What interim treatments if any are prescribed for Graves/hyper before RAI?

[qj5000]

So I managed to get my first and last appointment with an endo. Due to my symptoms, blood tests, (super low tsh, very bad cholesterol, ((and I eat VERY well)), what she could physically feel as a swollen thyroid, my age and gender, (40 yo male), she said she's 90% sure it's Graves disease and RAI will likely be the treatment.

But of course before all that I need an uptake scan and more blood tests to be sure. So the call I that I was expecting was to schedule the uptake scan but unfortunately the call was to tell me that my insurance had just run out which sort of yanked away my proverbial paddle.

Now my question is this. IF I was definitely diagnosed with Graves or some form of hyperthyroid, would there be any kind of drug or diet prescribed in the interim before RAI treatment, (obviously besides the no iodine diet in preparation for RAI). Do Endo's usually give you something to relieve the stress/heart palpitations/anxiety/depression/lack of will to live/memory loss? Vitamins? fish oil? no fish oil? synthroids? anti synthroids?

I'm not going to do anything crazy like stealing copper pipe to pay for the treatment myself. Just focus on trying to get some health insurance I guess.
Thanks for reading...

[cbread]

The methimazole/ptu take a while to work..but the beta blockers help right away. They calm you down and prevent you from killing someone. (wait that was me... :)  I think if you start both it should help in the short term...but most people take months to regulate.

[qj5000]

Or to be more specific, will it help me with all the finals I have this month...

[qj5000]

Thanks. I'll call tomorrow and ask if she can prescribe something.
I guess my only other question would be how long it takes/what kind of relief of symptoms you get from those types of drugs.

[cbread]

Methimazole and PTU are common thyroid suppressants and can be used if you are hyper for graves or another reason.  For you, it's probably the best and the most cost effective treatment until you find health insurance. Your Dr. can also prescribe beta blockers in the short term to calm down your heart/palpitations.  I have been on methimazole for two years and slowing weaning off, but a lot of graves folks choose surgery/rai.   All roads take a awhile to feel 'normal' (I use that term loosely) but get help as soon as possible.  Being hyper takes a tremedous toll on your body.

[qj5000]

Thanks for the responses.
None of the doctors I saw mentioned anything about anti-thyroid medication, beta blockers or anything. (BTW what is PTU?)

[Smilerdeb]

Forgot to mention....I saw my Endo for the RAI, then gave her the boot after RAI.
My Doctor has helped me through all the hard work to get my levels stable.
Make sure you have a Doctor who will work with you through all this.

[Smilerdeb]

Usually beta blockers are prescribed and also an anti-thyroid med when Hyper with Graves.
The anti-thyroid med blocks the thyroid from overstimulating and the beta blocker slows down the heart rate and also beings the FT3 down which is giving you these hyper symptoms.

I was diagnosed with Graves and Hyperthyroidism, had RAI 7 months ago and havent looked back.
Was it easy? NO
But it was the best thing I ever did.
I had no choice either as I had 3 episodes of fibrillations in 2 weeks prior to RAI and already have heart issues.

Good luck with your treatment and get yourself on some anti-thyroid meds and beta blockers from your Doctor.

[Dogdancing]

I hope your on antithyroid medication (PTU) or something !! They're avaible in generic. Untreated hyperT will cause perm. damage to you. Getting your levels down should ease the heart palpatations, if not they need to wrrite a script for it.

YES you will feel better when your not hyper.

You can be on antithyroid drugs for years, it will give you a chance to get health insurance again.

Peace be the journey

Paja - Graves, RAI last June, insuranceless, feeling sooo much better.