Aa
Methimazole & itching
Hi, I was just recently diagnosed with Grave's disease on the 27th of June with only a TSH and FT4 results (I don't have the Grave's Opto), and was prescribed 15mg of methimazole twice a day (30mg total). I started taking it on the 2nd of July and it has been almost 3 weeks being on the ATD, but now I have itching w/welts that switch from one place to another on my body. It started about 2 days ago. It hasn't gotten to my face yet (and I hope it doesn't). Taking benadryl seems to reduce the itching. My quesion is, is it possible that I'm on too high of a dose? my TSH was 0.010 and FT4 was 2.8. I'm scared that my Endo is going to tell me to stop taking the medicine and that I'm having an allergic reaction to it. I do not want RAI or surgery especially since he diagnosed me with Grave's so quickly without knowing my antibody count.
I do have an appointment for labwork tomorrow and a visit for the 23rd of July. I'm really scared and don't know what to do. Any info you can help me with would be greatly appreciated.
This discussion is related to Methimazole vs Tapazole vs PTU vs Carbimazole which helps me hit remission faster and causes less side effects?.
I do have an appointment for labwork tomorrow and a visit for the 23rd of July. I'm really scared and don't know what to do. Any info you can help me with would be greatly appreciated.
This discussion is related to Methimazole vs Tapazole vs PTU vs Carbimazole which helps me hit remission faster and causes less side effects?.
Thank you all for sharing. I thought I was the only one having thyroid disorder. I have hyperthyroidism, so, I'm taking methimazole 1tablet/day since early September. I didn't have any side effects till two days ago that my skin starts playing on me, rash and itching. I've been taking hot shower to calm down the itchiness.
I called the doctor and he told me to stop taking it for two days and retake it and see what will happen, if the rash comes back, I will have to take different tablets.
I'm just wondering, do any of you have problem with your eye-sight? Mine is unstable, one day it'd be clear and another day it'd be so blur.
Kiki
I called the doctor and he told me to stop taking it for two days and retake it and see what will happen, if the rash comes back, I will have to take different tablets.
I'm just wondering, do any of you have problem with your eye-sight? Mine is unstable, one day it'd be clear and another day it'd be so blur.
Kiki
Hi, Everyone!
I wanted to post an update on my TT (surgery). I'm sure I'm in the wrong thread, but I wanted to share since we have all been together for this roller coaster ride with being on methimazole or PTU.
I am now 5 days post op. I feel okay, neck's a little sore and the skin around the incision is taught so it makes swallowing a little uncomfortable. My surgery went well. It took 4 hours for the surgery and 2 hours in recovery. It was outpatient so I was home in the evening. My great surgeon did not damage my vocals cords and I have not had any problems with calcium levels even though my doctor/surgeon has placed me on 500 mg of calcium 3 times a day. I will be tapered off on my month follow up. I do have a slight mucous build up in my throat and have to clear it a few times, but I think it's from the breathing tube that was inserted.
He has me taking .88 mcg of Synthroid. Since my numbers were almost in the normal range two days before surgery, he had me start taking synthroid 3 days after surgery. My follow up was 2 days after surgery and my incision is healing nicely. I need to do some neck stretching excercises so I can swallow comfortably. LOL.
My head feels like when I've slept for too long, but I also have allergies going on at the same time so I don't know if it's even related to my thyroid being gone. I do get times when I feel hot so I'm not sure what's going on. I also still have a slight irregular heartbeat. Maybe more of a flutter. Not sure how long a person's natural thyroid hormones stays in your system.
Other than those things, I feel good or like I normally would with allergies going on. LOL. And I'm also able to sleep without waking up in the middle of the night 3-4 times. :)
joyrrt - how are you doing? Is the PTU still working out for you?
I wanted to post an update on my TT (surgery). I'm sure I'm in the wrong thread, but I wanted to share since we have all been together for this roller coaster ride with being on methimazole or PTU.
I am now 5 days post op. I feel okay, neck's a little sore and the skin around the incision is taught so it makes swallowing a little uncomfortable. My surgery went well. It took 4 hours for the surgery and 2 hours in recovery. It was outpatient so I was home in the evening. My great surgeon did not damage my vocals cords and I have not had any problems with calcium levels even though my doctor/surgeon has placed me on 500 mg of calcium 3 times a day. I will be tapered off on my month follow up. I do have a slight mucous build up in my throat and have to clear it a few times, but I think it's from the breathing tube that was inserted.
He has me taking .88 mcg of Synthroid. Since my numbers were almost in the normal range two days before surgery, he had me start taking synthroid 3 days after surgery. My follow up was 2 days after surgery and my incision is healing nicely. I need to do some neck stretching excercises so I can swallow comfortably. LOL.
My head feels like when I've slept for too long, but I also have allergies going on at the same time so I don't know if it's even related to my thyroid being gone. I do get times when I feel hot so I'm not sure what's going on. I also still have a slight irregular heartbeat. Maybe more of a flutter. Not sure how long a person's natural thyroid hormones stays in your system.
Other than those things, I feel good or like I normally would with allergies going on. LOL. And I'm also able to sleep without waking up in the middle of the night 3-4 times. :)
joyrrt - how are you doing? Is the PTU still working out for you?
Hi joyrtt and musela,
I was able to exercise once my heart rate was under control but I had to take baby steps because for me my activity tolerance went to zip and I had muscle wasting. Like I had said in my previous post--prior to all hitting me like a ton of bricks I was kicking butt at the gym with lifting weights and also doing 1.5 hr of fairly intense aerobic activity 4 days a week. That summer I started to notice that the weights I was lifting seemed harder to lift and I hadn't gone up on the weight I was lifting--I also noticed that after my aerobics I was exhausted where as before I had felt great. Once I was diagnosed and stopped exercise for safety reasons with my heart I got progressively weaker---a gallon of milk took 2 hands to lift---walking down stairs my legs would sometimes buckle--it was crazy. I would also get chest pressure where it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest when I was just walking--I would get very rapid heart rate etc--I was a "shipwreck." So that's how bad I got and that is why I needed to start back with babysteps. Once my rapid heart rate was better controlled I went out and bought a pulse oximeter--it is a device that goes on your finger and tells your heart rate and oxygen level. I used it to tell my heart rate because it was a pain to have to count it while I was walking--I could just tell at a glance what my heart rate was. I started walking in my house and watched my heart rate. Once my heart rate was ok with the short distance indoors I ventured outdoors with my husband . I didn't dare walk by myself even a short distance just in case I couldn't make it back because of chest pressure or high heart rate plus it gave me anxiety with all I had been through. I walked down the street and back and once I felt ok with that I did that 5 or so times a day by myself and then after a few days I increased with my husband at my side while continuing to monitor my heart rate. The md didn't want it above 100 to 120 max. I gradually increased my distance till I was at about 3 miles and not at sonic speed either. At this point I was still out of work and could only return when my md ok'd it. I do a lot of walking in my job so being able to walk a little distance before I went back to work was essential. My doctor also only would allow me to do half days--this I was not too pleased with but I went a long with it and I was glad because I was exhausted after only 6 hours for 2 weeks then after that I went back to my usual 12 + hour shifts--my coworkers were very understanding and easy on me while I was getting back into the swing of things. I can now pretty much do anything for exercise and I tolerate it well. One thing not related to exercise tolerance I wanted to tell you both is that while on the antithyroid med (PTU for me) you still do need to be aware of symptoms of hyper and even hypothyroid. At one point in my treatment I went towards the hypo side from the PTU and I felt like the life had been sucked right out of me--I didn't feel anything --sometimes I cried for no reason--so not like me--I could barely function. I had to get my md to run more lab test and and my results were on the hypo side from the PTU (but not per the tsh)--my md had me cut back on my PTU and it improved but took about a month. So be watchful of changes in how you feel and speak up to your md. Musela sounds like you don't have much choice except to have your thyroid out--gotta do what you gotta do. There is hope in all that we all have gone through and there are many more people in this world who are much sicker than us--at least we can be managed. I have found this thyroid forum was my lifeline when I was at my sickest--no one else truly understood what I was going through. I even got weird looks from some people when I tried to explain my symptoms and they would tell me that the thyroid doesn't do that--even my md didn't equate some of my symptoms to thyroid. I am here to tell you that the world is clueless to our thyroid issues--I plan of educating them--one person at a time!!
I was able to exercise once my heart rate was under control but I had to take baby steps because for me my activity tolerance went to zip and I had muscle wasting. Like I had said in my previous post--prior to all hitting me like a ton of bricks I was kicking butt at the gym with lifting weights and also doing 1.5 hr of fairly intense aerobic activity 4 days a week. That summer I started to notice that the weights I was lifting seemed harder to lift and I hadn't gone up on the weight I was lifting--I also noticed that after my aerobics I was exhausted where as before I had felt great. Once I was diagnosed and stopped exercise for safety reasons with my heart I got progressively weaker---a gallon of milk took 2 hands to lift---walking down stairs my legs would sometimes buckle--it was crazy. I would also get chest pressure where it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest when I was just walking--I would get very rapid heart rate etc--I was a "shipwreck." So that's how bad I got and that is why I needed to start back with babysteps. Once my rapid heart rate was better controlled I went out and bought a pulse oximeter--it is a device that goes on your finger and tells your heart rate and oxygen level. I used it to tell my heart rate because it was a pain to have to count it while I was walking--I could just tell at a glance what my heart rate was. I started walking in my house and watched my heart rate. Once my heart rate was ok with the short distance indoors I ventured outdoors with my husband . I didn't dare walk by myself even a short distance just in case I couldn't make it back because of chest pressure or high heart rate plus it gave me anxiety with all I had been through. I walked down the street and back and once I felt ok with that I did that 5 or so times a day by myself and then after a few days I increased with my husband at my side while continuing to monitor my heart rate. The md didn't want it above 100 to 120 max. I gradually increased my distance till I was at about 3 miles and not at sonic speed either. At this point I was still out of work and could only return when my md ok'd it. I do a lot of walking in my job so being able to walk a little distance before I went back to work was essential. My doctor also only would allow me to do half days--this I was not too pleased with but I went a long with it and I was glad because I was exhausted after only 6 hours for 2 weeks then after that I went back to my usual 12 + hour shifts--my coworkers were very understanding and easy on me while I was getting back into the swing of things. I can now pretty much do anything for exercise and I tolerate it well. One thing not related to exercise tolerance I wanted to tell you both is that while on the antithyroid med (PTU for me) you still do need to be aware of symptoms of hyper and even hypothyroid. At one point in my treatment I went towards the hypo side from the PTU and I felt like the life had been sucked right out of me--I didn't feel anything --sometimes I cried for no reason--so not like me--I could barely function. I had to get my md to run more lab test and and my results were on the hypo side from the PTU (but not per the tsh)--my md had me cut back on my PTU and it improved but took about a month. So be watchful of changes in how you feel and speak up to your md. Musela sounds like you don't have much choice except to have your thyroid out--gotta do what you gotta do. There is hope in all that we all have gone through and there are many more people in this world who are much sicker than us--at least we can be managed. I have found this thyroid forum was my lifeline when I was at my sickest--no one else truly understood what I was going through. I even got weird looks from some people when I tried to explain my symptoms and they would tell me that the thyroid doesn't do that--even my md didn't equate some of my symptoms to thyroid. I am here to tell you that the world is clueless to our thyroid issues--I plan of educating them--one person at a time!!
Thanks that is encouraging!!! I really want to walk and tone up.... after my weight loss lol. but it really has stopped now, I have stayed the same for the last couple weeks and my appetite has come down a bit too. I hope that that is a good sign. ;)
Joy,
I was able to work out once my thyroid started to slow down. Even before I got to euthyroid, I was able to start working out. Just take it easy at first. I was working out to Insanity and P90X before I knew it. LOL
It'll get better. I'm sure it will. Just keep taking the PTU and make sure to keep an out out on your lab results for your liver and white blood cell count.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and remission. :)
And dangit, why can't I keep the eat-what-I-want and lose-weight symptom? LOL
I was able to work out once my thyroid started to slow down. Even before I got to euthyroid, I was able to start working out. Just take it easy at first. I was working out to Insanity and P90X before I knew it. LOL
It'll get better. I'm sure it will. Just keep taking the PTU and make sure to keep an out out on your lab results for your liver and white blood cell count.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and remission. :)
And dangit, why can't I keep the eat-what-I-want and lose-weight symptom? LOL
Hi yankeeRN,
Thanks for sharing what you're going through. I wasn't as bad as you when I was diagnosed, but I did have the shaky extremities. Even when I was driving, my leg would shake holding down the break. I had the profuse sweating, and a slight irregular heartbeat and also would go to the bathroom more often. My irregular heartbeat would speed up when I inhaled and slowed down when I exhaled. It wasn't very fast. It was about 65-70 bpm. And my blood pressure was normal. I also had weak arms and legs.
I was diagnosed in Jun of 2008 so it's been a while, but I was having the symptoms since I was in my late 20's. I'm 41 now. So that tells you how long I've been undiagnosed.
I was on methimazole for about 3 weeks and had to get off of it because of rashes and hives. Then the endo put me on PTU. I had been on PTU up until Jan 2013. I started to feel the symptoms of hyperactive thyroid around May 2013 so I started to take PTU again (under the suggestion of my endo). Well, I had to stop I kept having fevers every other day, and about 3-4 times a day. I stopped taking the PTU and the fevers stopped. So now my only choices were RAI and surgery. I thought about it for awhile. I even wanted to try going natural, but without the support or the means of finding a doctor who will try a natural way, I was left with those 2 options.
I refuse RAI, because if I don't have enough antibodies going through my thyroid, it would probably take more than one dose. You also cannot be around people or pets for a about a week, etc, etc. Not to mention, what other organs RAI could affect. I've heard of people who have problems with lymph nodes, taste buds and salivary glands due to RAI. Plus, having to wait 3-4 months before they find out if it has killed my thyroid completely would be hell. Can you imagine 3-4 months of up and down thyroid hormones until your thyroid dies? :O
I chose surgery. Thyroid out = hypothyroid. So now I will have to take a hormone thyroid for the rest of my life. There are risks with surgery too, but the benefits outweigh the risks. I hope that the synthroid I will be on will work and I also hope that the surgery will be a success. I want to be able to talk and absorb calcium normally. LOL
I heard remission is possible and I hope you are able to get there. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't possible. I could wait until my thyroid burns out? ... but I might burn out before it does. LOL
Good luck :)
Thanks for sharing what you're going through. I wasn't as bad as you when I was diagnosed, but I did have the shaky extremities. Even when I was driving, my leg would shake holding down the break. I had the profuse sweating, and a slight irregular heartbeat and also would go to the bathroom more often. My irregular heartbeat would speed up when I inhaled and slowed down when I exhaled. It wasn't very fast. It was about 65-70 bpm. And my blood pressure was normal. I also had weak arms and legs.
I was diagnosed in Jun of 2008 so it's been a while, but I was having the symptoms since I was in my late 20's. I'm 41 now. So that tells you how long I've been undiagnosed.
I was on methimazole for about 3 weeks and had to get off of it because of rashes and hives. Then the endo put me on PTU. I had been on PTU up until Jan 2013. I started to feel the symptoms of hyperactive thyroid around May 2013 so I started to take PTU again (under the suggestion of my endo). Well, I had to stop I kept having fevers every other day, and about 3-4 times a day. I stopped taking the PTU and the fevers stopped. So now my only choices were RAI and surgery. I thought about it for awhile. I even wanted to try going natural, but without the support or the means of finding a doctor who will try a natural way, I was left with those 2 options.
I refuse RAI, because if I don't have enough antibodies going through my thyroid, it would probably take more than one dose. You also cannot be around people or pets for a about a week, etc, etc. Not to mention, what other organs RAI could affect. I've heard of people who have problems with lymph nodes, taste buds and salivary glands due to RAI. Plus, having to wait 3-4 months before they find out if it has killed my thyroid completely would be hell. Can you imagine 3-4 months of up and down thyroid hormones until your thyroid dies? :O
I chose surgery. Thyroid out = hypothyroid. So now I will have to take a hormone thyroid for the rest of my life. There are risks with surgery too, but the benefits outweigh the risks. I hope that the synthroid I will be on will work and I also hope that the surgery will be a success. I want to be able to talk and absorb calcium normally. LOL
I heard remission is possible and I hope you are able to get there. Unfortunately for me, it wasn't possible. I could wait until my thyroid burns out? ... but I might burn out before it does. LOL
Good luck :)
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