[ladybug]

in reply to: Lessons from Graves’ Disease #1066656

I was diagnosed with Graves in April of 2008 during a regular physical. I was very thin, shaky, and couldn’t sit still but was convinced I was just stressed and nothing was wrong with me. Something was wrong with me. My uptake was 78% after a 24 hour period, no TSH traceable and my T3 and T4 were off the charts. I was on PTU for a year (and every time my dr tried to lower my dosage my levels shot up again like crazy), and finally had RAI in April of 2009. My thyroid levels hit bottom in about June of 2009 and now I am fully regulated on synthroid.

After running the full course of the disease, I’ve learned that the body can get better. We’re lucky to live in a country where we can get help and heal. I went through a period of not trusting my body, and feeling somewhat betrayed by it. In the past almost two years my body and I have been through a lot, but we’ve come out the other side with a better understanding of what it means to be healthy. I remember how scary it feels when you’re at the height of the disease and can’t decide which route to take and wondering if you’ll ever feel normal again. I remember reading about the likelihood of getting Graves and wondering how I could have been so unlucky to even have the antibodies in the first place. It all seemed really unfair.

Believe it or not, I sometimes forget that I have Graves now. I take my pill every morning and see my doctor every 3 months, but otherwise it has no impact on my life. My weight has fluctuated 16 pounds (which is a lot when you’re 5’3 and small-boned!) but I am back to the weight I was before Graves. I run, do yoga, bike, and swim with no problems. I can focus and my heart doesn’t flutter anymore!! I have a better awareness and gratitude for everything in my life. I am so grateful that I could be fixed. Sure, it’s not great to take a radioactive pill that ablates an organ – but it was painless and effective. When waiting in my dr office I look around at the diabetics and sufferers of other endocrine illnesses and I feel really sad for them. They aren’t so lucky.

There is life after Graves – a grateful and healthy life. I am getting married in May and we would like to start a family soon after that. My grateful, healthy body and I cannot wait!!

[ladybug]

in reply to: Weight Gain after RAI?? #1072320

Hi there – I’m new to this board and I know this topic hasn’t been active in a few months…

After a full year of PTU, I had RAI on April 29 and felt 100% normal until about 2 weeks ago when I gained probably 5 pounds in a week (9 lbs total since the RAI treatment). Luckily my dr appointment was right after that. My T3 and T4 levels were barely in the normal range and my doctor prescribed 75 mg of synthroid ("you don’t have to get miserable" is what she thankfully said). In the past week and a half on synthroid I have lost 3 lbs and feel fine. I am very concerned about weight gain and food choices on synthroid (I’m quite afraid of fiber now!!). Otherwise I have to keep myself off the internet because if I read too much about hypo I want to jump out the window. For those of you on replacement, what has been the key to maintaining healthy weight?

There is great information on this board. Wish I had found it when I was diagnosed at a routine checkup with no symptoms, but crazy thyroid numbers. It’s a scary disease but one that can actually be managed.

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