Gaining weight with Graves??

I went to the doctor because I have been gaining weight steadily over the past 8 yrs.  Along with hair loss, intolerance for heat, night sweats, insomnia, swelling of lower legs, anxiety, tremor, and now hives.  I am tired during the day yet cannot sleep well at night.  My TSH was 900 ref 0.0-8.9.  I've been diagnosed with Graves.  The Endo says a small percentage of people with Graves will gain weight instead of losing.  I had a thyroid uptake scan this week and the tech told me my 6 hr result was 56%. I haven't gotten my 24 hr result as my doctor's out of town.  I was supposed to start methimazole 20mg per day on Tues. after my final scan but am reluctant to do this because I don't want to gain even more weight.  My thyroid levels (T3 & T4) don't seem overly high so I wonder if this is truly necessary.  Has anybody else had a problem with weight gain and Graves?  If so, how do you react with the medicine?  Thanks for your help, I feel alone.

[Smilerdeb]

Take the Mehtimazole immediately.
By avoiding the meds, you are at high risk of thyroid storm which is atrial fibrillations which in turn can kill you.

I gained 16kilograms prior to RAI and yes I have Graves Disease too but doing great now.
My Graves antibodies were uncontrollable and I had 3 episodes of thyroid storm in 2 weeks which nearly killed me.
Do as the Doc says and take the anti-thyroid meds or you could end up in serious trouble health wise.
20mg is a small dose...I was on double that dose (40mg) and had no ill effects from it.

[skeeterknitwit]

I'm a bit confused.  Your TSH is 900?  With Graves it would be more like <.001.

[Smilerdeb]

I think maybe the antibodies are 900.....I know mine were over 1000 before RAI.
Maybe louwolf has confused the two?

[skeeterknitwit]

We can hope that the Dr. didn't make the diagnosis from the tremor symptom!

[louwulf]

Sorry, I must have accidently deleted 2 lines of my original post. To clarify my TSH is 900 - ref 0.0-8.9, and TSH receptor AB 78 with over 16 being positive.  These numbers don't seem excessively high to me (except for the TPOab) but I don't know too much about them.
I take it natural cures aren't too effective?
Smilerdeb- it's good to hear that you're doing great now.  It seems like the weight gain is pretty rare.  I have had heart palpitations and chest pain several times, do you think this could be a precursor to thyroid storm?

[louwulf]

Sorry again, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong here.  It's messed up again though before I pushed send it was fine. TSH is <0.01 ref .34-4.82, TPOab <900 ref 0.0-8.9, T4 free 1.88 ref .59-1.61, T3total 205 ref 87-178.  If this doesn't post correctly I give up!

[louwulf]

The only thing messed up this time is all me. TPOab is >900 not less than.  My computer must be losing it along with me. lol.  Thanks for your patience.

[Smilerdeb]

Its called 'brain fog' lol...and we all have it at some time or another.
In regards to chest pain and palps...get them checked but they are normal with thyroid issues.
If you are experiencing thyroid storm..you wouldnt need to ask me.
YOU WOULD KNOW.
Just try and keep that FT3 down.....