I am sorry to hear you are going through so much - pain. Are you taking medication for the Graves Disease? How much? Do you know what your blood test numbers are? T.S.H., free T3 & Free T4 ? I really feel for you - having your eyesight and hand dexterity is so important for an artist. Try to take one thing at a time. I can tell there are a million things running through your head, right now. Take one task at a time. You will find a way to manage. You can have the most comfortable bed in the world but that will not help you sleep. You need to find out from your doctor (I hope an endocrinologist) what your numbers are - it is a start. I hope you can slow down and “be selfish” and take care of yourself before others. It will be the only way that you can take care of others IF you take care of yourself, FIRST. Take Care.

methimazole 10mg 2 pill twice a day. I don't remember the numbers. but it was still all a little high but in the ok range. It drop I don't how much, but what really mess with me all weakness I get from fibromyalgia. I am see an ophthalmology and his sending me to other eye doctor, the ophthalmology has me taking eye drops every two hours. he had me on med eye drop and those really seem to help. but he told me to stop those med eye drop. they are called prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension usp. If think really say that just remember I'm from wv. the accent will get me every time. I had order sunglasses online. and I would have not got them if it was not for my dad. today I broke down and talked about it. I have just told my older brother I need more help I know he will. Its just hard for me to ask.

Hi :

I am sorry you are having issues. It would be a good idea to be more proactive with one's health and the thyroid to know where at with the labs each time along with the meds taken to keep things as balanced as possible.

Another thing to do is what is going on with one's diet and the products used in the household and personal. All these have an impact on health. The key is organic, non-GMO, and avoiding and much chemicals, toxins, and preservatives to do better.

Especially with knowing what one's labs are every time it is being done to aim for keeping the Free T3 at mid range and the Free T4 at the mid to the upper third range would be ideal.

There is a connection between Fibromyalgia and thyroid levels. Please research this:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS810US810&ei=GOJ9W-P2JoKo8AObgLvgBw&q=fibromyalgia+thyroid+levels&oq=fibromyalgia+thyroid+levels&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30k1l3.6356.18257.0.19553.55.38.17.0.0.0.104.3295.34j4.38.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.55.3328...0j35i39k1j0i8i13i30k1j0i131i67k1j0i67k1j0i131k1.0._uv7lfN0gAE

I have issues with Fibromyalgia as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis. I work to keep my FT3 at mid range and the FT4 at the upper third range as not to feel horrible. Otherwise I get more pains in the muscles and joints if my Free Ts are too low.

{{{hugs}}}

P.S. I assume that the TSI and the TRAb antibodies have been checked for Graves' Disease?

What about the TPOab and the TgAb to check for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis a mostly hypO condition?

Depending on what is going on with the these antibodies and which is dominant can make things difficult with having FMS. I did a lot of research on this to understand the connection between thyroid levels and FMS.

So, you are taking 40mg per day (2- 10mg pills - 2 times a day) I don’t want to sound tough on you but knowing your numbers is very imprortant. The number and it’s range. You SHOULD be tested every 4 to 6 weeks until you go on maintenance. Meaning your numbers have come down to normal ranges. I am taking 2.5mg every other day and Sat & Sun - that’s all.
How long have you been on Methimazole? When were you diagnosed? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE get ALL your blood test reports since the start of all this and share the numbers here. YOU have the legal right to ask for copies of all your blood test reports. There is a possibility that you are taking too much. Did you get a TRAb and TSI blood test? They are the Graves Disease antibodies. Also, taking pregnisone can be hard on your body. You need to be careful taking that drug. Have you visited the Fibromyalgia forum here? I don’t know much about it and THAT would be the place to get answers. I don’t know much about GD Eye problems but if you created a separate title for Graves Disease Eye problems and ask what other people do about it (and not go on and on about everything under the sun) you will get some good information that people will share with you. Get your numbers before you come back - so we can see where you are with this. Take Care.

Hi:

The eye drops that is being talked about is to reduce any eye swelling from the thyroid issues. Since Graves' eye issues are likely from high positive thyroid antibodies.

If the numbers can be posted along with the lab reference ranges for each of those tests, we can better comment.

{{{hugs}}}

well I do have another blood test next month on the 10 and see her on the 14th. I'll ask her if I can have a copy.. I found out in July that had it and first time I meet my doctor was in earlier this month and last time just last week. and all really had two blood test. so I am new to this. so I've only been on medication for three weeks. And yes I join the fibromyalgia form. I am reading my first book on it and listening to things too. my dad has thyroid problems but he just take one pill a day. so please hold on and I get them on the tenth. I still working on the details of the trip with my dad. today I couldn't do anything but take a shower. I have had pamper myself day. and done nothing but cook for 24 mins and rest lay down or watch my shows. but my throat hurt again and I'm having diarrhea. the doctor know and told me she want to see how my body reacting to my medication by the 10th.

Hi mlotshaw,
So, you are VERY new to this. Okay, I’ll let you in on something......it takes approximately 5 weeks for the medications to kick in. And, you will feel better. Much better. If your numbers aren’t moving and you are encountering more HYPER symptoms, then your doctor will increase the dosage, IF you are having heart palpitations, then the doctor will give you a pill for that. IF your T.S.H. numbers are out of range and much higher, then you are pushing towards HYPO. This means that the MMI (Methimazole) is working very quickly. If your FREE T3 & FREE T4 is going into normal range. That’s a good thing! ALL the things you do, eat and apply to your body will make all the difference. When you go to the doctor, ask for a copy of the last blood tests and a copy of the new blood tests. Keep all this paperwork together so you can compare. Did any of the doctors ask you to do a radioactive uptake & scan? That was the test I took to confirm Graves Disease. BUT, but, I was told that it wasn’t necessary to confirm GD. Did the doctors give you 3 choices? MMI, RAI or surgery - the conventional doctors do. You said your dad has thyroid problems. My father had RAI for his GD 30 years ago. A family member with the disease confirms what they say about getting it. A family member has it, girls around the age when they get their cycle and women who are around menopause. Much more women get it over men. Does your father have Graves Disease? When I take the MMI, I sometimes get itchy. I have the diarrhea, too. If you feel dehydrated, drink coconut water. Stay away from sugars - they will give you hot flashes. I hope some of this information was helpful. Don’t forget the blood test reports. Take Care.

No my doctor didn't do that test. I was just a blood test. Here's how it happened I want in Doctor at first Define out if I did get on birth control Do you wanna do a blood test done. About the next day My dad talked me into going to the doctor again because I had been diarrhea for over month to two. I've had this exact same problem With my fibromyalgia. That day I'm informed That I have Hyperthyroidism And Graves' disease. Later that week I am told Hey you got to have a Hysterectomy. That week My eyes start hurting. I've already been taking eye drops over the counter eye drops. I already know that I need to drink a lot of water and I do for me Because the only way I can drink water is Put flavoring in it If I don't I can actually taste No water And usually most waters don't taste good to me. I've Call the doctor at this point after drinking so much water it's not funny In my eyes are still hurting She sent me to my eye doctor which I just love now He prescribed me eye medication that I take for about a week. During this time I'm also getting my MRI done which I hated. I can feel When the Whatever stuff they put in you I can feel it going around in my body. I'm having the cat scan done I'm having whatever else He wanted done Or the other doctor wanted done period of course I've already seen my daughter for the first time. and she told me my numbers were Well there. She told me about 3 options that I have The first one was surgery The second one was um Pills Beta blockers Another one was some kind of Radio something. I ask her which one would be the best for me. Tell me methimazole. She wants to try this first To see how I react to it My dad gets a book that talks about thyroidism As it's a some kind of virus. I think this is bul*******. But I do like some of the ideas with the food I just started drinking every morning Protein shake mix with blueberries Pomegranate juice 2 bananas Ripe. Sorry if this is all messed up and everything And the grammar and spelling I'm actually talking to my computer Just because eye was swelling Today. My father does not have Graves' disease. Only me. But Here's what was going on before Even with the diarrhea. My brother who lives here has a daughter. I love her to death But every time She's up here I'm the one taking care of her. She's 14. But she acts 7. She will put Her foot up in your face And not realize how rude it is. She doesn't know how to cook She barely knows how to clean. She doesn't even know how to put clothes away.. So during the month and a half and she was here I was stressed out I was stressed out the month before she came here because I knew what would happen. my brother would play the video game When he gets home and completely ignore her. and I would be the one trying desperately Just want to do something. We went walking everyday. I took her swimming once. My dad paid for her to go swimming of course. she'd help me pick out my new shoes she helped me pick out my new glasses. Which by the way for some reason she loves to do. And I had all the information that I was going to be OK No cancer no nothing Just in need of a surgery and taking pills I told her. I told she because Nobody else was. everything was left up to me if I wanted to. And it hurt me that I can't have kids. and here I am taking care of my nieces. She ran out of her medication and when she doesn't have it at night she gets really hyper and can't go to sleep I just stayed there with her. But with the trip and taking care of her I've been under a lot of stress. Every bit of information that I can get is always useful It is better to be in the light then in the dark not knowing there are monsters all around you.

Hi mlotshaw,
I only say this to you with respect....is english your second language? When you write about what is going on with you, you are all over the place. It is quite confusing.
Let’s try to simplify what you have and what you need to do. Make sure your doctor (It should be an endocrinologist) does the correct tests to diagnose your condition. Free T3, Free T4, T.S.H., TSI, TRAb - these are the most important ones. Get copies of your blood test reports. You cannot be diagnosed with Graves Disease unless your antibodies show you have this auto-immune disease. You can have Hyperthyroidism but you might not know what caused it. Graves Disease is NOT a virus. You might not know this but you need to be VERY careful if you undergo surgery for the Hysterectomy. Going under anesthesia could mess with your Graves Disease. Just in case your doctor didn’t know that. Also, you are dealing with issues with your thyroid hormones. Do you think that getting a hysterectomy, at this time, will have an influence on your estrogen hormones. BE VERY CAREFUL! With all these hormones not in balance, you might be aggravating the situation. Deal with one thing at a time. Get a “confirmed” diagnosis of your hyperthyroid condition through those blood tests and an ultrasound from an endocrinologist. If your heart is beating fast or palpitating, the doctor recommends a Beta Blocker. Do you have a palpitating heart? Do you smoke? If you do, STOP! It aggravates the eye issues with Graves Disease. CHANGE your diet so you eat “clean” organic, hormone/antibiotic free meats and foods, Non GMO foods. Make sure you get enough protein, as one loses muscle tone with GD. And, do yourself a favor, walk away from the drama of your family - it’s not doing you any good and as I read your comment, it IS stressing you out. Since your eyes are bothering you a lot - see a eye doctor who specializes in Graves Disease. And lastly, cut out salt from your diet - salt is no good for your condition! (That means canned food, processed food, seafoods, like shrimp) You want to make these symptoms go away - be careful of what you eat. I hope I wasn’t too rough talking to you. Stop the drama and take care of yourself. Be Well.

One last thing, cut out as much sugar as possible. I noticed when I consumed sugar my vision got blurry or my eyes felt like there was sand in the eye sockets - quite uncomfortable. If you do not like taste of water, squeeze a lemon or orange into it.

I have notice that. When I am on my month is the only time I'm heavy on sweet and sugar like. I also notice and don't know if it connected if I have flu like symptoms My eyes will hurt. As if my fibromyalgia symptoms feeds my graves symptoms. does any one else have that?

Hi:

I am still cycling at the age of 55. So when I am approaching to the start of my next cycle, I do notice the increase in wanting sweets and chocolates. I consume one small peppermint patty from an organic brand called Heavenly Organics which uses raw organic honey in place of sugar and organic dark chocolate. It has only three ingredients in it, the organic raw white honey, unsweetened organic dark chocolate and natural peppermint oil.

I only shop for organic and non-GMO products in everything. If I get any processed packaged food items to consume, I pick up and read the back or the sides of the labels as well as checking the front for the USDA organic seal and non-GMO verified seal before I will think about buying the items.

I also check with the processed food companies websites for additional information on their products as well as reading people's reviews - both positive and negative feedback.

Otherwise whole foods (made from scratch organic and non-GMO) are being prepared to consume.

{{{hugs}}}