Tmredneck91,

Try to stay calm. The more you stress out over this, the more you contribute to the HYPER state of mind.

I totally get how increasing weight makes you feel. I felt better when I had lost my 35 lbs. BUT my hyper symptoms were off the chart and literally killing me - heart palpitations, no sleep, basically losing my mind.

It’s been a year and I am off my meds. My numbers are in mild HYPO. You say your numbers got better - That’s a great thing. It would be good to see this as going in the right direction.

You say you feel better when you are lighter.
How do you feel when you are HYPER?
There will be some trade-offs here.
When you get your numbers in “normal range” (or the upper normal range as MM recommends) and most of your HYPER symptoms have subsided......then think about how to increase your metabolism so you can lose your weight. Don’t do it by using your hyperthyroidism symptoms to lose the weight because you could be putting the rest of your health in a compromising position.

Sorry, I am forgetful....when were you confirmed with GD? And what dosage of meds do you take each day?

GD is a real balancing act. Triggers come from all over the place.
I hope you can figure out a way to increase your metabolism without making you hyper again.
Take Care.

I agree with Stilllearning. It's important to focus on overall health and try to be mindful of how you actually feel when hyper. I was terribly anxious, with a racing heart, and zero energy. Skinny as a pin, but I felt terrible. Be very careful with the iodine supplements. I think if you have Hashimoto's they can potentially be helpful, but with Grave's they can send your levels way up. I was doing a liver detox that had a lot of kelp in it when my GD went berserk. I thought I had atrial fibrillation or some other heart condition.
I stressed about gaining weight with the antithyroids too. I've gained 15 pounds, but I don't regret getting the GD treated at all. Once you start feeling better you can put more attention to exercise. Eat healthily and take good care of yourself. Best of luck with your appointment.

Hi tmredneck91:

It would not be a great idea to take vitamins/supplements that has Iodine in it when one's thyroid levels are still hypER.

If it were me I would be focusing on the vitamins/supplements that did not raise thyroid levels and continuing working with diet and environmental triggers to avoid setting off my symptoms.

I cannot remember if the TSI and TRAb tests have been done and what these numbers are?

{{{hugs}}}

I haven’t had the Trab test since 2010 and back then mine was 36.2 and it just has the range <16. I got my Free T 3 today and that is 9.2 with the range 2.3-4.2. They numbers are coming down but I do want to stay in the high Norma range. I looked over all my labs and notes through the years and when my numbers are in that range my weight is down. My only issue is hands shaking. I did have palpitations but they subsided. I had been on different eating plans but would only lose 5-7 lbs and that was it, mostly water. I want to be healthy all around and having this for 10 years I kinda just got lazy with it. Looking over my labs and notes on how I felt over those years I would gain weight and tell the dr and yet they knew why cause I was in the HypO state and never said anything. That ticks me off the most

Well ready or not here I go! Just hoping she will work with me. And as much as I don’t like it I’m going to request more blood tests. I never wanted them and she complied now I hope she will the other way.

Hi,

I just wanted to say good luck. Please let us know how you make out.

So, had my appointment, folder and phone in hand w/ my notes etc. It went ok. She stressed her points and I stressed mine. She was blunt w/ "well you could fall over in the grocery store and experience a cardiac arrest" and I said yup or I could be overweight and have a heart attack too. Oh my! But one thing that concerned me and she wasnt like this before, was she stressed that my TSH was low <0.01 but the highest it has ever been through all this is 1.32. I know its currently low but I stressed the FT3 and FT4. She kinda bulked on that and even put it in my chart notes. This is the 3rd dr I've had in this practice as the others have left. I really liked my first one. I'm going to get blood work in 2 months, and again before my next 6 month check. However, I may start researching other docs as the ones previously always went by my FT3 & FT4. The highlight was the nurse was super nice!

Hi tmredneck91:

The TSH cannot be used when there are positive thyroid antibodies from the TSI and TRAb for Graves' Disease. We have to go by how our current FT3 and FT4 are doing. Doesn't this doctor know this? :-/

{{{hugs}}}

Tmredneck91,
I was wondering why you wait 2 months to get your next blood work-up. IF this so-called doctor is so concerned about the T.S.H. Being in HYPER range (and I started out with .001) then the doctor should set your meds accordingly and see how it works for ONE month. Numbers can change quickly. If the meds were working, then you want to make sure it doesn’t overdo it and push you into HYPO. MM is right about looking at the FreeT3 and FreeT4. BTW, shouldn’t it be a concern when the others left the practice - isn’t that a sign that the other doctors didn’t like how the practice was run. Maybe it is time to find another doctor who will watch you more carefully and look at the Free Ts. Take Care.

Stilllearning I was the one who did not want alot of blood tests. I just dislike them. However, call me a slow learner, I'm learning I need to have more. My first doc there was older so I figured he retired. The second one I'm not sure about. @mmztcass she use to look at the other numbers so I'm not sure what changed. I am positive for TSI. If the next appointment she mentions anything like this again or is off, I will start looking else where. I even looked up the mayo clinic to see if they are doing anything and they are but I dont fit the criteria.

I totally understand not liking having a blood test being taken. I hate needles! I mean I really HATE needles. BUT I figured a way to make this unpleasant experience a do-able one.
Before I go for the blood test I:
I fast for (at least) 12 hours prior to any testing.
(It makes a BIG difference.
Take a warm shower and lightly scrub the inside of my elbow area.
I drink a couple of glasses of water prior to having the procedure done.
I wear a comfortable shirt so when they tie me with the plastic rope (around my arm) it is ON TOP of the shirt so the plastic doesn’t dig into me.
I ask the lab person to loosen it when they got the blood flowing.
Before they stick in the needle, my arm is fully extending (holding a cotton hanky in that hand).
I am breathing calmly and NOT looking at when they insert the needle.
I calmly breath through the whole process.
I should tell you, my skin is fair and my veins can be seen like an anatomy model.
When they are done, they ask you to it a finger over the hole. Do not push too hard as it will create a bruise.
Right after the test, have a baggy of something to eat, like walnuts, or a banana or a protein bar and a bottle of water. Something to nourish you.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is get these 4/5 week blood tests to carefully watch the numbers so you are able to figure out if the meds or anything else you are doing is helping your condition.
I WON’T belittle the fear one has for taking blood tests. I try to avoid them at all costs BUT this is important right now so you can get a handle on this.
You can always ask the lab person to use a smaller needle. You can tell the lab person you are nervous about this so they will know to be extra careful.
I used to do this when I first started getting lots of blood tests. AS I was breathing in, that is when they stick in the needle. For some reason you don’t feel it as much.
Hang in there.