Oh Maglady, welcome to the club! These are so called transition symptoms. A lot of people here can write a book about those. I think I even posted here one time just what you said: Rip the darn organ out!

Thing is: It might not be neccesary at all and even cause a greater and prolonged disstress when you you ahead with the thyroidectomy/RAI. I do not have time right now to explain you exactly how it works, not even sure if I would be the best person to explain you, but check out Elaine Moore's website and read posts here why to prolong those treatments as long as you can.

And look at me: I am doing very well now, these days. Granted, I am not even sure if I have GD anymore, or an other cause for my AITD (auto immune thyroid disease) hyperthyroidism.

I learned here that small steps and patience is very important in overcoming GD. Only after accepting that it might take a while before I feel my old self again, things took a positive turn. These transition symptoms: Just ride it out, sometimes for a week. Yes, it feels like you are getting worse but it will bounce back. Give it time and look at your labs in a few weeks.

I am going to sleep. I was going to tell you to do the same but I know ... I was up too all night, dead tired, unable to sleep browsing this board for things to hold on to. It will get better.

Nathalie

Thanks Nat, your awesome!

Maglady:

Starting doses for the MMI (Methimazole) now is usually around 20 mg. I was on 40 mg 8+ years ago which was high.

{{{hugs}}}

thanks mmztcass

Its a bit early for your MMI to start working. Although I was on PTU...I would think it would take a week or two for it to start working properly. I agree wtih mmz..it seems like a very high dose to start with but I guess it depends on what your levels were to begin with. Just keep an eye on your labs...since your on such a high dose...it may be worth your will to lab again in 2 weeks. Our endo's seem to like us to be hypo....apparently they feel we are safer being there. Its not true. Once you enter the rabbit hole of hypo world...its really hard to get out.

The goal is to maintain mid range as close as possible. Labbing often and small adjustments is the secret to feeling well. If you could post your lab results along with the ranges we would be able to help you better. Hang in there...although being diagnosed with this disease seems overwhelming...you can live a happy, healthy life through good maintanance...Big Hugs...Kathy

I recently had to go off of the LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) for some dental work. I could feel the changes and plus the stress from the dental work (I made sure to use carbocaine) that my thyroid levels slowly creeping upwards. I went from 1.25 mg of MMI to 2.5 mg now. I did have a bit of transient symptoms but am now feeling better. I have gone back to the LDN now.

{{{hugs}}}

Linda,

I was wondering how that all worked out with that bad tooth. Sorry to hear it did try to whack your immune system. Been there, done that. Once in awhile, a tooth can be bad enough'. Most aren't.. so new patients shouldn't worry.

Boy, your experience really shows at this point. You can easily understand WHY things are happening, and then being able to counter the attack , swiftly, and simply works so well. A first year patient could have had their apple cart totally upset.
Education DOES pay off. :)

I'm so glad to hear things are getting back on track.

(((hugs)))

Pam:

Thanks, I do try to tell of my experiences here and other thyroid boards. Some of the people did wanted to know how I was doing with the LDN. I can say for certainty that it does work. My holistic Doc asked the other day if I thought it. I said it sure does.

I'm glad I used the Carbocaine. The first time around at the dentist office, it work not work for me because I'd only been off the LDN a few days. The second time around it was about three weeks off and worked much better for me.

{{{hugs}}} :-)

Yes' 40 mg is a larger dose, and in most circumstances is cause for concern. BUT.. Maglady's doctor has prescribed 40 mg for the first week or 10 days ( I forget) , then she is to drop to 10 mg per day.

Maglady,
As I said earlier, I have not seen this protocol before, but the logic is good. Give things a jump start in blocking new excess hormone from being produced, then back off before the accumulation if medication causes problems.

It all depends on what your starting thyroid levels are, rather this 40 mg.start is right for you. Now that it's a regular weekday, you can get your first paper copies of those labs and start understanding exactly what's going on.

Our meds are different than any others you probably have experienced. They can not work right away. They can only block new excess hormone from being produced. The excess already in your body has to be used up over time. So often we feel worse before we feel better, as we feel the hormone that was made in the days right before we started meds. They need to invent a tiny thyroid hormone dialysis machine. LOL.. that would suck out all that extra hormone and we would be good to go. . : D

If you had an reaction to a filler or other ingredient , you might feel itching or a rash the first days, but that about it.

The 40 mg really should be split into two or three dose per day. MMI has a half life of 4 or 5 hours, but in a hyper patient it is metabolized faster...in a hypo patient it's metabolized slower.
I wonder if maybe it had worn off by midnight, due to you taking it early, and by then you had none left... then couple that with the time frame you are taking the beta blocker.
The beta blocker is also being metabolized faster in your body right now, than it will later once your levels have had time to come down .

ATDs take time. Some feel relief after a week or so, but it still takes a full 6 to 8 weeks on average. Results vary depending on starting levels and dose.

If your antibodies are very high, definitely the three times a day dosing would work better than once per day.

Good luck and {{{hugs}}}

Nathlaile,

Yes... ****I think I even posted here one time just what you said: Rip the darn organ out! *****

I think that was the time I admitted I too had a few moments of thinking a DIY thyroid removal with a rusty butter knife might be a good idea. hahahaha...

Then of course we come to our senses and realize we would have to remove our immune system to fix the problem, and not the thyroid gland. Then after considering that for a moment, realize it's probably a better idea to stick with the pills. sigh

Opps.. I found it.
She is to take the 40 mg for 5 days, then drop to the 10 mg.

See why it didn't cause alarm when I saw it ? I mean, it's really not a bad idea.

Maglady,

You have a lot on your plate and the first days are very difficult for most of us. This really is going to get better.

(((hugs)))

I didnt read that other post...actually I think what her doc is doing is a great idea. Its not very often we see docs think this way. Big Hugs..Kathy