New here...Hyperthyroid...

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
New here...Hyperthyroid...
4
Wed, 08-23-2006 - 7:46pm

I was diagnosed in January with having hyperthyroidism. I had the iodine uptake and scan. My numbers were through the roof! I went to an endocrinologist, who prescribed PTU. Has anyone else taken PTU? It's been a roller coaster for me, up and down, hot and cold, tired and wired. Man, am I tired of it! My T4 is now in the normal range but my TSH is still <0.01, which hasn't moved since being diagnosed. My endo wants me to up my PTU to get the TSH going, but when I was on the higher dose I was a total zombie. Does anyone have any experience with the other antithyroid med? Oh, and my endo is hinting that RAI wouldn't be such a bad idea but I'm scared to...if they get the dosage right and just kill the one naughty nodule causing the trouble I'd be fine but if they don't I become hypo and gain even MORE weight and just switch over to thyroid meds! I have an appointment with my endo on Monday. Any advice would be wonderful!

Thanks!

Terra

Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 08-24-2006 - 11:16am

Hi Terra,


Welcome to our board.


We were just talking about the option of RAI last night in our weekly chat.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Thu, 08-24-2006 - 11:33am

Hi Calley,

Thank you for your reply! I was thinking of heading to the chat last night but didn't get there. I'll definitely try to make next week.

I'm wondering if the Tapazole would have less side effects than the PTU. Do you know if one med works better than the other? I'm on PTU and Atenolol for high blood pressure.

I'll keep you updated!

Terra

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2004
Thu, 08-24-2006 - 9:30pm

Hi jake!


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Fri, 08-25-2006 - 12:28pm

Hi April!

Thank you so much for your reply. I just couldn't understand why my endo would want my PTU increased when my free T4 is right in the middle of the normal range. I just bought Thyroid for Dummies and it's fantastic about explaining all of the technicalities of the thyroid. Are you on Tapozole now? Any pros or cons if you are? I'm tired of being a zombie at night and my poor fiance, bless him, doesn't complain but I know he must not like it so much either.

Thanks again!

Terra