Overly aggressive treatment

[factorymedicine]

I am 32 years old.  Some Dr. diognosed me with Graves Disease.  Rushed me off to take radiation..that was2 months ago.  Now that I have seen the Dr again she commented that I had "VERY MILD" symptoms of Graves Disase and my tsh levels were actually normal.  Now I am stuck on Synthroid 100 mcg and I have ringing in my ears nad feel half drunk with my head buzzing coming and going, not-to-mention my throat feels like it is starting to close up.  I don't think I would believe anybody who told me that it was not from the synthroid.  I have been on it for 3 days and take no other medications.

I warn everyone not to be pushed into taking the radioiodine treatment.  I have learned that there are risks of lukemia and other cancers that the doctor never mentioned.  Also, Graves disease is autoimmune....which means it is not your thyroid that is to blame for your problems.

Needless to say I am looking for a new doctor.  I just don't know how I am going to live with the ringing ears, closing throat and feeling of drunkeness.  I want to say to my DR. "THANKS A LOT DR. FOR MAKING ME WORSE.  I'm glad I was nothing other than somebody in an assembly line that you treated."


This discussion is related to side effects.

[MKlacza]

I am so sorry for your experience. I have to say.. with just being on the Synthroid for only 3 days.. I dont think your symptoms are because of the Synthroid. I have been on Synthroid for a week now and I had A TERRIBLE ATTACK of symptoms. When the dr calle dme this morning.. he clearly stated that the meds were not the culprit. He said it usually take 2 weeks for the meds to get into our bodies and 4-6 weeks to actually see if the meds are the culprit with our symptoms.. meaning do we need to lower or go higher in adjustment.

If the Synthroid is the culprit this the feeling of your throat closing in... I would call the DR ASAP or go to the ER! That isnt something you mess with.

Now I can be completely wrong and I am only a patient as you are, but I truly trust my Dr and we are pretty close, so I would think he is telling me the true facts as for the meds..

Good luck to you!!

[AR-10]

Grave's Disease is an auto-immune disease that MAKES your thyroid the problem. The only treatment for the disease is to treat the thyroid.

It sounds like you were rushed into making a choice, which is too bad. Had you been given six months or a year to mull it over, you probably would have still chosen RAI over the other two choices.

That would be the choice of being on suppression meds, which you cannot take forever because it will ruin your Liver, or surgery, which is very risky when you are hyper.

You were poorly informed and advised, that is for sure. You should have been informed of your options and the risks involved with RAI. There is no excuse for that and I don't blame you for condemning the doctor.

I hope the Endo at least gave you an ultrasound and an uptake scan prior to doing the RAI.

You should call the Endo and describe your symptoms. It may be that you need to cut the dose in half for a few weeks to get used to the drug.

If you have absolutely no faith in the Endo, talk to your regular doctor. 100mcg is a fairly large dose, and sometimes a person needs to start small and ramp up to a full dose.

When was the last time you had a Free T4 or Free T3 test run?

[factorymedicine]

I haven't had a Free T4 or Free T3 test run since I started the medication just this week.

I honestly think I would have been better off not to ever go to the doctor for this.  I did have a scan that was normal, a uptake that was high 33% in like 4 hours, and my T3/T4 levels fell within normal at the time I was urged (or railroaded I like to describe it) to take treatment.  She said she had a "trained eye" and that I had graves.  I was lead to believe life would be perfect with no worries of any side effects from medication or RAI.  Very nonchalant.

I would love to pump her full of radioactive material and have a vital part of her body disintegrated.  Then she can be tied to a medicinal ball and chain for the rest of her life.

[stella5349]

As someone who IS definetly walking in your shoes - I can toally agree with you. BUT regretting this RAI is not an option anymore. This is non reversable now and you have to move forward into another way of getting back to normal. I had RAI 4 years ago and had the "stuck" feeling inthe throat. Graves is auto immune and AR is correct - but Graves can be "caused" by other underlying issues going on with you and that can cause Graves. STRESS is a biggy and so is family history - Smoking too. However the thyroid whacked out is a mystery now - it is now over on that end.

Yeap!!! - many doctors said I am "well" nuts too. I went to every GI ENT MD Endo I could  ( see my journal) After RAI I felt worse than I did.

I don't have the answer - and I don't think there is one situation for all here. You need to :

1  KNOW YOU and find out what works best for you.

2  Research alot on your condition now - and tackle each symptom as they come.

It is never ending and very frustrating. FInd a doctor willing to listen and get on a routine - a journal helps so you can look back and see what works and what didn't.

I sympathize and know exactly how you feel - but stressing out is not good. and trying to go back is only going to cause you more stress. Look forward to a better you now.