New - With Graves

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2006
New - With Graves
4
Sat, 01-20-2007 - 9:29am
Hi
I'm new in here. I was diagnosed this week with Graves Disease. I'm trying to find out more infor on it & meet people who have it.
I went in a few weeks ago for headaches & the PA ran blood tests. Told me to see the Endo for a "slightly" elevated thyroid.
I saw the Endo this week & he is suprised I don't show any symptoms. My numbers are off the chart. Non-existant off the chart. He has put me on PTU because I am breatfeeding (anyone have comments about that, too?)
He wants to try this out for about a year to see if it goes into remission befor the radiated iodine treatment.
So, in other words.... AGHHHHHHH!!!
Anyone with info or a been there would be great!
Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: torimar
Sat, 01-20-2007 - 10:40pm

Hi torimar,


Welcome to our board.


I don't have the Graves' form of hyperthyroidism but my diagnosis is hyperthyroid.

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2006
In reply to: torimar
Mon, 01-22-2007 - 11:27am

Hi!

Thank you for the links. It's very overwhelming. All I heard at the Dr's was," You have Grave's Disease" and the rest sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher! I have bought a book to read up a little more on it.
I will be going in every month for blood tests.
One thing I did learn is that Grave's can be triggered by childbirth & I just had my son 5 months ago. I called my OB to see if they did a thyroid test on me while I was preg. They did in Jan 06 & my levels came back normal. So, I guess it's good news that this as caught very early on.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: torimar
Tue, 01-23-2007 - 8:54am

Hi, I have hyperthyroid and have been on PTU for about 2 years.

My numbers were also off the charts but I also had many extreme symptoms. The good thing is that the PTU has controlled my condition. I am currently taking 6 pills per day. My endo recommends the RAI but I am still uncomfortable with that choice and I will remain on the PTU as long as possible.

After my second child I believe is when my condition began. I thought is was all fatigue by having a newborn and 2 year old and that I was supposed to feel tired but wired and extremely fatigued. An irregular fast heartbeat had my husband concerned so I got some tests. I also have a family history of hyperthyroidism.

As far as breastfeeding...my friend was taking the PTU during pregnancy & breastfeeding and she did not have any problems. She was also only taking 2 pills per day. How much PTU are you taking?

Hope this was helpful and good luck on the PTU.

Gina

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-26-2006
In reply to: torimar
Tue, 01-23-2007 - 10:53pm

I had Grave's disease which was triggered after my 2nd child which was my son and after a year it escalated to Plummer's Disease. I had nodules on both sides. I was breast feeding but the only meds they had me on were for blood pressure. My blood pressure being high was my only side affect. I can't help with the PTU. I had the ultra sound while it was still Grave's and the Uptake Scan (iodine) and then again a year later and that is when I found out it was Plummer's. That is when my doc referred me to the endo and that is when the endo referred me to the surgeon and then I had surgery within 3 weeks of seeing the surgeon and about 5 weeks from seeing the endo the first time.

CrazyMamainAZ
aka Nicole