dose. Since I’m feeling good on mmi, I’m in no rush to rock the boat and try one of the other treatments. I still have the possibility of going into remission, so we’ll see.

Getting Graves was a wake up call for me, because I now try to eat right and work on my health. Prior to Graves, I was probably going down the road of having a heart attack or getting diabetes…on the day my Graves was triggered (with a rapid heartbeat), I ate a personal pepperoni pizza, a Philly cheese steak…topped off with EIGHT warm Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts…I’m surprised I didn’t drop dead that day…I really think all the processed foods is killing us….and I’m sure plays a part in triggering autoimmune diseases. I’m currently trying to eat as many whole foods as possible, but it’s so hard not to cheat once in a while.

Stay strong everyone and I hope we all tame that GD beast and not let it run our lives.

Best,
James

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in reply to: Out of remission #1182507

Thanks Kim- good to know.

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in reply to: Help with Lab Results please #1182575

Good points- thanks Kim!

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in reply to: Help with Lab Results please #1182573

Kimberly wrote:

The most common stats I’ve heard on remission on Anti-Thyroid Drugs is 30-50%. There was a recent study out of Sweden that put remission rates a little higher, around 58%:

This study also found that large goiters and being a current smoker reduced the chances for remission.

Do you think the US has lower remission rates due to a short term use of atds (6 – 18 months) vs. longer term use?

@Kim- have you heard of any studies that reported reduced chances of remission after you show signs of TED?

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in reply to: Long term use of ATDs #1182549

Thanks for asking this question Brondack, because I’m also interested in long term use until possibly going into remission.

I know that several people are on atds long term…and I remember seeing that atds are used long term in Japan and other countries.

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in reply to: Out of remission #1182505

@Khandi/@missygail – has your only treatment been Anti thyroid drugs?

I was diagnosed with Graves back in April 2013. I’ve been maintaining my health on 5 mg of mmi (when I dropped to 2.5 mg after 6 months, I started getting some mild TED with my right eye and my TSH dropped back down out of range…My ranges are all good now after a month @ 5mg).

My goal is to reach remission and ride it out as long as I can. And like missygail, if I relapse, I would go back to mmi.

I’m assuming it’s possible to reach remission again after relapsing???

Thanks,
James

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in reply to: Methimazole dosing #1180463

Khadijah wrote:

Oh my, I tried cutting a 10 mg pill in half and it crumbled. I can’t imagine cutting it in fourths? I totally see just licking the crumbs

I just picked up a pill cutter from CVS Pharmacy…it cuts 10mg in half pretty cleanly…and I’m sure it’ll work cutting a half of pill into halves. Your local pharmacy should also have a good pill cutter.

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in reply to: Doctors #1180152

Kimberly wrote:

Hello – there is an endo shortage throughout the continent, so even in the U.S., I know of patients who travel long distances (some 3-4 hours) to get in to see a specialist that they have confidence in.

Isn’t that the truth…I’m in the wrong profession…when my primary doc referred me to an Endo, there was a 3 to 4 month wait in the Philly area. Luckily, one practice worked with me to get me in within two weeks, but they had to wait for a cancellation.

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in reply to: Break-neck speed? #1180084

Good luck with your RAI Barbara!

I was diagnosed with GD in May (started Beta blocker and blood thinner for afib), and was scheduled for the RAI 1st week in June. Decided to postpone RAI for several reasons. Now going the MMI and healthy diet route for now. If no remission within a few years, a TT has moved up on my list.

My dad had success with the RAI when he was around my age…he’s about to turn 85 and just checks his levels twice a year and has been stable on synthyroid.

All the best,
James

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in reply to: Gabe’s Total Thyroidectomy Journal – 5/31/13 #1179633

My doctor said about 10-15% of GD patients will get TED, but it appears that most on this forum have mild or severe TED.

@Shirley- looking at your signature info.- you had a TT in 1959, but developed TED in 2008??? Was GD in remission then flared up?

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in reply to: Just diagnosed yesterday – Graves and Hashimoto #1180022

@ Karen -I think I asked you this, but do you still have afib, or did you go back to normal heart rhythm? I know you said, your heart rate speeds up sometimes, was curious if your afib went away?…Thanks.

James

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in reply to: Surgery vs. Iodine #1179998

Thanks Kimberly. Have you ever been close to remission, or are you still waiting for your TSI to reduce? I’m only 3 weeks on mmi, so I’m at the beginning of this journey, but the ATD/remission route is appealing, but I’m aware that some people relapse if they stop ATDs early.

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