Hi:

I am sorry you have been diagnosed with Graves' Disease.

I assume you get regular lab work and have your thyroid levels of the Free T3 and the Free T4 (two very important tests) along with the TSH? If you could, we can better help you if you get your last few lab work along with the lab reference ranges (look on the right side of paper) as each lab ranges are different.

The MMI (Methimazole) takes six to eight weeks all the while from that time period on (if taken as two to three times per day in divided doses) to get regular thyroid labs of every four to six weeks and begin reducing from how the Free T4 is doing.

We cannot use the TSH to dose the MMI by because it is affected by the thyroid antibodies if positive.

Unfortunately, Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disorder no matter what treatment is taken. It means one has this for lifetime with having periodic remissions from the meds, or being made permanent hypO from getting a Total Thyroidectomy or an RAI and then needing to take replacement meds for lifetime for this.

{{{hugs}}}

P.S. I suggest you use these links to work on getting back healthy and watching out for all known dietary/environmental triggers that can flare up the GD. You will need to learn how to be proactive with the lab work, dietary/environmental triggers, etc.

http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/graves-disease-general-info

http://www.livingwithgravesdisease.com/forums/forum/2-thyroid-101/

so should I be taking the methimazole alone or with something else? and can you tell me what some of the triggers are that can cause my graves to flare up? thanks

The MMI can be taken alone or with food. Do not take with other vitamins/supplements and meds though.

Common triggers such as those found in the processed foods, table salt containing Iodine, MSG, Aspartame, cigarette smoke, stress, many seafood products, etc.

I suggest you keep a small notebook to record what are being consumed in the diet and such.

Also look into what are being used for the laundry, household and personal products. I had to make many changes in those areas and go for more organic and less chemicals and toxins in these in order to do better.

{{{hugs}}}

hummmm.......... I took a couple Tylenol the other night. but I wont do that again. also I have a sore throat that comes and goes and body pain. also a rash on my cheeks close to my nose. I kind of looked like a raccoon or something! also my lower back hurts. maybe just side effects of the meds. hopefully........ makes me nervous taking this medication considering the side effects

It might be pretibial myxedema which are rashes that comes with having a thyroid diseases.

{{{hugs}}}

P.S. Also we really need to know what your thyroid levels of the Free T3 and the Free T4 are doing to be able to better help you. Your levels are likely in the 'wrong' places why you could be having problems and such.

When one is on too high of the MMI doses, rashes can happen beginning around the 3rd week.

Just make sure your doctor(s) are not dosing you according to the TSH. The MMI doses needs to be dosed according to the FT4, at least.

ts4 8.80 and tsh 0.94. also they said the right thyroid lobe is well perfused. they said I have a goiter too. but that my t3 was in normal range

Hi:

Are these labs from before you were started on the MMI?

We need the lab reference ranges to go with the FT4 and the TSH and also for the FT3. If you have your copy of the lab results, look over on the right side of the paper.

Did your doctor tell you to drop down to 5 mg a day without taking the next set of labs?

{{{hugs}}}

the problem is I found all this out in the e.r. they didn't really tell me much just kept me in the hospital three days. since I just moved to the area I haven't found a regular physician so I ve been going to a clinic. the doctor there took my blood last week and told me yesterday they were normal and said to just take 5 mg of the methimazole instead of 15. once I find a doctor that takes my insurance ill be able to see them regularly. ill see if I can find the results of my blood work

another thing I don't get is after starting the meds in the hospital I felt real good and better than ive felt in years. now its been almost a month I feel bad again. I felt good for the first few days and that was it?!

Probably because taking the ATD (antithyroid drug) brought your levels down to where you feel your best there at. Now you're likely feeling the hypO symptoms and had to reduce to 5 mg.

It is easy to feel bad with hypO symptoms as well as the hypER symptoms. We need to only take just the 'right' amount of meds to bring our Free T3 and Free T4 to where we would feel our best at the 'right' spot within the Free Ts lab reference ranges.

{{{hugs}}}

yeah that makes sense. im just so nervous about all this. im only 32 and have two young sons. I need to be working but I usually feel really tired and body all the time. I see the endo dec.9. hopefully he can straighten me out

I can remember many years ago (14 years) that I began with GD symptoms and at the time I had four boys ages 11, 8, 5, and a 6 month old at home.

I understand the difficulties going along with the thyroid disease with having been both hypER and hypO.

{{{hugs}}}

what scares me is I ve benn having symptoms eight years. but they checked my heart and other organs in the hospital and said I was fine. my bp was 110/78 and my resting heart rate got as low as 48.