dealing with graves disease

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2007
dealing with graves disease
6
Fri, 04-13-2007 - 10:36am
I was diagnosed with grave's disease in November 06. The endo dr. is still trying to get my meds right. When first diagnosed level was way high then meds caused it to go weigh low which caused other symptoms. Two weeks ago was way high again and now they have changed dosage once again. Just wondering who else has dealt with this. In addition, I my hair is falling out a lot in addition to the heart palps and other symptoms. I just feel like the whole thing is never going to get straigtened out.
Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Fri, 04-13-2007 - 7:43pm

Hi mom7943,


What meds are you on for the Graves' Disease?

 

Calley7

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
Fri, 04-13-2007 - 10:17pm
Hi,
I had graves but now am hypothryoid (I posted a few days ago "Once Graves Now Hypothyroid"). I did not go up and down like you are. I took no meds when pregnant with my DD, that's when they found my hyperthroidism and then started taking methziamazole (spelling?) which was a generic for tapazole. After being on the meds for a year, my dosages were gradually bumped down and I went into a remission for about a year or more with needing no meds at all. Just this week I went in and now I am hypothryroid and am taking levothyroxine 50 mcg. My endo said that what has happened to me can be common for people with graves as the thyroid can burn itself out which is what he thinks is happening to me.
Good Luck, I don't know if this helps but I know how you feel. Before i was on my meds the first time I thought I was going nuts with crazy anxiety and not to mention being a first time mommy. I did loose some hair also, not a ton, but some.
I'll keep you in my thoughts!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2007
Sat, 04-14-2007 - 7:11pm
Thank you for responding. I have days where I feel good and other days where I want to scream. I take methziamazole and 1 beta blocker to help with symptoms. I will have blood work in 3 weeks to see where my levels are at again. I'm also planning on a second opinion because I'm getting frustrated with the level changes and how it makes me feel. thanks for your info and I hope you the best with your dealings.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2007
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 4:09pm

I'm also dealing with Graves which has my thryoid very hyper since Feb of this year.
I don't know how long I've really had the Graves. I do know I had the same symptoms happen a couple of years back but when they tested my thyroid levels and such all was showing normal. Now I am way up there with my thyroid overactive.
I'm on the PTU and have been for a couple of months since seeing my endo. Even with taking the meds it's not controlling the problem to well. I have managed to gain a few lbs but it's still an up and down thing with the weight. I was 97 back in Feb and now up to around 108 on some days and as low as 104 on others. I also have to deal with the swelling of my eye lids and under my eyes. My eyes don't really seem to be bulging but I do have to use a salve at night and drops during the day to keep them moist so it seems their not closing all the way at night.
My endo has set me up to see a surgeon on May 7th to have my thyroid removed. I must say it is a scary thing thinking about them cutting on my neck and not really knowing what to expect afterwards.
My endo only gave me the beta blocker for a month and along with the alprazolam I was already taking for my anixity/panic attacks it helped bring my heart rate back to normal finally. The alprazolam alone wasn't doing it for a long while.
Between the thryoid messed up and my fibro I'm also having lots of trouble with brain fog and memory.
Has anyone else had any problems with their liver levels being high with the graves.
I don't know if it's the thryoid or just the graves itself that is doing it or if the PTU is causing it.
Right now I'm really dealing with half the time I don't sleep and the other half I don't want to wake up...hot one minute and cold the next....and I'm not sure what is causing what.
I'm 40 years old and only have my left overy left so it could be also maybey i'm hitting menopause too.
Any info and experiences are helpful with trying to deal with this.

Ginger

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2007
Fri, 04-27-2007 - 12:58pm
I'm sorry I don't have any good input but the only thing is have you gotten a second opinion? I'm having more blood work done in May to check my levels and if I'm still off I plan on getting a second opinion. good luck
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2007
Fri, 04-27-2007 - 1:30pm
No I haven't gone to any other endo. This is the one my pcp doctor sent me to and usually he always sends me to one of the best in their field that accepts medicaid. I know I wasn't expecting to be seeing a surgeon so soon but I do feel this endo has done his job well with all the testing he has put me through. He has checked for everything under the sun in my blood work as well as to date I have had 3 ct scans done. He does the full workup for thyroid everytime I go and see him. Another reason the test are costing so much and I have exceeded my yearly limit with medicaid and now any doctor who orders any labs have to file an extension with medicaid just to get paid.
I am working on trying to quit smoking. Not an easy thing to do when there is another smoker in the house but I'm giving it my best shot and I know it's better for me in the long run as well. Believe me I have been harped on by both my endo, pcp and the eye doctor to quit....LOL