[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: Anyone else with muscle pain #1068005

Thanks for all the replies. I am actually feeling better as far as the muscle pain. My labs are still boardering on the hypo side, but they were like this even when I was running great. I had an injury to my left quad that could’ve possibly been referred pain from a back injury….well that’s what the doc’s were guessing. I swam instead of ran for about 6 weeks and then went back to running. Well I think the muscle pain was just my legs getting used to running again after not running for 6 weeks…..duh. So I don’t think it was graves related. The pain is basically gone. I’ve cutback on my running and I’m seeing a sports doctor who is helping me work with some strength imabalances in my legs. I definitely lost muscle in my legs from the graves….I have chicken legs now so I’m working on it. Thanks again everyone.

Lisa

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: Abdominal cramps with methimazole #1070444

I just switched to methimazole 2 days ago. I was on PTU before and went off that due to the FDA saying it was higher risk for liver failure than methimazole. I never had any side effects with PTU, but I’m on a very small dose of methimazole and I am having abdominal discomfort in the epigastric area. It feels like a tightness or bloatedness although I don’t look bloated. It’s very uncomfortable. I’m hoping it will go away after I take this for awhile because I’m not sure I can tolerate it.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: RAI or NO…What is Your Opinion!!…HELP! #1070802

I was diagnosed with Graves in December and have been on PTU for 3 months and I feel great. If I end up having 8 years in remission which it looks like you had, I would definitely do the drug route again. As far as your doctor’s comments about your heart….I wouldn’t worry about it. As long as you monitor your resting heart rate and can note a change and get to the doctor who can do labs and put you on beta blockers right away then I really don’t see how that’s going to hurt you.
I guess my feeling is that you know the drugs work for you. With RAI you don’t know how it’s going to work for you and you’ll probably end up hypo and have to take thyroid drugs for life. I don’t think titrating drugs for hypothyroidism is any easier (probably it’s harder) than titrating the drugs for hyperthyroidism.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: First Timer Here #1071673

Hi,

What kind of adverse reactions did you have to the meth and PTU? Your doctor doesn’t seem too sharp if he treats hypothyroidism with diet and excercise. How about thyroid replacement treatment. Scary. Is it possible for you to get another doctor for a second opinion especially since you aren’t able to talk to this doctor.
Are you on beta blockers to control your symptoms for now?

Lisa

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: New to Grave’s and need advice #1071734

Well then a lot of patients are being mismanaged. My dr. never returns my phone calls so I would never want her managing me if I was hypothyroid. Thankfully, the PTU I’m taking is working and my numbers look good so I can wait until my next appt. in 6 weeks to talk to her.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: New to Grave’s and need advice #1071732

Hi,

What’s interesting to me is that most of my patients who have a history of hypothyroidism, even if they’re currently euthyroid per labs and being treated with thyroid replacement, are obese and have multiple health problems ie. heart disease, diabetes.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: New to Grave’s and need advice #1071730

Hi,

I’ve been on PTU for 6 weeks and am feeling great. I no longer need beta blockers for my heart rate as my resting heart rate has returned to 48…my normal. My baseline WBC’s were 1.9 (norm in 4.8-10. prior to starting PTU. Hyperthyroidism can cause low white blood cells (wbc’s)(also called leukopenia). I am a nurse and work in a hospital so I am exposed to all kinds of germs everyday, but I have yet to get sick. So, I would assume my immune system is working properly.
Before you start the anti-thyroid drugs just be sure to have the doctor do a baseline CBC with diff. That way if you have symptoms of an illness they can differentiate between a rare side effect to the antithyroid drugs and you just being sick.
I don’t think I would ever do a permanent ablation of my thyroid through radiation or surgery before trying the anti-thyroid drugs. When you ablate the thyroid you can end up hypothyroid which can lead to other health problems.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: Normal levels just after 2 months #1072848

Hi,

Congrats are your levels coming down with the tapazole. It is rare, but you can develop agranulocytosis (dangerously low white blood cells) at any time when taking antithyroid meds. Tell your doctor that you want a CBC with diff.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: PTU vs Tapazole? #1072932

Hi,
That’s interesting that you lost strength in the quads. That’s where I think I have lost the most strength too. I used to be able to squat 135lbs, now I can barely do 65 pounds. I had done a marathon (my first) and then two weeks later I noticed that even when I was running easy my heart rate would go into the 180’s and I felt dizzy like I was going to passout. That’s what prompted me to go to the doctor and get labs. And well I was hyperthyroid. Now I know it’s graves.
It is so frusturating to be an active person and have this roadblock. I have always been into competitive sports..triathlon, running, bodybuilding, powerlifting etc. so it’s a big part of my life. Well hopefully my next labs will look good and I can run again. Lately I’ve just been doing weights to keep myself from losing more strength. But I sure miss the cardio.
So far the PTU has been fine for me, but I’m on a very low dose and have only been on it for a week. Well whatever drug you choose I wish you luck with it and hope you end up with a lifetime remission.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: PTU vs Tapazole? #1072928

You’re training for a half ironman and you were diagnosed with Graves in the last part 2008. Your doctor is okay with this. I am an avid competitive runner who came down with Graves about the same time and my doctor still won’t let me run. I just started PTU last thursday though. I haven’t really noticed any weight changes, but I’m still waiting for my heart rate to be normal without beta blockers. It is possible that your weight gain is muscle mass since with Graves you could’ve been losing muscle even if your weight wasn’t changing. I know I lost alot of muscle. I have noticeable weakness in my quads.
Five pounds doesn’t seem like much especially since you are able to do all the activities you love. If you stop taking your antithyroid drugs you could ruin your chances of remission. I guess you could try PTU, but sounds like since you are actually able to train for a half ironman that the tapazole is working. Have you had any recent labwork?

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: PTU #1073007

Hi Ski,
I’ll try to take it easy with the weightlifting although I’ve noticed myself getting stronger with it. When, in your opinion, would it be safe for me to return to weightlifting and running without worrying about making myself worse?….when my TSH, FT4, and FT3 are in normal range??? Except for having to take a beta blocker I actually don’t feel that bad.

Thanks,
Lisa

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: PTU #1073006

Hi enough3,
Well hopefully I can wean off the beta blockers too in a couple of weeks. I wear my heart rate monitor at all times when lifting or on the elliptical and with the beta blocker my heart rate stays okay. You sound a lot like me in your competitive endeavors. Yeah I could never imagine walking a 10K, but I guess I need to open my mind a little bit. You seem to have a very good attitude about your Graves disease. It’s good that you can actually see Graves as a blessing that has helped you in some aspects of your life. Hopefully I can do that too.
I’ll try to take it easy with the excercise.

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: PTU #1073003

Hi enough3,
Most of the labs I posted are from Jan. except for the TSI and thyroid uptake which are from Feb. I just started the PTU on Thursday so I haven’t gotten anymore labs yet. I had to wait over 2.5 months to start the PTU which I found very irritating, but I guess the dr. thinks my hyperthyroidism isn’t severe. She’s also putting me on a very low dose of PTU and I have to wait six weeks for more labs. I need the beta blocker at this point… without it I wake up with a heart rate of 120.
I haven’t run since Jan., but I started doing weights instead. I used to bodybuild so it was easy for me to change my focus to lifting.
I’ve also started doing the elliptical machine, but I’m really not sure if I should be doing this. I have to admit it’s very hard for me to go easy with athletics. I’ve always been very competitive. Walking really bores me, but guess I could try it. I guess I’m finding it hard to give up all the things in my life that I have always enjoyed.
Glad that you’re enjoying the weights and walking. I hope you have remission soon and stay there.

Thanks,
Lisa

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: Frequent Bowl Movement (FBM) and Hyperthyroidism #1073011

Yeah I had that problem too. I thought it was Irritable bowel syndrome before I figured out it was probably from my hyperthyroidism. I was a runner and always had to bring TP because I never knew when it would happen….it was very irritating. Ruined alot of my workouts. I quit running and started beta blockers…now I seem to have the opposite problem. Are you on beta blockers? Not sure how long, but I’m sure once you are on the antithyroid drug for awhile and correct the hyperthyroidism it should get better.

Lisa

[powergrrrl29]

in reply to: running with untreated hyperthyroidism #1074048

Hi All,
I finally started treatment for Graves after almost 2.5 months. I had a 24hr uptake of 50% and a TSI of 201. It took forever to get to see the endocrinologist and to get the thyroid uptake. I’ve been on beta blockers for the entire time and I haven’t run since the beginning of February. I started PTU 50 mg 3x per day yesterday. I’m hoping to be able to get off the beta blocker soon.
How long does it take for PTU to kick in? Also when I no longer need the beta blocker would it be safe to resume my running?
I was also very surprised that the Dr. prescribed me PTU and in such a low dose. I was expecting her to prescribe me Tapazole. Does anyone know why a dr. would prescribe PTU instead of Tapazole.

Thanks,
Lisa

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