NEW TO HYPERTHYROIDISM AND GRAVES

[IndraG]

I was diagnosed with Graves. I have been having chest pains all the time it is so scary but cardiologist confirmed that my heart is OK. Does anyone else have chest pains and what it could be? Does anyone ever recovered from Graves? Any advice or support would be very appreciated. it is so hard to be in pain all the time. I take 1 Methimazole and 0.5 or Metoprolol Succinate  for now. I can't get of from Metoprolol because my pulse shoots up and I get even more chest pains, originally I have started with 6 methimazoles a day but eventually it was reduced to just 1 pill. I wonder if it is my upper stomach because cardiologist did not find anything. I need some answers. It is annoying when they try to tell me it is anxiety when I know that it is NOT.

[Red_Star]

Conventional treatment options for Graves' disease include:

* Anti-thyroid medication:

In the US:
- Methimazole [brand name Tapazole]
- Propylthiouracil [PTU]

Approximately 30% with Graves' disease will have a remission after prolonged treatment with anti-thyroid drugs.

* Betablockers

The two following treatment options usually cause permanent hypothyroidism requiring lifelong thyroid hormone therapy:

* RAI therapy

* Surgery [most or all the thyroid gland is removed]


***


Alternative/natural treatments for Graves' disease include:

* Herbs bugleweed [Lycopus virginica] and lemon balm [Melissa officinalis] can help reduce the production of thyroid hormone.  The herb Motherwort [Leonurus cardiaca] can help regulate rapid heartbeat.

* Over consumption of uncooked goitrogenic foods can depress thyroid activity: brussels sprouts, cabbage of all kinds, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, peaches, pears, rapini, spinach, strawberries, radishes, rutabagas, turnips, soybeans, pine nuts, peanuts, millet, rape seed (canola oil).

One study demonstrated that selenium [200 mcg daily] significantly improved quality of life, reduced ocular involvement, and slowed progression of the disease in patients with mild Graves' orbitopathy [thyroid eye disease].

L-carnitine which has been shown to inhibit thyroid activity and may help prevent the possible lethal outcome of a thyroid storm. L-carnitine can be taken alone or with anti-thyroid medication.