Graves Disease

[MrsK02]

I am a 25 y/o female diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at 16 and later with Graves Disease and Goiter. I have been on Tapazol along with Atenelol (for the Tachacardia) off and on for the past 9 years with no results. Every doc I see wants to discuss nothing but RAI or surgery. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a few years with no success. I finally found out that I was pregnant the beginning of last year and made it to 4 months and suffered a miscarriage for no apparent reason. I have all the horrible symptoms of Graves/Hyper including the severe anxiety, complete insomnia, and muscle/joint pain. My last TSH was .23 but I do not have the T/T4 levels on hand and I'm not quiet sure that my Doc has even tested for Antibodies which I have requested for my next panels. What if anything can you suggest other than a permanent approach to one problem and then end up living the rest of my life Hypo-?

Thanks.

[KimberlyB]

Hi everyone,
I have written a few posts before, but each is a different question, all regarding Hashimotos and thyroid nodules.

This is a question about Hashimotos..if anyone knows the anwer!
I am 41, and have symptoms of Hashi's since I was in my late teens.
I believe I have been ilL for a VERY LONG time but Hashimotos, and specialized thyroid tests have been LONG OVERLOOKED.
(This is beyond sad, because my life is half over and most of it, since the age of 20, has been wasted by me SIMPLY NOT FEELING WELL! Over the last 20 yrs, I have not being able to think straight, and I continue to have LARGE SWINGS in my energy levels, body temperature, appetite, moods, etc. I have body {muscle and tendon} pain which was previously diagnosed as Fibromyalgia, which I now know is  SYMPTOM of hypothyroid and Hashi's, too.
(I also have pressure and discomfort in my neck {thyroid region}, loss of voice, cant clear my throat, etc. I had a CAT scan done, but it came out negative for thyroid problems! I still think I have a thyroid nodule that is hidden, deep in my thyroid, near the vocal cords.)

My question for this post is...
when a person is exhibiting severe insomnia (most likely because my thyroid levels are wildly fluctuating from hyper mode to hypo mode), how can this be treated?
I often stay awake for 24-72 hours straight (symptom of hyperthyroid) but after 3 days of this, my body falls back into hypothyroid mode, and I become achy, fatigued, freezing cold, lethargic and depressed.
What kinds of meds are given (If any) to a person like me to balance the thyroid out?
Is there a medication that can balance the thyroid out, or do I have to wait for itself to burn itself out?
I am going to go nuts living this way...I am awake for days at a time, cant focus, feel hyper, yet exhausted all at the same time. A person could go CRAZY from this disease!
Can anyone give me any information on what kinds of treatment they had, if they were going through my same symptoms, and how your treatment helped u (IF IT DID?).

Thanks so much!
Kimberly

[Mellowscout]

Hello,
Unfortunately, I have a question about yoour question, do you not want to have RAI/surgery...or you do want to have it and your doctor is just unwilling to do that?  I might have misinterpreted what you said.  I thought it was standard for doctors to suggest RAI, at  the least.  If that is something you want to consider and your doctor won't listen, then find a new doctor!
On the other hand, if you don't want to have RAI or surgery...but you know the medicine you have been taking for 9 years isn't working, then what is the hesitation?  Sorry that I'm asking all these questions instead of answering yours!  I think that your doctor hasn't fully explained to you the benefits of RAI {or surgery}.  Did you see an endocrinologist, because they should really be able to answer all the questions that you have regarding RAI.
  I am a 25/f dx hyperthyroid in June of this year and did RAI on 08/28.  Feeling better and hoping for the best!

I'm very sorry for your loss during your miscarriage.

Mellowscout...good luck.

[Smilerdeb]

9 years is a long time to be managed on anti-thyroid medications especially as they can really upset the Liver Enzymes.

As for permanant treatment....you have the misconception that you STAY Hypothyroid.
This is untrue.
I was diagnosed with Graves, had Hyperthyroidism which was untreatable with anti-thyroid meds.
It affected my heart and I had episodes of thyroid storm (atrial fibrillation).
I then went for RAI (radioactive Iodine ) in June 2008 and a keyhole Thyroidiectomy in Sept 2008 (as Cancer was found).
I was 'classified ' as HYPO 5 weeks after RAI and since then have been doing good.

People believe that once they go HYPO after RAI or TT that they stay Hypo.
This is not true.
Hypothyroidism symptoms start to ease after 4-6 weeks and then its full steam ahead.

Get your Liver Enzymes checked as they would be pretty high after 9 years on ATD's.

Listen to Sally...she knows what she's talking about :)

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

I am sure others will comment.  This does seem like a long term problem (9 years) and maybe a permanent solution may be the best approach, given the symptoms you are having.  

The benefit is that then you will be stable (though of course you'll have to take meds for hypo).. Despite the stories you hear here, when properly titrated treatment for hypothyroid can be quite effective and you can feel quite well on it.

As one who has been hypo for going on 10 years now I am doing great (finally, after much med adjustment) and I have a healthy baby....

Best wishes

sally