Are there any other options for Graves Disease?

[JessKies]

I am 29 years old, and last September (2013) I found out that I have Graves Disease, not by the blood tests, but by the radioactive scan.. I am told, and keep reading, the only options that I have are; Methimozole, Propylthiouracil, and Radioactive Iodine. I am allergic to the Methimozole, and they do not want me to try the Propylthiouracil.. because if I'm allergic to one, I'm most likely allergic to the other. I DO NOT want to do the RAI.

Is that really my only options?!   The 'specialist' I am seeing now said that it doesn't matter if I quick smoking, eat right, or exercise - It will not help. I feel that (and I am not a doctor, but I have not had anyone tell me otherwise) if I ate right, exercised, and quit smoking - That would help my immune system, and that would in-turn help my thyroid levels. No?

Please, if you know anything that might better direct me to someone that knows what the hell they're talking about, or any advice that someone that has been through this knows.

Thank you so much,
Jessie
Des Moines, IA  

[JessKies]

My uptake test was 48%.
I went to my family doctor in August, the T3 was 0.00 and the T4 was 2.61. The same month a couple weeks later, I went to the specialist and it was 0.00 T3 and 2.22 T4 ..I took the uptake test in September.. Then I went back to my family doctor in December to check my levels, and it was 0.00 T3 and 1.95 T4... Not horrible I hear/see, but not normal either.

I am curious about the experiential plug, I'll look into it.. I'm open to anything.

Thank you

[JessKies]

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!  
I am so glad to know that you had a good experience with PTU too, and am crossing my fingers for you! I started to have an allergic reaction to methimazole around 2 1/2 - 3 weeks also. I'm not too fond of my specialist, and I've only seen her once. I figured it out on a Sunday morning what was going on, when I read the side effects of the medicine. Called the specialist Monday, and got her nurse. She thought it might be something else, and to call at the end of the week to see how I was doing. I decided not to take the methimazole that week, and by the end I called her (got her nurse again) to tell her I was no different, and she said, "Oh okay, maybe you should stop taking the medicine, and I'll get you some prednisone." I said, I stopped taking it Monday after I got off the phone with you. She said nothing, and said I'll have the specialist calls you when she gets back from vacation. (Ha.) Never heard from her.. I'm also pretty stubborn.. So I didn't call her either.
The one time I've seen the specialist, she said that she would only put me on either PTU or Methimazole for a max of 2-3 years.. So I'm curious if your doctor has mentioned that?.. I know you mentioned that it's pretty harsh on your body too.
I know I need to quit smoking ASAP. I do Pilates (only twice a week though), I eat the same way you do :) Annnd.. for stress. I'm screwed. That's what I feel brought this on. It's a long story on my job and how it all happened.. but I have a very stressful job. It follows me home some nights, working 6 days a week (I'm starting to get some Saturday's back!), involves working with family. That's one of the main reasons I haven't had a moment to read everyone's comments and respond.. I was incredibly busy last week.. But that's another week. (We also had a funeral that was out of town for 2 days)

My labs in August were, T3 - 0.00 and T4 2.22, and in December 2013 were T3 - 0.00 and T4 1.95.
I had pretty much all the symptoms, and for awhile (about 6 months) .. Like I said I'm stubborn. I didn't have an extreme amount of weight loss but ate a ton.. I did/do sweat (a lot), have muscle weakness, hands tighten up/tingle, my legs tingle. What sent me to the doctor is I thought I was having a heart attack.

Thank you again for sharing :)

[JessKies]

Thank you very very much for sharing what you've found! I am sorry I am just getting back to you too, please don't think that I am not appreciative, I've been incredibly busy.
I have not looked at the blog yet, I just wanted to say thank you - and as soon as I've read everyone's comments - I will! Thank you again!

    

[898_1]

What was % uptake on the scan?
The doctor must order the TSI AB blood test to confirm the diagnostic.
The experimental method uses laser to "plug" the thyroid blood vessels causing the thyroid tissue to die but without use of radiation.

[yankeeRN]

Sorry that you too have been diagnosed with Grave's disease.  I was diagnosed over 2 years ago with the same. I do have to respond to the false info that your md told you about the methimazole allergy meaning also a definite prophylthiouracil (PTU) allergy.  There might be a risk for allergy to both but it is not a definite.  I was allergic to the methimazole after having taken it for about 3 weeks and then was switched to the prophylthiouracil and have had no allergy to this (I say this as I subconsciously cross my fingers) and I have been on it over 2 years.  I will say that initially my md had had me on the prophylthiouracil and then I was switched to the methimazole by the Endocrinologist because of the lesser risks of liver issues then back to prophythiouracil since I was allergic to the methimazole.  I have no choice --I need the prophythiouracil to control my symptoms and treat my Grave's--I am still in hopes of going into remission though they tell me that the likelihood since it has been so long is low.Hey I can still hope:)  I really do not want the radioactive iodine treatment and as long as I can take the prophylthiouracil  without major problems then I will stick with it.  As far as the quitting smoking that would be important --exercise is always good as is healthy eating.  I will say that I personally never smoked a day in my life but I got plenty of second hand smoke growing up in a house where both parents smoked.  I always exercised before the Grave's and continue to exercise now.  My diet is healthy sprinkled with occasional junk food.  One thing where I could stand to improve on is my stress--I have a very stressful job--I never use to see it that way but in the past 2 years since my diagnosis stress affects me differently.  Before I use to thrive in a stressful situation and loved making order out of chaos--now I feel the stress and it makes me not feel well--almost a sick feeling .Controlling/avoiding stress is huge.  Some stuff we can't control--like sick family members--you can't just abandon them in their time of need. Anyways I wanted to make sure that you added reducing stress to the list of something major to be mindful to get yourself in remission.  Also I realize that I am old enough to be your mother but believe me when I say that I am often mistaken for much younger--I am 51 and some have thought I was in my late 30's--so I am someone who takes care of themselves.  I asked myself what I could have done to bring this on.  I have 8 siblings and I am the only one with Grave's--I do have one sister with hypothyroid though but she does nothing to have kept herself healthy.  
So you said that your Grave's was diagnosed by the scan and not labs..what were your labs?  What were your symptoms?  My symptoms on a scale of 1 to 10 where in my opinion an 8 with some days being a 10--I could not longer ignore the symptoms--they had me in a bad way.
My condition is controlled with the PTU--it's a pain to have to take any pill but I know that I need it.  I just take it twice a day and try to stay in tune with my body and then just carry on with life--I cannot dwell on this because then it rules my life.
Best of luck there is hope:)

[Red_Star]

There are numerous articles on treating hyperthyroidism/Graves naturally.  Here is one blog for instance...

How I Saved My Thyroid - HOW I OVERCAME GRAVE'S DISEASE AND HYPERTHYROIDISM BY FINDING MY VOICE, AND EATING A VEGAN, CORN-FREE DIET.

Her recent article "It is 2014 and I have PROOF that I AM SAVING MY THYROID!! Timeline of My Labs." shows the improvement in labs...

"My (FREE)T4 was 4.54 at the start of the diet, after 9 months it has dropped to 2.44.

My (FREE T3) started at 22.1. It is now 6.5."

Can't argue with those results.