[Kimberly]

in reply to: GDF Conference Info #1072228

Thanks, Peter and Dianne – I’ve never been to Charlotte, so I am very excited!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: POLL: what positive things have come about in your life… #1072373

Interesting thread! Here are a few of mine…

1. All the great people I’ve met through various Internet groups and boards (including this one) and attending last year’s NGDF conference.

2. I have really been working on my stress management over the last few months, because I have found a definite link between stress and my T3/T4 heading into hyper territory. I have been doing weekly Reiki sessions and have been trying to do some meditation every night. I’m learning to not get angry over the continuing drama where I work. Hopefully, that will have a positive impact on my overall health in the future.

3. I was already eating pretty healthy before diagnosis, but even more so now. I have really cut back on processed foods, as well as gluten and dairy. (I find that my stomach is happier with less dairy and gluten – I tried eliminating them completely but that was WAY too high maintenance and stressful. See #2. )

4. I’m getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night, as opposed to 6-7.

5. I’m much more appreciative of the days that I feel good.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: New Member – Trouble with the Medicine #1072417

Hi Christy – It’s possible that you just can’t tolerate either med, as that happens with some folks. However, have you tried varying whether you take the pills with or without food? When I started on Methimazole, I took a pill first thing in the morning, and it made me very sick to my stomach. Then I started taking it with a glass of milk or a banana, and that helped.

Good luck!
Kimberly

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Are these numbers indicative of Graves in my future? #1072423

Hello,

I think that everyone’s path is different. The first time my TSH was flagged as out of range was in May 2007, and it was 0.07. Further testing showed that my FT3 and FT4 were out of range on the high side. I have a copy of my labs from 2 years prior, and my TSH was 4.1. Some newer lab ranges actually consider that to be on the hypo side — although it was considered "normal" at the time.

It’s good that you are taking an active role in your own healthcare by doing your research, but I wouldn’t say that your labs are definitely a sign of Graves disease in progress, especially since your FT3 and FT4 are on the low end.

There are cases of "subclinical" Graves or "euthyroid" Graves, where the antibodies are present, but FT3/FT4 are normal. Someone with more experience in this area can probably jump in, but I believe the approach used in these cases is more of a "wait and see" to determine if hyperthyroidism eventually occurs.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Understanding PTU and Lag Time #1072514

I just want to re-iterate Ski’s comment that you should have labs done if you start feeling hypo. If this happens, it’s important to be aggressive and get them done ASAP — as opposed to waiting for your next scheduled appointment.

Some people respond FAST to ATDs — I did. I went from being hyperthyroid to being on the very lowest end of the "normal" range in just 8 weeks. My endo did my initial dosing off of TSH instead of T4, and I would have ended up seriously hypo if I hadn’t thrown a fit and demanded a new set of labs when I felt miserable. She finally decided to listen to me when she saw that my Free T3 and Free T4 were scraping the bottom of the "normal" barrel.

Good luck!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: diet/supplement suggestions #1072754

You didn’t mention if you are still hyperthyroid…or at normal levels with ATDs. If so, you will want to make sure any supplements (like a multivitamin) do NOT contain iodine.

Sometimes it’s a challenge to figure out…it would be nice if iodine was listed on standard nutritional labels. No such luck.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: My Daughter’s Weight Gain #1072733

Hello,

If you run a search on this board for “weight gain”, you can see that your daughter is definitely not alone.

I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers (and should also disclose that I work part time for them). I am actually still slightly hyperthyroid and am struggling with a few extra pounds. I am playing around with my daily POINTS target to try and find the range that will get me back to my goal weight. POINTS don’t translate exactly to calories, but I think I’m going to end up roughly 500 calories/day less than where I was before I became hyperthyroid. It’s probably a combination of less activity (because I’m not back to 100% stamina) and reduced muscle mass…but I also believe that my metabolism is different than it was before, and might not ever get back to my old version of “normal”.

As someone who knows what it’s like to be overweight, I think you have to be really careful with your daughter. Weight is an emotional issue, and some people deal with emotions by…eating. ” title=”Confused” /> When people used to get on me about my weight, it didn’t make me want to run and join a gym – it made me want to eat an entire bag of Nacho Cheese Doritoes. No, it’s not at all logical…but that’s where I was at that point in time.

I find that the family members who seem to have the best influence are those who commit to making healthy changes themselves (i.e. joining a gym, eating more veggies, joining Weight Watchers, etc.). Their positive behavior changes (and the results) generally will inspire others to join them.

Good luck!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Anyone that tried natural methods/diet? #1073669

"sabinaa":p131lndy wrote:

Dr. Norman Cousins and Dr. David Simon, Director of the Chopra Center for Well Being, suggest that the immune system doesn’t work independently. In fact, the mind and nervous system play a profound role in immune system function. [/quote:p131lndy]

Dr. Cousins’ book, "Anatomy of an Illness" is definitely an interesting read for anyone with an autoimmune condition. Dr. Cousins did work with a conventional doctor when he was recuperating from his own illness — however, the doctor was very open to listening to his patients and trying new approaches.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Anyone that tried natural methods/diet? #1073668

"QueenMe":2lcerm87 wrote:

Lemon balm was found to target the autoantibody specifically. [/quote:2lcerm87]

I definitely have an interest in approaches that treat the autoimmune aspect of Graves. However, from what little I’ve read (and I am admittedly no expert!) Lemon Balm is more successful for very mild cases and/or during the initial stages of the disease. It apparently works by supressing the pituitary and reducing TSH. However, for someone like me with nearly undetectable TSH, I have to wonder if there would be negative effects.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: GD but instead of wt loss – have wt gain #1072902

Scorp wrote:I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism/grave’s disease. the Dr said I was one of the small percentage of lucky ones that instead of losing weight – I gained it.

There have been quite a few threads on this board regarding weight gain. Given the number of Graves patients I know who are struggling (including myself), I’d say the weight gain issue impacts more of a "medium" pecentage than a "small" one.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Normal levels just after 2 months #1072849

If your WBC was OK on the 4th, you *probably* just caught whatever normal bug is going around.

However, agranulocytosis is a serious complication, so it wouldn’t hurt to get your WBC checked again just to be on the safe side. If it looks like your WBC has been impacted, your doctor will have you temporarily stop or reduce your meds — which usually resolves the problem.

Yeah, it’s one extra needle stick — but at least the CBC test isn’t a fasting one! ” title=”Very Happy” />

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Weight Loss Success Stories #1073024

Hello – One of the attendees at the NGDF conference last year said that she had gained 60 pounds post-RAI and then lost the weight by focusing on exercise and eating lean proteins. I don’t recall how long it took her to lose the weight, though.

I am a Weight Watchers lifetime member, and am weighing in every week to try and stay on track in getting back to my goal weight. If I stick to the program, I lose anywhere from 2/10ths of a pound to 8/10ths of a pound per week. The slow pace is frustrating, but I know that I will get there eventually if I stick with it. What’s *really* aggravating is that if I have one bad week, it seems to take about 3 good weeks to undo the damage. That is SOOOOO unfair!

[Kimberly]

in reply to: I don’t know what to do?? Please..need advice. #1073107

enough3 wrote:Kimberly,
The first time he took me off, my Tsh was 6.8 something-I was very hypo, so he just gave it a shot I guess. The crazy thing about all of this for me was that I felt me best on 50mg of PTU-REGRET…coming down!!! That bottomed me out ” title=”Sad” />
I’m waiting to hear back from my endo about all of this. Currently, I taking the 200mg of PTU.

Oh, that makes sense…I didn’t pick up that you were headed hypo from your original post.

I am on Methimazole, but I started creeping hyper again after my Endo and I agreed to cut my dose in half, because my levels had been steady for 6 months. So I understand your frustration!

Hopefully, you can get a new set of labs soon and start to get things back on an even keel.

[Kimberly]

in reply to: I don’t know what to do?? Please..need advice. #1073105

Nancy Patterson wrote:Really talk to your doctor. You are NOT actually coming down. Even when you lower the dose, your hyperthyroid levels come right back. You are NOT doomed to struggling with your weight. Have you even looked into surgery? I guess the thing to remember is that as a general rule, your thyroid is no longer your friend.

I agree with Nancy that a chat with your doctor is definitely in order…especially if you have been adjusting the doses on your own. It appears from your post that you’ve had some pretty severe dosing swings in dosing in a short period of time. (Although maybe I didn’t understand correctly).

Keep in mind that once you go hyper, it can take a few weeks for the excess stores of thyroid hormone to be used up. So it’s better to wait a few weeks after a dosing change and then follow up with labs to make *sure* you know where you stand.

I wouldn’t agree, though, with the idea that the thyroid is "not your friend" — since some patients do manage to achieve remission and maintain their thyroid function. It’s really those pesky autoantibodies that are not your friend. ” title=”Wink” />

I’m curious if your doctor checked your TSI before you quit taking PTU the first time. If your autoantibodies were still raging, that might be why the first attempt to get off the drugs was not successful.

Good luck!
Kimberly

[Kimberly]

in reply to: Teeth problems #1073214

Hello – I have pain issues off and on with my teeth. My dentist gave me a toothpaste with extra flouride, and using that for a few days (and avoiding super crunchy foods) usually helps things to settle down.

I read an article once that stated that patients with hyperthyroidism can experience the rapid onset of periodontal disease, so I have been pretty religious with getting my checkups done every 6 months. (And this is coming from someone who once went about 4 years without seeing a dentist ).

I know this might be a challenge without insurance — but I would definitely consult a dentist about the issues you are experiencing.

Good luck!

[Author]

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