GRAVES DISEASE HELP !

[Benny0147]

Cna someone how things will change after I have My Graves treated ? I read that most that have it treated end up with HYPOTHYOID... also seems the word is most dr's have no idea how to prescribe T3,T4....and amrour might be the way to go ?? any info sugestions would be great

[Benny0147]

1st off thank you very much for the reply..now you said ya not hypo for ever..but if you need meds..then yes you are no ?? and its very well known..even if you read here..most never get the right feel on meds..cause of the battle.of T3,T4..armour...my prob is..this could have not happen at a worse time..I do not have time to not feel good..I mean..I could stay this way for another yr...Id be ok with that..when you say heart beat fast.. what was ya  BPM ? (bets per min) mine was about 55-60 for yrs..which is excellent..now its about 80-100 at rest..but as we know...its no good for the  heart,..,ans muscle probs I could do with out..I already get injections now.
and you said you want it killed 1st shot..but my readings say that msot of the time..they kill it 1st time..and it to much..and you are hypo..some say if you do a lil at a time..this help to not get hypo...if mild enough..cant you use meds ?? after reading this..im not so sure I want  it now..may I ask what meds you are now ? ,see in my sport..no play..no pay...unlike other spots..( pro boxer) . and I thought I did cause it..think about I have been taking pills to speen my metabolisum up for over 15 yrs..and more flight or flight..cortisol..and over work for the andrals..Ive taken EPHEDRA..and still have plenty..and I took Cytomel (T3) for some extra weight loss...the liquid kind..not smart I know..but I was comming off surgery...and needed to fight again as soon as possible..and gained like 35 lbs..my met was already so so slow..so now..eh..but anyway thank you for  the reply..I will have to rethink this..

[Dogdancing]

After RAI you MUST go hypo. That is the only way they know for sure the radiation killed your thyroid gland.

THEN you start the replacement and they bring you back up to the normal range. They dont keep you hypo any longer then they have to. Some people go hypo in 4 weeks after RAI others take longer.  

( and yes your WANT them to kill it in one dosing....your taking RADIATION the more you have the higher your risk for cancer...plus you dont want to do it twice, trust me)

After RAI for me the worse side effect of the going hypo process was the mental fall out, ( depression, suicidal, homisidal thoughts, anxiety of epic proportions) Then I also suffered exteme fatige and exsaustion. I had RAI June 5th and labs showed hypo Sept 30th. They dont call it hypo he// for nothing.

If you are still active in athletics (ie you got games coming up etc) I would advise you to expect to not feel good enough to be at your peek.

Benny you are KILLING off a healthy body organ...its not going to be a walk in the park. This is a major medical procedure and life altering stuff here. Plan to give yourself time to  go through this.  I had RAI June 5th of 2008, there still tinkering with my dosage to get me in the right range. Some people are easy to do others take longer.

Also you didnt cause this. Graves disease is an autonomic disorder.

You said: "how did it change you guys ? now that HYPO ? "

As to how did it change me? Im feeling better, no more scary heart palpatations, slowly feeling better. Its been a long slow process. I still feel like me, I didnt grow any extra arms or a third eye. One side effect for me has been muscle weakness, but were working on that.

and to be clear ....Im not STILL hypo. You wont be left hypo forever. you dip down there and then they bring you back to the normal range with replacement medication. You will take that for the rest of your life.

peace be the journey

Paja - Graves, PTU , RAI

[Benny0147]

well...im going for the kill my thyroid..now from my readings,its common to get HYPO after ..but my dr friend told me thats because most docs wont take the time to do it slow..they try to kill it 1 it in 1 try..I in no way can afford to be HYPO...my whole life I was HYPO  I think..im ana athlete..but always was heavy...etc..I took cytomel as many do as a weight loss tool,yes it was a big mistake...id guess that what caused this..how did it change you guys ? now that HYPO ? thanks for the reply..

[JaneM]

I found out I had graves disease in 1992. I was treated for my hyperthyroid with the medicine PTU for 2 years. I was good for 12 years (2004) then took PTU again for 1 !/2 years good until now (2009) I think had ovarian cancer and the chemotherapy and stress probably triggered it.
Now I am back for tests and probably will go on methimazole this time. What the previous post said about treatments is what I know. It always takes a little time to balance, but then I feel much better.
Hang in there, Jane

[Dogdancing]

There is no cure for Graves. What they have to offer is:

1. Suppress your thyroid with medication (US doctors generally dont like you on antithyroid meds longer than 3 years)

2. Surgically remove your thyroid and you go hypo and take replacement forever.

3. Kill your thyroid and you go hypo and take replacement forever.

You end up taking meds one way or the other. THere is no easy route. I would suggest finding a doc who will LISTEN to you and you feel comfortable with. Treating Graves can be a long process and you need a doc you can talk to and who will listen.

Peace be the journey

Paja - 3+ years PTU, RAI 6-08