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in reply to: Feels like PMS all the time #1185546
Hello – Like Liz1967, I’ve not heard of this as a side effect of levothyroxine. Have you started or stopped any other meds or supplements during this time period? If your doc lets you communicate via email, it would be worth sending a quick message!
in reply to: Baseline White Blood Cell Count #1185542Hello and welcome – hopefully, others here will chime in with their experiences. The American Thyroid Association recommends “reconsidering” whether to start ATDs if the baseline absolute neutrophil count is <1000mm3. Normal ranges can vary from lab to lab, but my understanding is that this is *below* the normal range. The ATA also notes that low WBC is a common occurrence with Graves'.
Potential signs & symptoms of a serious side effect with antithyroid meds include sore throat with fever and mouth sores. Check with your doc in advance on what to do if you should experience these issues. Most will ask you to call ASAP and come in for a blood test; they might also have you stop the meds until the results are back.
in reply to: Links between thyroid, cholesterol, diabetes #1185539Two minutes after posting, found this interesting article from the American Thyroid Association!
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/ct.2019%3B31.8-10
in reply to: Links between thyroid, cholesterol, diabetes #1185538As Liz1967 noted, there is definitely a connection with thyroid and cholesterol. In the last few years, medical guidance has been updated to recommend thyroid function testing for any new identified cases of high cholesterol – and getting thyroid levels under control before recommending meds!
Hello – It used to be that docs would insist on stopping anti-thyroid drug therapy after 18-24 months, but the latest guidance from the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (which is located in the “Treatment Options” thread in the announcements section of the forum) actually does leave the door open for longer-term use if that is the patient’s preference. With PTU, there is a specific issue that increases in risk the longer you are on the meds (ANCA-positive vasculitis), but I’m not sure if this is an issue with methimazole.
This piece from the American Thyroid Association’s 2017 meeting might be of interest, although most of the patients had reduced to around 5 mg/day
in reply to: Levothyroxine absorption #1185533Thanks, this is an interesting read!
Last year, the FDA approved a liquid version of Tirosint that could potentially be helpful to people with GI issues. It was supposed to be on the market in six months, but I haven’t seen anything yet about its availability.
in reply to: Share your Success Story! #1183882Hello and welcome! Thanks for sharing your story. I wonder if you were given PTU as a child. There is actually a genetic trait that affects how your taste buds perceive PTU…those who find PTU to be bitter are called “supertasters”! Here’s an interesting read on the topic: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/super-tasting-science-find-out-if-youre-a-supertaster/
Take care!
in reply to: Post Radioactive Iodine treatment #1185531Hello and welcome – Hopefully, others who have had RAI will chime in here. Definitely be persistent with your doctor if your neck pain is severe. There is a specific condition called “Radiation Thyroiditis” that occurs in about 1% of patients and causes the thyroid gland to become painfully inflamed. This is generally treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
If you are on Facebook, you might also be interested in our closed group there, as it tends to get a lot more activity. Once you request to join and agree to abide by the guidelines, requests are turned around within one business day.
To get there, visit our FB page and select “Visit Group.”
in reply to: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah. #1185529Thanks, Flora!
in reply to: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah. #1185527Thanks for the kind wishes, Barbra – here’s to a great 2019!
So sorry to hear that your mom is struggling, but glad that you found us.
She is certainly welcome to call or email the GDATF at 877-643-3123 or info (at) gdatf (dot) org. We can’t give medical advice, but we can provide credible information and support.
You both might also find our patient bulletins and videos helpful. The “What’s Wrong With Me – I’m Not Myself Anymore” bulletin (first link below) and the “Emotional Aspects of Graves’ Disease” video (second link below) are especially helpful.
https://gdatf.org/about/about-graves-disease/patient-education/whats-wrong-with-me/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB8_5rbCso8&t=1425s
Wishing you and your mom all the best.
in reply to: Breasts getting larger? Rash? #1185514Hello – I’ve not heard of the specific issues you are mentioning (although certainly overall weight gain can be an issue). Perhaps your gynecologist can provide some additional insight.
If you’ve made any other changes in meds (such going on or off birth control pills), that could potentially be a cause for the discomfort. Also, some patients can have reactions to the dyes/fillers in replacement hormone products – but that would certainly be unusual if that was the *only* place you were seeing a reaction!
in reply to: Hi – I’m new and have some questions #1185505Hello and welcome – We are fellow patients here and aren’t allowed to interpret labs or make a diagnosis. It would be helpful for you to get hard copies of your labs to see where you are in reference to your lab’s “normal” range.
Report any suspected side effects to your doctor or pharmacist – you definitely want a professional opinion on this!
Also ask your doc about your exercise routine, as you don’t want to overstress your heart at this point.
The current theory is that certain individuals are genetically predisposed to getting an autoimmune disease — and then some “trigger” actually activates the disease. Suspected triggers can include viral illness, stress, something in the environment, or physical trauma.
There’s not a “best time” to take Tapazole that I’m aware of, but it *is* important to pick a time when you know you can be consistent. For most of us, that ends up being first thing in the morning.
Take care – and keep us posted!
in reply to: Biotin supplements #1185503Yes, this is starting to get a lot of attention at physician conferences. The good news is that stopping the Biotin for a few days prior to testing allows it to clear your system.
Just one more reason to make sure that your endo and primary care doctors know about ALL of the supplements that you are taking!
Update: Dr. Ronald Cohen with University of Chicago Medicine will be doing a Q&A on medical management of hyperthyroidism.
Hope you can join us if you are in the Chicago area!
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