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Overactive Thyroid Graves Part 4

  1. Hi Sammy

    If you are suffering badly go back to see your doctor as he/she may be able to give you something else instead of propranolol. It gave me terrible headaches to start with but they did become more tolerable after a few weeks. I also felt a little sick too but not as bad as youre feeling. the heat intolerance will pass as your levels return to normal, unless like me you're going through the menopause, in which case it continues (sigh).

    Hopefully you will start feeling better soon.

    Hare

  2. Hi guys ... its morning here in New Zealand as I type this so its going to be short!

    I have been on carbimazole since 15 May and upped the dose Two days ago as my new Dr said the initital dose was TOO low.

    I went from Carbimazole 5mg TWICE daily to Caribimazole 14mg THREE times a day

    Yesterday I felt like crap .... I was going to cry - I am usually a very strong lady ... never sick and was frankly sick of it.

    I had terrible muscle ache ---- Can any one give me an idea??? of when this subsides???

    It felt like I had fallen from a great height.

    I am on propranolol 10mg FOUR times a day -- It works a treat for the heart papitations.

    I also have acupuncture ==== this has been excellent at helping my sleep and keeping me calm- i highly recommend it

    Thanks for this site

  3. To BESS

    Many thanks for your responses ..... big help in lifting my spirits further up.

    I am finding this site not very user friendly or it maybe me because I am not great at using computers!

    Sorry if I am repeating myself.

    I saw an emergency Dr for the heart papitations which came on later .... on Monday night he upped my carbimazole dose

    This Dr was SO CONCERNED at my blood levels and symptoms he rang the local hospital at 7.30 pm to talk to the department head for that evening!!!!

    My new Dr said he will try to get me into the public system within the fortnight = this means I do not have to pay for the consultation.... BUT IF HE cannot he says its wise to get me see an endo privately === this will cost me a small fortune - $300 a session NZ - which is about 150 pounds your money ...... Its my health and if I have to go private then I will!

  4. Hello Sammy, I felt just like you when I was first diagnosed but just hang on in there because you have got the worst part (the first 4 weeks) behind you and you should notice an improvement in a couple of weeks. I found Propanolol such a help and was on 40mgs three times daily, even then the palpitations were really bad at times. I was so scared and panicky, thought I would die at times.

    It must be difficult for you to get rest, can you get a bit of help ? I used to find it difficult even to walk up the stairs and often had to just stop and lie down for a while. The hard part is trying to carry on as normal when you feel so ill but resting whenever you can will help. Do you write down your blood results ? It will help you keep track of progress if you do this. Let us know how you get on, you will get a lot of support here, I don't know how I would have managed without this lovely lot. Take care.

    Hi Steph, am pleased you have got a good doctor on your side and I hope your treatment doesn't cost you a fortune ! It sounds as though things should start moving quickly now.

    I cant remember when the muscle aches started to ease, I think the whole process can be quite slow. I can understand you having crap days, the whole thing seems to ebb and flow.

    Take care and good luck !

    Hope everyone ok today, Sue - thinking of you x

    Bess xx

  5. Hi Sammy. Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you're having a rough time. Bess is right you've got over the first four weeks and the Carbimazole will work very soon, once your thyroid levels start to drop you'll feel much better. The Propranolol helped me a lot too, I was on 40 mgms. 3 times daily like Bess, but once my thyroid levels were in the normal range I came off them. I didn't have muscle aches as much as weak muscles, I couldn't get up the stairs or get out of a chair without a struggle. I'm running up the stairs now biggrin

    The muscles in the top of my arms aren't back to normal, my arms are really skinny. I could do with some spinach like Popeye. smile

    It must be really hard looking after two children when you feel so ill. I hope you have someone who can help you. I hope you feel better soon.

    Hi Steph. I hope you get to see an endo soon. I had to go private too as I would have had to wait weeks to see someone on the NHS. I couldn't wait that long. You have to be patient with this illness, it's often two steps forward and three back. I was only in my early twenties when I started having symptoms, but once you get the right treatment and it has time to work it can be kept under control and you'll feel fine. Keep your chin up.

    Hope everyone else is ok. Have you got your kitchen finished Kat? I'm really jealous.

    Are you ok Sue.

    Marigold xxxxx

  6. Hi everyone ,I am so glad Marigold and Bess came on when they did as i am hopeless at the minute ,i wish i could tell you my story but as i told you in my earlier post i have terrible memory problems ..Without Marigold and Bess i wouldnt have been able to cope I am thinking is it my age or is it that i am not medicated properly ,last week i had 2 nighty days where i couldnt be botherd with anything and thats not like me .yesterday i tried to do some gardening and i could have sat and cried as i have not got the same energy that i should have. Bess my lip still swells and was wondering if it was sjogrens or something like that its also lumpy on the inside . In a morning it takes me a while to get going and my eyebrows hang over my eyes 8) lol ,,,,i still have breathlessness my belly looks like i am on the booze .Had my bloods done today and see endo next tuesday so i am going to start a diary of each day so i wont forget anything ..

    I have even been looking at flats/apartments for sale rolleyes with no gardens :D but no i would regret it if i moved ..

    Enough about me Hows everyone else ,hows the family Marigold ? Bess are you okay

    All the new members wecome and hope its not long before you feel well

    Thinking about everyone

    take care

    love sue xxx

  7. Morning Everyone, It's 2.30 and I can't sleep, everything is going round and round in my head and the palpatations are awful you are the only people that understand this awful condition. I really think that I am going out of my mind. cry Like you Sue I don't seem to have the energy or the incarnation to do anything but I know that I must for the rest of the family. Just when we thought that we would be able to enjoy our early retirement things take a turn for the worse. Sorry for being so miserable I hope that you are all doing ok. Maria

  8. Hi Maria A, from the bottom of the world in New Zealand.

    Just a thought..... have you tried a natural product called melatonin ... its entirely natural and in NZ we have tart cherry melatonin ... its so natural that even diabetics can take it. Its a natural sleep hormone which I throughly recommend and have used with much success.

    Are you on any form of beta blocker for the palpitations???

    For nausea I have used ginger herbal tea with success.

    Let me know how you are getting along.

    in NZ we are going into winter..... my friends say its really cold but I can't feel it

    whats the weather like in the UK??

  9. My heart papitations are now under control. The palpitations started on Sunday and I had two papitaiton "attacks," ...... I have now noticed ( well my very alert workmate) told me my ankles were enlarged and not usually like this .... Does anyone have any opinions of whats going on? or sugestions on how to remedy it thanks

  10. Hi Steph, I started on carbimazole and immediately noticed my feet were swollen. It got progressively worse and my legs swelled badly and were very itchy so I had to stop the carb and am now on PTU. My legs still swell if I'm on my feet for long although nowhere near as badly but having never had a problem with swollen legs before it is a bit of a b*****. Propranolol keeps my heart under control, 80mg slow release daily which I top up with 10mg if necessary.Have now been on PTU for 10 days so hoping it kicks in soon. Should be visiting NZ next Feb but until I feel better I daren't book. Hope you feel better soon as I also hope.Summer has arrived here at last!

    Ag

  11. Morning Maria, so sorry you have had such a bad night. Every thing seems so bad then and you feel you are the only one awake in the world. I agree with Steph, beta blockers would be really helpful. I wonder if you have seen your doctor and told him how hard this is for you. Once your hubby starts to recover (which he will) you will be able to cope better. Thinking of you and sending you strength and a big hug.

    Steph, I'm glad your palpitations are now under control. I would have liked to try Melatonin for insomnia myself. Dont know if this is still the case, but it was always available only on prescription in the UK. Friends offered me some they had ordered from the USA but then I read that it can affect the thyroid gland. Apparently it can suppress the thyroid and because I was already on Carbimazole I didn't like to take it in case it messed up my meds and blood results. I haven't had swollen feet but some of us on here have and I believe it goes down when things improve. Others may be able to help you with this. The weather is hot and sunny here, all the trees coming into leaf and blossom, beautiful.

    Sue, I hadn't heard of Sjogrens,but I know what you mean about eyebrows hanging down in the mornings - I thought I was the only one ! Have you asked your doctor to examine your swollen stomach ? Have you had a blood test to check for anaemia, this can cause breathlessness and tiredness cant it. I know what you mean about lokking at apartments with no garden, I have been tempted as its a struggle to cope with all the cutting back etc but I would really miss sitting out there in the summer with a cuppa. ThInking of you, I'm glad you are seeing the endo again soon. Sending love,

    Hope Marigold and everyone ok today.

    love, Bess xx

  12. Hi Maria. I hope you're feeling a bit better. The world can be a very lonely place in the middle of the night. I still have nights like that sometimes, and I find it's better to get up, make a cup of tea and try and read for a while. You must feel that everything is going wrong, but I'm sure your hubby will be fine after his op, your little grandchild will arrive, and you'll be able to put this horrible episode behind you. Thinking of you. xxxxx

    Hi Steph. I had really bad swollen legs and ankles before I went on Carbimazole. My GP had put me on a low dose of Propranolol, but another GP said it wasn't high enough and increased it as he said my heart rate was still to rapid. The swelling went down then so it might be best if you go back to your GP.

    Hi Bess. How are you coping with the heat? It's too hot for me. Our garden is far too big and we know that we are going to have to move at some point. I'm not bothered about leaving the house, but we've put so much time and effort into the garden that we don't want to go. We have help with grass cutting and hedge cutting, and at the moment we manage the rest ourselves. Hubby has a heart condition so he can't do as much these days. The trees and shrubs do look beautiful at the moment, a lovely fresh green.

    I just found out the other day that my sister in law has Graves too so we can compare notes. biggrin Take care.

    Hi Sue. Sorry you're not feeling well. Write a list of questions you want to ask the endo then you won't forget. I'm into lists these days, my memory is hopeless. The trouble is I have to remind hubby to do things too, so my mind feels full up if you know what I mean.

    The family are fine, little grandson six weeks old now, and our son's birthday this weekend so we're having a party. Take care.

    Thinking of everyone.

    Marigold

    xxxx

  13. Hi sorry again for my short messages ... thanks for responses....

    Can anyone please detail what the radioactive treatment is like and what happens. I am aware you have yo stay isolated for a couple of days

  14. Ty for ur replies they make me feel a little better di any of u suffer with diarreah sorry as ive keep suffering wwith it and that makes me feel even worse and my doc tried putting me on antin depressant but I said no have any of ur doc tried to do this

  15. Hello gang.

    Hi Steph. It's a couple of years since I had the RAI, the best thing I've ever done. smile It's a doddle, went to hospital, swallowed a capsule, went back home and thought 'is that it?'

    It depends where you have the RAI as to what instructions you're given. I had to sleep alone for 11 days (no snoring yippee), used separate cutlery and crockery for a couple of days, and washed it separately. I was told close, prolonged contact had to be avoided so I could still go shopping as I wouldn't be close enough to anyone for long enough to do them any harm. I was even told I could pick up our baby granddaughter and give her a kiss, but she hadn't to sit on my knee for any length of time. However, I did stay away from her for three weeks just to make sure. I have thyroid eye disease so had to take steroids for two weeks before the RAI and two weeks after to make sure my eyes didn't flare up. I had to go back on block and replace (Carbimazole and Thyroxine) for six months as my thyroid levels shot up again. It was all worth it though as I feel fine now and have got my life back.

    Hope this helps.xxxxx

    Hi Sammy. Yes, I did suffer from diarrhoea. It's a symptom of an overactive thyroid. The thyroid affects every part of your body, so if it's overactive everything is going faster than it should, so it affects your digestive system and food passes through faster than normal, hence the diarrhoea. It will settle down when your thyroid levels are under control.

    My GP thought I was depressed and suffering from stress and anxiety. It's hardly surprising really is it? We're hardly going to feel full of the joys of Spring when we feel blooming awful. I wouldn't take antidepressants either. You'll soon start to feel better. Honest. smile

    How's everyone else today?

    love,

    Marigold

    xxxx

  16. Thanks Marigold for your response. I don't mean to be rude and if you don't want to say or make comment I will not be offended!

    I would appreciate knowing out of interest over what time frame this happened .... Were you treated with carbimazole and did it not work?? so you tried RAI ?? If you are alright sharing what age range were you in?

  17. Can anyone also share what exercise do the get up to? I am scared of putting my heart rate up!~

  18. Hi Steph. You're not being rude, and I'm certainly not offended, I'll help all I can. Ask away. :D

    I started with Graves when I was in my early twenties, had a course of Carb. and was fine. I had my bloods checked every year and they were in the normal range. I started with eye problems at that time (they protrude a litle and are dry). Forty years later when I was in my early sixties it flared up again. I was told that as it was a recurrence it was almost certain that if I just took Carb. it would come back again so I was offered surgery or RAI. I opted for the RAI. I went on Carb and Thyroxine (block and replace) until my levels were under control as they were off the chart then had the RAI, and once things settled down after that I haven't looked back.

    I'd go careful on the exercise until your levels are under control, and then do what you feel comfortable with. I've never been a sporty person, but I'm on the go all the time, never sit still for very long, and Ive learned to listen to my body. When it tells me to have a rest I sit down for a bit.

    I hope you're feeling better.

    Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine.

    Marigold

    xxxx

  19. Hi guys I woke up this morning and the anxiety and nervousness is a lot worse ive feel like ive gonna have a huge panic attack its horrible any help plz

  20. Hello Sammy, how much Propanolol are you on ? A lot of us needed 40 mgs, 3 times a day. . If you don't feel happy upping your dose over the weekend, see if you can get some Rescue Remedy from Boots or other chemists or health shops. You need to take it every 10 mins or so until you feel better. It is absolutely harmless and can be taken with any medication. I would also lay off the coffee and get decaffeinated tea when you are next at the shops. Caffeine will up your heart rate and make you even more jittery, it even makes diarrhoea worse if you have a lot of it. Just hang on in there, nothing horrible is going to happen to you.

    Steph, I agree with Marigold re the exercise, I believe people are told not to exercise if they have a rapid heart rate. I would check with your doctor before you start just to be sure.

    Hope everyone ok, Sue, Maria, thinking of you. xx

    Bess xx

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