Hi:

Are you being over medicated (hypO) as it seems so according to the symptoms you are having? Many doctors will not use the Free T3 and the Free T4 to check how one is doing according to the amount of ATD (antithyroid drug) one takes and use the TSH instead.

I'd find out what numbers the Free Ts are at and make sure the least (smallest) amount of ATD taken is to keep the Free T3 at mid range and the Free T4 at the mid to the upper third range.

{{{hugs}}}

I was very fortunate that my company gave me permission to work remotely 3 days a week. It's hard coming into the office even for the other 2 days, but more manageable overall this way. Our office has been overheated lately (central heating we can't control), and the "too warm" feeling from Graves makes it really uncomfortable.

I hope that soon you will get treatment that will help with your symptoms! I heard it takes a few weeks for it to work, but once it does it makes a big difference.

Thanks everyone. But my Dr. rolled his eyes at me when I went back to him two weeks ago. My ankles were swollen and my back ached. After going back to work. He gave me pain medication for my back and expected me to work on equipment while on it. I lost my job of 11 years two days ago. Needless to say, I won't be going back to that Dr.

I work as an ER nurse and it has been rough.
I know this is totally not kosher, but sometimes I will take prednisone and I also started Cymbalta and it helps a great deal with body pain.

Also, try antiinflammatory dier

kaspersue37:

To be successful with any thyroid issues we must know our lab results, how to read labs to be proactive with the treatment and keeping our thyroid levels of the Free T3 and the Free T4 in the 'right' places to feel best there at.

We also will need to figure out what kind of triggers are setting off the thyroid symptoms and avoid them. Mine was the chemicals and toxins.

If you can post lab results with the lab reference ranges along with the meds taken and how much is taken at each lab draw, we can all put our heads together to steer in the right direction to healing.

It is possible the 'wrong' thyroid levels are not in the 'right' places to feel well there at.

{{{hugs}}}

Thanks everyone. I actually stopped my medication after losing my job. Mostly because I don't trust my doctors because they ignored me when i was still hurting and I feel like all I was to them was a dollar sign. I go to someone I really trust on March 1 for a second opinion. Then we will see what happens. Couldn't sleep last night, woke up at 4:30 this morning with my whole body hurting. Ugh. I don't think it's my thyroid. I mean maybe it is.? My weight gaining sucks.

If you have active Graves you MUST take the medication.
Hyperthyroidism can cause irreversible organ damage.
Doctors won't sign paperwork if you don't follow their treatment recommendations.
When is your follow up?

I don't have any paperwork to be signed. I already lost my job already because I had a doctor who rolled his eyes at me when I went back because my ankle was still swollen after he sent me back to work to early. And I can tell my thyroid isn't over active right now because I'm gaining weight and I no longer feel my heart beat around my thyroid. I am going to a doctor I trust on March 1st. My other doctors can kiss my ass. They didn't help me when I needed it most and I lost my job of 11 was because when he filled out my FMLA papers he said i may miss work up to 3 times a week for doctors appointments. So if I missed work without going to see them and getting an actual note every single time I was sick I got it counted against me.

Hello.
I'm sorry to hear about your job loss and about your doctor!! I also struggled to find a good doctor, like you said they just see dollar signs and don't seem to care about ones wellbeing. Plus I had great difficulties when it came to working as well. I was very lucky that I worked with great people and my supervisors were really understanding. Even with that, it was pretty bad. I can't imagine going through that plus working in such a harsh environment :(
Going back to the doctors' issue, I tried I think about 4 doctors and I finally settled with the one I'm currently with. I just feel that most of them just see customers and not patients. And it's horrible, feeling desperate and the person that is supposed to help you doesn't care when you're clearly in despair. The one that I'm currently with has been the best so far. I was able to get in touch with him through a recommendation. That being said, you should definitely try a different doctor as soon as possible and keep working to keep your levels controlled. I wish you the best!

I was misdiagnosed for 20 years with fibromyaglia until I had a storm 2 and half years ago. Keep looking for the right doctor because Graves disease can weaken the heart. The swollen legs is pretibial myxedema when water collects around muscle tissue. I just had RAI treatment and now on Levothyroxine and the swelling in my legs have improved. Accupuncture helped my back pains. however, I still have weakness in my gluts and quads but I suppose I now have to build them up after 20 years of atrophy. good luck

I am so sorry for your recent struggles! I recommend interviewing endroconogists to find the right one for you. After being assigned one in the hospital I learned there are many different views and options. After searching I was lucky to find a doctor that doesn't immediately want to do anything drastic,believes remission is possible. Even wrote a letter to my employers explaining what I was going through and letting them now it was temporary. We were working together to make me once again the employee they hired. I wish you the best but please take your medication!