Aa
Please HELP
I used to sleep 8 hours since relapsing from Graves. I used to be a fairly active and creative person. I used to enjoy my life and have future goals. All of that seems so far from reach now. I have not been able to sleep for more than a few minutes nightly since May 8th, 2014. I am losing my mind and can no longer cope. It feels as if my body is shutting down. I cannot operate a vehicle and take care of quotidian issues. I wake up in a sweat after a few minutes of "sleeping", often with anxiety. What I don't understand is that this started happening to me AFTER I returned from hospitalization for a week. Then I was hospitalized for two more weeks. I keep trying to figure out the insomnia puzzle because it was never an issue prior to this relapse. Please help me, I cannot cope! Honestly, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to sustain this "reality". Can someone please offer a few words of assistance?
Barb,
To be honest, I'm not exactly sure as this was a diagnosis made in 2004 and I was very young and nonchalant. All they told me back then was that there was something abnormal in my blood and then I recall they measured my thyroid. Thats when they said I had hyper. My endo says I have Graves' but it's very difficult to speak to him in detail as he's quite aloof.
What would you recommend and what do you suggest in terms of a right diagnosis? Do you mean a more prominent mood disorder or anxiety as opposed to a thyroid issue.
The SSNI I was given stopped working in just one day. I woke up at 1:45 AM in a sweat again. This nightmare will never end.
To be honest, I'm not exactly sure as this was a diagnosis made in 2004 and I was very young and nonchalant. All they told me back then was that there was something abnormal in my blood and then I recall they measured my thyroid. Thats when they said I had hyper. My endo says I have Graves' but it's very difficult to speak to him in detail as he's quite aloof.
What would you recommend and what do you suggest in terms of a right diagnosis? Do you mean a more prominent mood disorder or anxiety as opposed to a thyroid issue.
The SSNI I was given stopped working in just one day. I woke up at 1:45 AM in a sweat again. This nightmare will never end.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I want to know what the basis was for your diagnosis of Graves Disease..Were you tested for TSI antibodies? If not, you can't be diagnosed, definitively, with Graves Disease... Many people with Hashimoto's have symptoms of hyper in the beginning stages.. if you don't have the right tests, you won't get the right diagnosis.
Simply being hyperthyroid is not basis for Graves Disease.
Simply being hyperthyroid is not basis for Graves Disease.
I'm sure you've read this with your expertize, but regardless:
http://www.*************************/top-reasons-not-to-have-rai/
http://www.*************************/top-reasons-not-to-have-rai/
Hello Flyingfool,
I had to choose whether to continue a manic course of insomnia or to have it cease for a while. I am take a small dose of Mirtazipine and have actually been able to sleep! This was recommended by a sleep specialist who says I'll be able to taper off of it once my levels are regulated.
Please read my response to Bard concerning T3.
Even when I was first diagnosed with hyperthyroidism back in 2004, I was put on anxiety medication. Coincidentally, my psychologist diagnosed me with GAD and depression.
I had to choose whether to continue a manic course of insomnia or to have it cease for a while. I am take a small dose of Mirtazipine and have actually been able to sleep! This was recommended by a sleep specialist who says I'll be able to taper off of it once my levels are regulated.
Please read my response to Bard concerning T3.
Even when I was first diagnosed with hyperthyroidism back in 2004, I was put on anxiety medication. Coincidentally, my psychologist diagnosed me with GAD and depression.
Barb,
I agree we are susceptible to more than one autoimmune disease once a diagnosis has been made. I wouldn't be surprised if more await me in the future.
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism on the basis of Graves in 2004 and remission was achieved when my levels were within range and having stopped taking the PTU for 2 years, they were still under control. A lot of stressors, I believe, contributed to my relapse, including my mother's sudden death, marriage, moves, and job change. All within the past year and a half.
I believe the endo did check for T3 but the results have not been posted. I see him July11th I believe, and I will ask then. If he has not checked for it, I will demand it.
I'm opposed to RAI as I think it's substituting one set of symptoms for another, including the risk of GED, and well, the idea of using anything radioactive in my body seems unnatural. I've also read up on so many patients who regret the procedure and would be extremely concerned about the insomnia they've faced as well. The use of ATD is common in Europe whereas in the U.S. thyroid ablation becomes the "cure", as I'm sure you know.
I am familiar with bock and replace, but unfortunately my endocrinologist is quite ...conventional? I've had bad luck finding a good endo in Miami, FL., where I live, especially one who is open to other treatments besides RAI.
I agree we are susceptible to more than one autoimmune disease once a diagnosis has been made. I wouldn't be surprised if more await me in the future.
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism on the basis of Graves in 2004 and remission was achieved when my levels were within range and having stopped taking the PTU for 2 years, they were still under control. A lot of stressors, I believe, contributed to my relapse, including my mother's sudden death, marriage, moves, and job change. All within the past year and a half.
I believe the endo did check for T3 but the results have not been posted. I see him July11th I believe, and I will ask then. If he has not checked for it, I will demand it.
I'm opposed to RAI as I think it's substituting one set of symptoms for another, including the risk of GED, and well, the idea of using anything radioactive in my body seems unnatural. I've also read up on so many patients who regret the procedure and would be extremely concerned about the insomnia they've faced as well. The use of ATD is common in Europe whereas in the U.S. thyroid ablation becomes the "cure", as I'm sure you know.
I am familiar with bock and replace, but unfortunately my endocrinologist is quite ...conventional? I've had bad luck finding a good endo in Miami, FL., where I live, especially one who is open to other treatments besides RAI.
Personally I would not take addictive SRRI drug. without first getting Thyroid under cotnrol.
It appears that you are still hyper and thus need more anti-thyroid medication or the thyroid removed or irradiated to kill it.
Many people once thyroid is under control find they do not need and SRRI drugs. This is why I would suggest that thyroid be handled first.
I too agree with Barb that it is CRITICAL that you have your Free T3 tested. It is insane bordering on malpractice for a person diagnossed with Graves and showing signs of being hyper to not actually test for the hormone that is active in the blood!
Testing for T4 instead of also testing for Free T3 is like a car mechanic checking over a car that came in with the engine running near redline RPM and the mechanic only checking the fuel gauge so see what is wrong. What you really want to know is how much fuel is getting into the engine. And that is exactly what Free T3 does!
Inability to sleep with being hyper is quite common. But it is also critical that your body gets sleep or BAD, VERY bad things happen. Since you are extremely sleep deprived, you may have to seriously think about having your thyroid removed or RAI procedure done. As you state, you cannot keep living this way! And at some extreme sleep deparvation your body WILL shut down.
You have been with little or no sleep for nearly two months is that right? You have GOT to take care of this and soon!
It appears that you are still hyper and thus need more anti-thyroid medication or the thyroid removed or irradiated to kill it.
Many people once thyroid is under control find they do not need and SRRI drugs. This is why I would suggest that thyroid be handled first.
I too agree with Barb that it is CRITICAL that you have your Free T3 tested. It is insane bordering on malpractice for a person diagnossed with Graves and showing signs of being hyper to not actually test for the hormone that is active in the blood!
Testing for T4 instead of also testing for Free T3 is like a car mechanic checking over a car that came in with the engine running near redline RPM and the mechanic only checking the fuel gauge so see what is wrong. What you really want to know is how much fuel is getting into the engine. And that is exactly what Free T3 does!
Inability to sleep with being hyper is quite common. But it is also critical that your body gets sleep or BAD, VERY bad things happen. Since you are extremely sleep deprived, you may have to seriously think about having your thyroid removed or RAI procedure done. As you state, you cannot keep living this way! And at some extreme sleep deparvation your body WILL shut down.
You have been with little or no sleep for nearly two months is that right? You have GOT to take care of this and soon!
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm not surprised about the vitiligo... both it and Graves are autoimmune and once a person has one autoimmune, the chances of getting another are that much greater. That's something we deal with.
I'm just curious - on what basis were you diagnosed with Graves Disease? Because of hyperthyroidism or TSI antibodies? How long ago were you diagnosed and how did you achieve remission?
Really? You have Graves Disease and you're not being tested for Free T3? That's the thyroid hormone that's actually used by the individual cells, while Free T4 is a storage hormone that must be converted to Free T3 before it's used. Are the labs you posted while on medication? If so, they indicate that you could use an increase.
Many people diagnosed with thyroid conditions are thought to have mood disorders, depression, etc but once the thyroid condition is leveled out, the mood disorder tends to go away.
Your last comment sounds a bit defensive, so I wonder if someone has suggested/recommended that your thyroid be removed or destroyed via RAI, which is typically, the treatment for Graves Disease, since anti-thyroid drugs are not usually long term.
Is GAD (I assume that to be Generalized Anxiety Disorder?) still part of your diagnosis?
Most often, the thyroid is removed or destroyed via RAI, the patient is started on thyroid replacement hormones and once regulated back to normal levels, the depression and mood disorders go away, as would the anxiety, which is another symptom of thyroid condition.
Has anyone suggested a method called block and replace? That's where enough anti-thyroid medication is given to cause the patient to go hypo, then replacement hormones are given to bring levels up to what's needed.
I'm just curious - on what basis were you diagnosed with Graves Disease? Because of hyperthyroidism or TSI antibodies? How long ago were you diagnosed and how did you achieve remission?
Really? You have Graves Disease and you're not being tested for Free T3? That's the thyroid hormone that's actually used by the individual cells, while Free T4 is a storage hormone that must be converted to Free T3 before it's used. Are the labs you posted while on medication? If so, they indicate that you could use an increase.
Many people diagnosed with thyroid conditions are thought to have mood disorders, depression, etc but once the thyroid condition is leveled out, the mood disorder tends to go away.
Your last comment sounds a bit defensive, so I wonder if someone has suggested/recommended that your thyroid be removed or destroyed via RAI, which is typically, the treatment for Graves Disease, since anti-thyroid drugs are not usually long term.
Is GAD (I assume that to be Generalized Anxiety Disorder?) still part of your diagnosis?
Most often, the thyroid is removed or destroyed via RAI, the patient is started on thyroid replacement hormones and once regulated back to normal levels, the depression and mood disorders go away, as would the anxiety, which is another symptom of thyroid condition.
Has anyone suggested a method called block and replace? That's where enough anti-thyroid medication is given to cause the patient to go hypo, then replacement hormones are given to bring levels up to what's needed.
Hyperthyroidism due to Graves' (with the added bonus of vitiligo) yay!
I"m on 250 mg of PTU
T4 and free T4 (NO clue about T3 or Free T3 or anything else). TSH os .001, T4 9.3 (4-12), and Free T$ 1.5 (.8-1.8)
Was hospitalized due to relapse, I was previously in remission. Went to a sleep specialist today and he mentioned the insomnia was a secondary cause brought on by mood disorder so now I get to experiment with SSRIs. Lovely. Honestly, I haven't been in such a dark place physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Been diagnosed previously with GAD and of course Graves.
I"m on 250 mg of PTU
T4 and free T4 (NO clue about T3 or Free T3 or anything else). TSH os .001, T4 9.3 (4-12), and Free T$ 1.5 (.8-1.8)
Was hospitalized due to relapse, I was previously in remission. Went to a sleep specialist today and he mentioned the insomnia was a secondary cause brought on by mood disorder so now I get to experiment with SSRIs. Lovely. Honestly, I haven't been in such a dark place physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Been diagnosed previously with GAD and of course Graves.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Okay - you have Graves Disease? Do you still have your thyroid? Are you on anti-thyroid medication? If so, what med at what dosage?
What are your actual thyroid related test results? You should be getting tested regularly for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4. Please post whatever results you have, and be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
What were you hospitalized for? Do you have other health conditions?
What are your actual thyroid related test results? You should be getting tested regularly for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4. Please post whatever results you have, and be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.
What were you hospitalized for? Do you have other health conditions?
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