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...
This has been some journey since it all started and I can't thank the support in this forum enough for all the guidance and advice that I have received. I will post my newest labs at the end.... So, the last time I posted, my doc had put me on atenolol which was causing awful nightmares in me at night... so i weened myself off the atenolol after being on it for only 2 weeks... I have been taking PTU 37.5 mg daily divided (I was taking 12.5 mg daily at 9 am and 25 mg daily at 6 pm), in the last 2 weeks, I have been taking 12.5 mg at 9 am, 6pm, and 1 am. I decided to break my PTU up into 3 doses daily due to the fear that my levels were rising instead of falling (but looking at my latest labs, it looks like they are falling). For the last month, I haven't felt good at all... I've felt a little "off"... and for the last week, I've felt worse... I've been so tired during the day that I need "naps", I've had a lack of energy, bad insomnia or anxiety at night, my acne has returned (with a vengeance :(...), I've had body aches, and every now and then I feel like I take a gasp of air or I'm gasping for air (???) and I get this pressure sensation in my chest sometimes at night (I keep panicking and thinking im having a heart attack). I think my heart rate increases during the day around 2 pm and again at night around 10 pm... not sure why? So, I was thinking I might be going hypo or already hypo so I labbed yesterday and got the results today.... They look good... so now, i'm confused??? It looks like my Free T3 dropped a tiny bit and my Free T4 is staying in place :)... although my T4 isn't at my happy spot, it's maintaining and for now, I'll take that until my T3 falls into place. Could I be feeling all these symptoms cuz my body doesn't know what it's like to be normal and it's adjusting? Or could it be something else? Is it related to my thyroid? My biggest fear is a thyroid storm again or a heart attack at my age (i'm only 33).... Do you think I should take the atenolol again but on a lower dose (maybe half of 12.5 mg during the day and the other half of 12.5 mg at night?).... I'm so lost.... I feel like I'm always confused..... Here are my last 3 labs:
March 24, 2010 Labs
Free T3 424 (range 230-420)
Free T4 (range 0.8-1.8)
Taking 37.5 mg of PTU per day (was taking 12.5 mg at 9 am daily and 25 mg at 6 pm daily for 2 weeks, then switched to 12.5 mg at 9 am, 6 pm and midnight). No beta blocker.
February 23, 2010 Labs
Free T3, 545 (range 230-420)
Free T4, 1.5 (range 0,8-1.8)
Ptu was increased from 25 mg per day to 50 mg per day, however, took 37.5 mg daily instead divided (12.5 mg at 9 am, 25 mg at 6 pm). Atenolol 25 mg per day added. (Took 12.5 mg daily at noon)
Labs January 12, 2010:
Free T3, 438 (range 230-420)
Free T4, 1.1 (range 0.8-1.8)
Took 37.5 mg daily. However, have been taking beta blocker, propranolol 5mg once daily for the last week (due to heart palpitations and racing heartrate). (End of January, Ptu was decreased to 25 mg per day, no beta blocker but given optional as needed).
** I see Endo April 6 for follow up to labs but labbed early and will try to get in to see him next week instead. Any advice? Thanks!
March 24, 2010 Labs
Free T3 424 (range 230-420)
Free T4 (range 0.8-1.8)
Taking 37.5 mg of PTU per day (was taking 12.5 mg at 9 am daily and 25 mg at 6 pm daily for 2 weeks, then switched to 12.5 mg at 9 am, 6 pm and midnight). No beta blocker.
February 23, 2010 Labs
Free T3, 545 (range 230-420)
Free T4, 1.5 (range 0,8-1.8)
Ptu was increased from 25 mg per day to 50 mg per day, however, took 37.5 mg daily instead divided (12.5 mg at 9 am, 25 mg at 6 pm). Atenolol 25 mg per day added. (Took 12.5 mg daily at noon)
Labs January 12, 2010:
Free T3, 438 (range 230-420)
Free T4, 1.1 (range 0.8-1.8)
Took 37.5 mg daily. However, have been taking beta blocker, propranolol 5mg once daily for the last week (due to heart palpitations and racing heartrate). (End of January, Ptu was decreased to 25 mg per day, no beta blocker but given optional as needed).
** I see Endo April 6 for follow up to labs but labbed early and will try to get in to see him next week instead. Any advice? Thanks!
Can you take any beta blockers at all? If the Atenolol didn't work for you, what about the Propranolol?
{{{hugs}}}
If I recall, you've had more than your fair share of troubles with beta-blockers.
I know you shared your story with Elaine but I don't recall you telling her of the problems you had with the beta-blockers......I suspect that might be why she said you'd be OK continuing with the status quo.
I still think BRT would be ideal for you in light of the beta-blocker issue.....you take PTU that will bring down both your FT4 & FT3 and then add levothyroxine (T4 replacement med) to get your FT4 to its "sweet spot".
This just makes so much sense to me.
I thought all my symptom were those of hypo so I'm really confused as I am not appearing to be hypo in my labs... It looks like my FT4 is staying around 1.1
I felt my best when it was at 1.3 even when my T3 was higher....
I suggest to help lessen the Atenolol nightmares, definitely take it wee doses. Maybe take that last dose a bit further away from bed time as not to get the nightmares?
I take only 3.125 mg of Atenolol. My doctor wants me to stay on the 'wee' dose because I have a tendency to have the FT3 go up. We are hoping that by my next labs the FT3 will show it heading to the mid ranges and just stay put. I can't remember how many points the FT3 rose from when I was on 6.25 mg dose to the 3.125 mg. Maybe three tenths...?
Thanks so much! This journey is not fun!
I was mistaken...my FT3 only rose two tenths of a point since dropping from 6.25 mg to 3.125 mg. However I was not long on the 3.125 mg dose when I went to get my labs done. So perhaps the next lab will bring me closer to the mid range. At least I hope so.
Get a pill cutter and cut that Atenolol in four quarters. Then half one of the quarters to give you that 3.125 mg. But then I think you know this since you are pharmacy tech (I think?). :-) Just be aware it gets a bit more powdery as the pieces gets smaller to cut. But, it can be accomplished.
You'd might want to look into dropping the PTU dosages downwards to 25 mg if the 37.5 mg gets to be too much for your FT4.
{{{hugs}}} :-)
I get the chest pressure, tingling in my hands and feet and they feel stiff & tight, air hungry etc. It all just started this week. last labs(2 weeks ago)
my FT4 1.44 - .8 - 1.78
FT3 4.0. ( ?- 4.4)
What confuses me is my hands shake a bit and my body temp has gone up a bit. Scared of being hyper again. I don't know what the heck is going on with me.
My heart rate has been normal for the most part, raised a little bit, don't know if its from anxiety or worse going hyper again..I take 2.5 mgs propranolol now , a little I know, but it seems to help. (probably more psychological)
oh forgot - two weeks till I get my period, so I know its not pms.
I see my endo on Monday...no labs just a visit. I'll tell her about all of this. What do think she will do?
Blessings!
Heather
Just a thought here. For me to have your labs right now, it's too hypER for me. I like my labs (when I was using the old ranges for the FT4) to be at mid ranges. However both of the FT3 and the FT4 ranges have changed on me in the last few months so I'm finding out that the new FT4 is quite similar to the older FT4 from about five to seven years ago and I felt better to be just slightly below the ranges.
So I'm thinking for you it's too hypER and you will need to look at and see if you feel better at mid ranges. This will mean dose adjustments to get you to where-you-feel-your-best at ranges.
{{{hugs}}} :-)
I do not suggest alternating doses. It may work for some people (not me). Slow and steady is the way to be best in keeping thyroid levels more stabilized.
{{{hugs}}} :-)
Hugs.