Yipeeeee it's official I have Graves!!

[RJ955]

Ok sorry if I sound toooooo happy but the past week I have been super stressed about this and it's actually a relief to have it official....it is what it is now and I see it as a bump in the road, not something that is going to take over my life....I truly believe there are worse things out there and I count my blessings as aside from this I am very healthy....

I start 10 mgs of meth(imazole) tomorrow morning...no beta blockers as I don't have the pounding racing heart....my one tiny concern is that I might react to this pill as a I had a slight red skin rash a couple years ago with a sulpha based antibiotic (sinuses) but my very kind pharmacist thinks will be fine for me, she explained everything and I feel much better about it...heck one tiny pill a day with my multi vitamin, I think I can do that....Also my endo says I can continue to go to the gym and he didn't give me any restrictions...I think I will walk the treadmill for awhile and wear my heart monitor just to be safe, and lighter weights too....

My question to all of you is diet....I am average weight and in good shape....I suspect I will gain a few pounds now??  I guess I don't mind that too much, I try to eat right and drink tons of water and I carry extra weight pretty well when I do gain some.....just wondering if there are any suggestions as to certain vegetables, fruits, proteins......I am a big skim milk drinker, wondering if that is a problem now....I love V-8 Fusion and drink at least 16 oz a day.....I am open to all advice, my plan is to get this thing into remission and keep my lovely thyroid if possible....my endo is a good guy, pretty conservative, and pushed the ATDs before RAI or surgery....so we are both hoping this works.....wish me luck!!  : )

[Kimmy33323]

I was just diagnosed with Graves, and have many symptoms of it and will be happy to get treated to stop them, especially my sweating! I will be taking meds and will not be having surgery or RAI (my choice) and my doc said ok without hesitating.

I am generally in good health, and weight. I am the kind of person who tries to stay positive as much as possible.

My question is: can I have some beers on the weekend while taking my meds?

[RJ955]

Just got back from my first follow-up appt....I've been on the 10 grams per day of methimazole for 4.5 weeks now...Good news my thyroid (which was slightly enlarged) has reduced in size...not normal yet but close...and I have no other symptoms...

When I was diagnosed I took it upon myself to make some way overdo diet changes: No more pop; cut out junk food and fast food; cut way back on dairy products.....not to say I will never enjoy a cupcake again but my eating habits were heading out of control....I now eat very healthy, drink a lot of water and take a vitamin D supplement....I have lost 6 pounds on methimazole and my endo was very pleased (I was a tad overweight before the dx)....He said I was doing the right thing as my metabolism is returning to normal and if I continued my eating habits I would be gaining a lot of weight....And I feel great....no complaints at all, no side effects yet....and no restrictions at the gym so I can work out too.....

Today I had my first follow-up lab and will know the results in a couple days (liver; white cell; ft4 and tsh)  Providing all looks ok I will see him again in 2 months....Of course there is always the chance of a weird liver or white cell count but I am on a very low dose so I am quite hopeful...I will cross that bridge when I come to it....

One last comment, not all docs push for RAI or surgery.....I told him I want to keep my thyroid and he said if I don't go into remission and I tolerate the antithyroid pill just fine, I can stay on the pill....he said he has patients who have been on it for years, their choice....he won't push anyone into RAI or surgery....Wow did that make me feel better....I know 4 weeks is early in the game but I enjoy each day for what it is, and I feel great today!    Hey Kindergal I hope you're doing fine too!

[RJ955]

Hello fellow 'newbie' and Stella5349.....Well I would be happier if I didn't have it, that's for sure, but it is what it is and I'm just going to forge ahead, do what I have to do and live life to the fullest.....I did have the lab work done, positive to TPO but he didn't do the TSI, instead doing the iodine uptake which came back at 58% in 24 hours....I wasn't on a low iodine diet for a week so some of that might be from a normal diet, just guessing at that, but it was still well over the norm....now just hoping I'm ok with the 10 mg of meth each day, seems like a really small dose, just hoping I don't get a reaction ...if that doesn't work then I'll try the PTU....One day at time  : )

[stella5349]

Well I am happy you are happy but I am going to add something here that could twist things up.

I am sure if you were confimed of Graves you had the TSI blood labs - I can't stress to you enought to double make sure you also had the TPOab test with TgAb's to really make sure this is only Graves and not Hashitoxicosis...

Trust me - both of you... this is vital to know to also know you are being treated correctly for total wellness down the road.

[kindergal]

I was just told today that I have it also.  My GP did it over the phone.  I have no idea what my numbers are....  The ONLY symptom I have had is rapid pulse rate.  He started me on PTU three times a day...300mg total.  AND he said I may only have to be on it for 4 weeks.  HUH?  I am so overwhelmed and confused.
Sorry....I know I am not answering your questions I am just glad to see a "newbie" on here as well.