[runlacie]

in reply to: Hey GD family – I’m feeling better :) #1069092

HIP HIP HOORAY! I am so very happy to hear this news!!!! ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” />

[runlacie]

in reply to: Radioactive Iodine prep #1069126

I have also heard of it if you have the eye involvement. I had no prep at all and wasn’t on any meds when I had rai. Check out the rai threads on this board, that’s where I got much of my info. Many years ago I took prednisone for a couple months for an unrelated issue and it gave me no troubles. I had rai 16 days ago and have not had any side effects at all other than once in a while my throat feels slightly sore, but that could just as well be allergies.

[runlacie]

in reply to: Exercise? #1069102

I unknowingly ran a May marathon with early Graves’. 2 weeks later I ran a half. I underperformed in both and knew something was wrong but blamed overtraining and anxiety. 2 more weeks passed and I could hardly run at all, finally went to the doctor. I now realize I had symptoms as early as February and ignored them. I begged my doctor to allow me to jog real slow, and did get an okay, provided I wore my heart rate monitor and didn’t let my heart rate go above 140. Little did I realize that keeping it under 140 while hyper was pretty impossible. I considered 178 my max heart rate before I was hyper and even in a really fast race going all out I couldn’t hit it, and then when I started getting sick I would see it as high as 184 and I wasn’t even going that fast. The reason, I’m told, that we shouldn’t get our heart rate up when hyper is that being in a hyper state makes us more likely to have an abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation) which can initiate a heart attack and death. I stopped running. Once in a while I do get a wild hair and just blast down the road, but I shouldn’t. I’m walking 5-7 miles per day, but I think I’m only able to do that because my body was in marathon shape before and now walking 5 miles is to me like running 15 used to be. I wear my monitor and am careful. I can still do my core exercises and lift some weights while keeping my heart rate low, it’s just the heavy aerobics that I can’t get away with. I guess it all depends on what your body is used to. Beginning a fitness program while hyper would be a bad idea, but if you’re used to exercising, you should have a discussion with your doctor about continuing some lighter exercise if that is what you want to do. It has now been 16 days since I had rai and I am noticing some positive changes, but I still can’t run. Hang in there, it gets better.

[runlacie]

in reply to: Newly diagnosed & have questions please #1069143

It is nice to have people care enough to notice the weight loss. I lost a couple pounds at first, but have since gained those back. I was running 60 ish miles per week before this, so now that I can’t run I am not able to eat like I used to eat, even with the Graves’ speeding me up. I have noticed flab where it used to be muscle and that really bothers me. lol, I wish I could have lost weight with this, it would have made me faster when I can run again! RAI seemed like the most simple solution to me, but it was a pain in the butt waiting for my rai appt (took 3 weeks or so) and now I am 2 weeks post and still only slightly improved. I find myself second-guessing and wondering if just taking the pills for a year or so and trying for remission might have had me normalized and running by now. I agree that surgery seems extreme, but it was actually my first instinct to say "just get this sucker outta me!" Good luck w/whatever you decide. The good news is we are curable.

[runlacie]

in reply to: 2 weeks post RAI my update #1069179

Hi and thanks for the well wishes all!

Rhonda, my monitor is actually a GPS thing I have for running- It is called a Garmin Forerunner 405 and it comes with a heart rate monitor. You can find a decent monitor without the GPS for maybe $50 at larger sporting goods stores or on the internet.

ewmb- I think of those little cells, too. And then I tell them nasty things like DIE YOU LITTLE SUMS OF BRITCHES. You are off the ATD’s again? Or trying a different brand?

Krystal- I try hard not to aggravate. Sometimes I just get so pissed off that I think I don’t care and I’m going to run anyways. Lol, that doesn’t last for long cause if I kept going fast I’d pass out. Are you still dreaming crazy stuff?

Thinking of going to Cedar Point tomorrow and I wonder if it’s okay to ride the rolleycoasters? No sense in going if I can’t ride.

[runlacie]

in reply to: Newly diagnosed & have questions please #1069141

Hi there! No, having Graves’ doesn’t guarantee the eye disease and neither will RAI make you get bad eyes. But if you already have the eye disease then RAI can make it worse. I don’t have the eye part, but was hesitant to do RAI cause my Grandma has Graves’ with really bad eyes and I was afraid I was destined for that, too. Ended up deciding that for me, RAI was the best treatment choice. Everyone is different and chooses a treatment for different reasons, it’s a personal thing. In my case, I just wanted it over with and didn’t want to have to mess around worrying about side effects from the meds or having to stay in the hospital for thyroidectomy. There is a ton of info on this board, and also out there from reputable thyroid sites on the internet. Browse around and soon you will know way more about thyroids than you ever thought you would. ” title=”Wink” /> Feel free to ask any questions. Take care!

[runlacie]

in reply to: Starting to feel better ;) #1069210

Happy to hear that news, Krystal!!! ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” /> ” title=”Very Happy” /> lol, there’s a limit on smilies- we only are "allowed" 5 of them. I had a whole row for you! No fair.

[runlacie]

in reply to: RASH- Where did it start? #1069235

I bet you are right about the different inactive ingredient causing the trouble since you tolerated it well before. Are you taking a bb to help w/the symptoms? I think I feel the surges when the little buggers die off, too. I feel almost normal and then get those bad times -it feels like a switch was turned on.

Happy Birthday!!! Have a fun day!

[runlacie]

in reply to: Graves vs Hashimoto’s how do they know? #1070212

I opted for rai. I’m not very patient and just wanted it over with rather than chance bouncing back and forth and always worrying about symptoms. Figured it would be easier to just be totally hypo and hopefully be regulated quickly on replacement. It has been almost 2 weeks and I am starting to feel better.

[runlacie]

in reply to: RASH- Where did it start? #1069233

ewmb- what happened w/the rash? You okay?

[runlacie]

in reply to: Graves’ and Lupus….Bonus Score!!!!!!! #1069299

Rhonda, I am sorry to hear your news. Sounds like you found a good doc, though. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully now that you know what is going on you are well on the way to feeling better!

[runlacie]

in reply to: Graves vs Hashimoto’s how do they know? #1070210

Since originally starting this thread, I did ask my endo the question and she said you could have both antibodies. I read that the Tg could be positive in either disease. Tg was what I originally tested pos for 5 hrs ago and I still don’t get why they told me to be alert for hypo symptoms and assumed I would be hashi’s. I have since gone full blown hyper. This time they checked the TSI and it was Pos. My Grandma has Graves’ and several first cousins have Hashi, so I guess having both might be possible, but I really think I just have graves’ and am still more than a little PO’d that I was ‘t fully and accurately informed in the first place.

[runlacie]

in reply to: New User – just diagnosed with GD on 6/8/09 : ( #1069358

Hey Mike-

I see your in Pittsburgh- I am 40 mins north up by New Castle. Can’t believe the Pirates just traded my 3 favorite players. At least we have 2 pro teams, huh? Anyways, hope you found a good endo there. I am looking to switch after I am normalized as I don’t think the nurse at my endo’s office likes me much.

As for the heart racing at night thing, I get it all the time. That’s when it has always been the worse for me. As soon as I lie down it is like a switch gets turned on and sends it into overdrive. Even now, I am feeling pretty much better during the day and my heart still does that at night. I try to reassure myself that it is fine and usually fall asleep with the TV on as a distraction. You could call the doc about bumping that dose up a bit? Hope you feel better!

[runlacie]

in reply to: New User – just diagnosed with GD on 6/8/09 : ( #1069352

Hi Mike! Sorry you have the diagnosis, but this board is full of wonderful people and great support, so you’ve found a good place here! I also thought I was going crazy as I have had anxiety issues in the past. My heart beat too fast and my hands were shaking and I blamed anxiety and told myself to get over it. I’m a runner and ended up unable to run so finally went to the doctor. I did rai last week and am feeling the beginnings of improvement. I hope you are feeling better now that you are on meds. Take care!

[runlacie]

in reply to: New and scared #1069339

Hi Linda! Sorry for your diagnosis, but this is a really nice family you have found here for support. I was just officially diagnosed in late June, but have had symptoms since as early as March. I had RAI on 7/20 and already am starting to improve. My heart rate is dropping and my tremors are pretty much gone. At one time I shook so bad I could hardly write. Anyways, there is hope and this disease is very treatable. I don’t have the eye part, but my Grandma does and she sees a different specialist that her endo sends her to for that. Take care and hoping you are feeling better very soon!

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