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Patrick wrote:…since my Endo said he is going to wait to do the io/rad because my levels are normal, shouldn’t I feel normal and why am I still having to take xanzx to get rid of the anxiety/anger feeling I am still having.Why isn’t the meth/propol taking care of my symptoms…
PatrickHi Patrick – I would definitely run this one past your doctor. I know that once our thyroid levels return to normal, it still may take some time for our bodies to fully recover from the effects of being hyperthyroid. However, I would expect that you should be feeling *some* relief if your levels are in the normal range now.
I would encourage you to get copies of every set of labs that you have run, and for each individual test (1) note whether or not you are in the "normal range" and (2) note whether your levels are rising or falling from previous tests. This will help you have a more constructive conversation with your doc at each visit. I keep mine in a 3-ring notebook and bring it to every appointment.
in reply to: Endoscopic Thyroidectomy #1066316Hello – I am not familiar with that procedure — hopefully, one of the other facilitators can jump in here. We don’t recommend specific docs, but you can do a search by state on http://www.thyroid.org, which is the web site for the American Thyroid Association.
Beths49 wrote: Any input here would be greatly appreciated. I do have the fast heartbeat, but it’s not always fast. He said I could take the medication or not but that the thyroid levels would not get better if I didn’t. I asked if I could use a beta blocker instead but he said that would not take care of the Graves disease. Thanks for help!Hello – Your doc is correct that the Beta Blocker will help the fast heartbeat, but it won’t address your hyperthyroidism. It’s important that you *do* select one of the three treatment options to deal with your hyperthyroidism (Anti-Thyroid Drugs like Methimazole or Radioactive Iodine or Thyroidectomy). All three treatment options have pros and cons, so this is a decision that should be made in conjunction with your doctor.
I was exactly in your shoes about 2 1/2 years ago…my Graves’ was caught in a routine checkup, and I felt like the meds were making me feel *worse*. However, unchecked hyperthyroidism can cause heart issues and bone/muscle wasting…and in extreme cases, the body can go into thyroid storm, which can be fatal. The serious side effects from anti-thyroid drugs are fairly rare, and the good news is that they can generally be reversed if you stop taking the drug. Also, keep in mind that most patients are able to reduce their initial dose of the drug once thyroid levels return to normal. If you decide to proceed with the anti-thyroid drugs, familiarize yourself with the warnings that come with the drug, and make sure to contact your doctor ASAP if you have any of the warning symptoms listed, such as an extreme sore throat with fever. Feel free to post questions here on the treatment options…or any other issues of concern. There are a lot of knowledgeable folks here.
Hi Lissa – Yep, the wait for a specialist can be very frustrating! But perhaps if you called the office to ask about the rash and the sore throat, they could give you some guidance before your visit on Thursday. My understanding is that the sore throat is usually REALLY bad if it is the white blood cell issue…but your doc’s office might want to err on the side of caution and check your WBC anyway. Best of luck!
Corinne wrote: But the weight gain, which isn’t as typical as weight loss, really is getting to me! I find myself hoping that I will lose it all when I get treated, but I don’t think that will happen. I also have been avoiding working out, because its not good for my body when its in turmoil, and because I get out of breath really easily.Hi Corinne – There are a LOT more of us struggling with weight gain than you might expect! I asked about this at the last conference, and one of the docs said that there *might* be a "resetting" of metabolism for some people who have thyroid issues. I know that my metabolism is very different than it was when I was diagnosed in 2007. Of course, I’m now over 40, so that might have something to do with it as well. ” title=”Very Happy” />
You might check with your doctor as to whether there are any activities that he/she feels would be safe for you. Trying to work out when we are hypER is dangerous — but as our levels come back into the normal range, it’s good to get those muscles stretched out and moving again.
Hi Patrick – Welcome to the boards! Yep, we can all relate to the fatigue, the anxiety, and the raging emotions. The good news is that those issues get better once our thyroid levels are stabilized and our bodies have had a chance to heal. Also, it sounds like you have a great support system, which is really important. Your wife is welcome to post here as well.
Wow, 1500 clients? Sounds like you are a typical "Type A" personality, as many Graves patients are (myself included). ” title=”Very Happy” /> Is there any way you can get some help on the job? As you go through the healing process, it’s really important to establish priorities and set boundaries so that you aren’t taking on too much.
It would be great if you could luck out and keep your levels in the "normal" range. But if you find you are creeping hypER again, you do have three treatment options: ATDs, RAI, or Thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid). Each option has its own pros and cons. There are members on this board who have been through all three options, so feel free to ask questions.
Lissa wrote: Not sure if you are suppose to have sore throats but i find I do have a constant sore throat .Oops, I meant to reply to this as well. It’s a good idea to run this past your doctor, as he/she might want to do a White Blood Cell (WBC) Count to make sure that your WBC levels are OK. One of the rare side effects of the anti-thyroid drugs is that one’s WBC levels can become severely depleted. One of the symptoms of this is a *really* bad sore throat, often accompanied by fever. If it’s just a minor sore throat, this could be from the scan that you had done…but again, it’s a good idea to check with your doc.
Lissa wrote: My gp had started me on some meds which gave me itchyness and made me feel worse so I stopped taking them .Hi Lissa – Was it your doctor that recommended you stop taking the meds? The reason I ask is that if you are hypERthyroid, this does need to be treated to avoid potential complications such as heart issues and muscle/bone wasting.
If you haven’t spoken to your doctor’s office about this, please contact them. There are two different anti-thyroid meds: Methimazole/Tapazole and PTU. Some patients who have itching issues with one will do OK on the other. If the itching is mild, your doc might recommend an anti-histamine — but if you have a severly allergic reaction, your doctor will probably recommend that you pursue a different treatment option, such as RAI or Surgery.
If you (and your doc) decide to stay the course with the anti-thyroid drugs, it is important to take them on a regular schedule, without missing any doses. Although the meds start working immediately to block production of NEW thyroid hormone, it can take a few weeks for the body to use up its existing stores of hormone — so it might take a little while to get some relief from your hypER symptoms. Also, I found myself very run down during the first couple of months on the meds, as my body had gotten used to being in a hypER state — so it took some adjusting to get used to "normal." Hang in there — and feel free to post questions here. There are many knowledgeable folks on these boards!
Best of luck!
in reply to: Diet Questions #1066373Hello – If you do a search for “weigh” or “weight” or “diet”, you can see that you are definitely not alone. Regardless of the treatment approach (RAI, Anti-Thyroid Drugs, Surgery), many patients do struggle with weight issues. In fact, we had a weekly weigh-in going for a while on the boards for those who were trying to lose weight, but it kind of fizzled out.
You will hear all sorts of different suggestions in terms of diet. In general, the more you can focus on whole foods and eliminate packaged/processed foods, the better. I’ve been a Weight Watchers Lifetime member since 2004, so I still count POINTS. I’m about 10 pounds over my goal weight right now, but I do think that’s been helpful in keeping my weight gain *somewhat* in check.
Also, here are a few suggestions from a nutritionist who presented at last year’s conference:
1. Include breakfast daily within 2 hours of waking up.
2. Don’t go longer than 5 hours in between meals
3. Select “high volume” and “high fiber” foods such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains
4. Limit servings of healthy fats to 1 per day
5. Prioritize at LEAST 7 hours of sleep a night
6. Do 150 minutes per week of physical activity, plus strength training 2 times per week.Hopefully, others will chime in with their suggestions as well.
in reply to: Is there anybody out there? #1066439PAT1953 wrote:Kimberly, Are you wearing the medical bracelet because of Graves Disease? If so why? Just curious if I should be wearing one for Graves. Thanks. PattiHi Patti – I bought mine last summer because I was going by myself on a 3-week tour of Europe. I figured that it would be good to have in the unlikely event that I had a problem. I put that I had Graves’ Disease, and added my doctor’s phone number and my parents’ phone number. I never needed it, but I figured it was a good precaution to have as a solo traveller.
Now I pretty much just wear it when I am working out…especially if I am out walking without my regular ID. Again, just a precaution. In one of my prior jobs, I worked in Risk Management, so that is just my nature. ” title=”Very Happy” />
in reply to: Prism glasses #1066391Thanks so much for this info…it could be really helpful to someone who is newly struggling with double vision issues. Congrats on getting the green light on your strabismus surgery — this must be a huge relief!
in reply to: What to do??? #1066389Hi Tamara – Please check with your doctor ASAP on this. For a mild rash, some docs will have the patient continue taking the anti-thyroid meds along with an anti-histamine. For more serious cases, the meds might need to be reduced or discontinued. Your doctor is in the best position to make this call.
To add to ewmb’s comment, you might check with your pharmacy to see if they have switched from brand to generic…or if they are now using a different manufacturer.
Best of luck!
BrookeRN wrote: I went to the endocrinologist yesterday and my TSH was normal. She didn’t change my antithyroid medication yet and didn’t offer much of an explanation as to why I am still symptomatic. Is it normal to still have symptoms even though the lab values normalize? I’m still having insomnia, tachycardia, light sensitivity with my eyes/burning eyes, and mood swings. Does acupuncture help? Are there supplements that are good to take? I’ve read that balancing trace minerals like copper can make a difference but that a hair analysis is recommended first.Hello – Did your doc also order a Free T3 and Free T4 test? Many patients have to *demand* these tests, as they are more expensive and some docs won’t automatically order them. However, since these tests measure the actual level of thyroid hormone in your body, they really give you the best picture in terms of whether your levels are stabilizing and whether your dosage of Anti-Thyroid Drugs needs to be adjusted.
The eye problems are actually a separate issue, and won’t necessarily correspond to your thyroid levels. However, if your Free T3 and Free T4 are in the "normal" range, you should start to see some relief from the tachycardia, insomnia, and mood swings. If this isn’t the case, definitely check with your doctor.
As for supplements, I would check with your doc on this as well. There are tons of different opinions as to which supplements are best for Graves, so you definitely want an experienced doctor or nutritionist on your team to help with this issue.
in reply to: Things that inhibit t4 to t3 converstion #1066376Just a quick note on the nutrient deficiencies…definitely check with a doctor or nutritionist before beginning a supplementation program. Some nutrients are most helpful when taken in proper combination with other nutrients. And some over-the-counter supplements *far* exceed the Recommended Daily Allowance of certain nutrients. And for those who are taking Anti-Thyroid Drugs, extra iodine can interfere with the meds. It’s best to have an expert on your team to make sure you are getting the most benefit from your supplements…without doing any unintended harm.
in reply to: Is there anybody out there? #1066436Magnus wrote: But is my immune system going to be compromised in general and for as long as I’m taking the tiamazol even without this side-effect?Hi Magnus – Welcome to the boards! I have actually heard some different opinions on this one. I was told that yes, the anti-thyroid drugs can slightly supress our immune systems. When I started on the drugs, I was told to avoid being around anyone who had recently had a "live" vaccine, due to the risk of me catching whatever disease they had been vaccinated against. A lot of other patients have been told this as well…but one of the doctors who spoke at our conference last fall thought this was overkill and that we were being TOO cautious.
Personally, I figure "better safe than sorry", so I am super careful with the hand-washing thing…and with using a tissue (if I can) to open doors in public places. I was washing my hands in the restroom at the gym a couple of weeks ago, and this woman next to me said, "you must work in the medical profession." I said no, and asked why she thought that. I thought she was going to say something about the medical ID tag on my wrist, but instead, she said, "it’s because of the way you were washing your hands." I told her I was just a germophobe. ” title=”Very Happy” />
The good news is that (knock on wood), I have so far had fewer colds and illnesses in the 2.5 years that I’ve been on the anti-thyroid drugs. Probably a combination of obsessive hand-washing, eating healthier, and sleeping more. But definitely keep an eye out for the symptoms your doc described and get your white blood cell count done ASAP if they do show up. Best of luck!
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