Graves' Disease Support Group

Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...

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Endocrine System
/ Graves' Disease Support Group

After RAI

paradise66
paradise66

Hi Everyone,


First time posting. I've battled Graves Disease going on five years. I had RAI in June and went hypo last month. Now on synthroid 150 mg a day. Getting a lot of side effects. Anyone else on synthroid and if so do you have side effects. Did they eventually go lessen? Thank you for any info.

mmztcass
mmztcass
Hi:

I have not had an RAI or used replacement meds. I follow Elaine Moore who is something like 28+ years post-RAI at here website: elaine-moore.com. She can be of tremendous help with a forum only she answers along with articles, ideas and tips on how to keep things as balanced as possible with the thyroid.

{{{hugs}}}
liz1967
liz1967
I did not have RAI, but did have TT and have been on levothyroxine for 4 years. I dose by TSH, keep it between 1 and 2. It is harder to dose by FT4 so if your TSH has not come up yet, it may be harder getting the dose right. I feel totally normal. Your dose seems a little high, but follow your docs recommendations. Remember none of us are docs and Elaine Moore is a lab technician, so do not get sidetracked. I made that mistake when I first was diagnosed with Graves and I wasted valuable time. This disease requires a lot of patience at first. Now I forget I even have it as lng as I take that one little pill every morning. Hang in there, life does return to normal. I do nothing special, no diets, supplements, etc., just take my pill and get labs yearly.
liz1967
liz1967
Also, Synthroid is a hormone, not a drug. It is chemically identical to the thyroid hormone your thyroid made. Merhimazole is a drug, not found in your body, with potential side effects ranging from arthritis and vasculitis to potentially fatal agranulocytosis. So with Synthroid, side effects are due to incorrect dose, whereas methimazole side effects are dose related and drug related. Just a matter of adjusting dose and waiting six weeks for your labs to stabilize and body adjust before changing dose.