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...
Hi folks,
I just got diagnosed with Graves' Disease three weeks ago after feeling gradually worse and worse for almost a year. I'm in grad school and most of my symptoms are the same as those for stress - anxiety, insomnia, inability to concentrate etc. I didn't realize anything was seriously wrong until I started having a tremor in my arms and legs in January that kept getting worse. Of course, being a student, I got told by two dr's at the student clinic on campus that I needed to learn to manage stress and they wouldn't waste $$ ordering blood tests. After two of my officemates pulled me aside for a "drug" intervention because of my shaking, I realized (no drugs here!) that something was definitely wrong. Finally I went to a non-student-center doctor and she immediately diagnosed me and got things moving. Whew! I'm on atenolol (beta blocker) and methamizole (anti-thyorid) and go back for a re-check after 5 weeks (in two more weeks).
i have a couple of questions:
1) Does the atenolol do anything for your heart rate when exercising? I'm on 50mg and still have a tremor, and still fast heart rate. I am (was) a runner, and stopped running last fall because after 1 minute my heart rate would be over 180 and I would feel awful. I was hoping the atenolol would lower it enough that I could run again, but nothing so far. Maybe I just have to wait for the methamizole to do its thing?
2) What is the meaning of the iodine uptake test? I had a 94%. 94% of what?
3) How long does it take for tremors to go away after starting medication? They do go away, right? That's my worst symptom after the insomnia.
4) What are some good books or sources for learning more?
Thanks!
I just got diagnosed with Graves' Disease three weeks ago after feeling gradually worse and worse for almost a year. I'm in grad school and most of my symptoms are the same as those for stress - anxiety, insomnia, inability to concentrate etc. I didn't realize anything was seriously wrong until I started having a tremor in my arms and legs in January that kept getting worse. Of course, being a student, I got told by two dr's at the student clinic on campus that I needed to learn to manage stress and they wouldn't waste $$ ordering blood tests. After two of my officemates pulled me aside for a "drug" intervention because of my shaking, I realized (no drugs here!) that something was definitely wrong. Finally I went to a non-student-center doctor and she immediately diagnosed me and got things moving. Whew! I'm on atenolol (beta blocker) and methamizole (anti-thyorid) and go back for a re-check after 5 weeks (in two more weeks).
i have a couple of questions:
1) Does the atenolol do anything for your heart rate when exercising? I'm on 50mg and still have a tremor, and still fast heart rate. I am (was) a runner, and stopped running last fall because after 1 minute my heart rate would be over 180 and I would feel awful. I was hoping the atenolol would lower it enough that I could run again, but nothing so far. Maybe I just have to wait for the methamizole to do its thing?
2) What is the meaning of the iodine uptake test? I had a 94%. 94% of what?
3) How long does it take for tremors to go away after starting medication? They do go away, right? That's my worst symptom after the insomnia.
4) What are some good books or sources for learning more?
Thanks!
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
Regards, myjeannie
I was diagnosed very early with Graves and only had a slight tremor (yes, it went away shortly after I started Methimazole). I had RAI done last April and am doing MUCH better. The down side to the methimazole (unless you are extremely underweight) is weight gain. Since diagnosis 3 1/2 years ago, I have gained almost 60 pounds (19 in the first 5 months of methimazole treatment -dosing between 5mg and 10mg) I wish I had the RAI done right away but my endo at the time acted like it was a last resort treatment, when in reality I have learned that it is the more preferred treatment. As for the heart racing, that would have to come from someone else since I didn't have that symptom. The docs only found my Graves because I went in for an annual physical and my thyroid was 1 1/2 times the size it should have been on the right side.
Watch out for the Graves rage, I still have that! Uncontrollable bouts of anger. Until I joined this group I didn't understand what was happening to me. This place has been a Godsend for my sanity.
I am also not sure what the uptake numbers mean as my first endo never explained anything to me. Just kept changing my methimazole dose every 6 weeks (10mg to start, then I CRASHED to normal count, then down to 5mg, then back and forth from there!) With every dose change, I literally gained 5 pounds. I still can't lose this darn weight!
I hope some of this helped.
Heidi
It may initially take up to two months before your tremors goes away. It depends on how high your labs were. Get the Free T3, Free T4, and TSH done.
You want your heart rate to be under 85 bpm to be able to exercise. Maybe the Atenolol you are taking is not high enough doses for you?
Would you post your labs with the ranges so we can see how it is going for you to get an idea?
I can't comment on the Iodine Uptake test because I never have these done. This test is to check how much RAI to give you to kill your thyroid when the time comes. I would get an ultrasound done and a FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration) for any nodules that you may have instead.
I have to run now and will give you the names of thyroid books if others haven't come by yet. This Friday, the boards are sometimes slow on the weekends.
Take care... :-)
I did have an antibody test (Thyroperoxidase antibodies) and it was very low, only 0.6 and the acceptable range was < 9.0. Hmmm...the Dr said it was a clear case of Grave's. What does that mean if I don't have antibodies but everything else points to Grave's?
My other labs were:
TSH - undetectable
Free T4 - 3.1 (0.6 - 2.0)
Total T3 - 2.83 (0.97 - 1.69)
I see that brans came by and gave you the books names. :-)
Ask for the Free T3 to go along with the other labs you had done. To check for Graves' Disease, you want to have these two antibodies tests done: TRAb (Thyroid Receptors Antibodies) and TSI (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulins).
You have low TSH and high Free T4 which does indicates a thyroid disease.
What is your heart rate doing? If it is still high, higher than 90+ bpm, talk to your doctor about upping the Atenolol.
At one time I was on 150 mg of Atenolol per day taken twice, one in the AM and one in the PM. My heart rate was over 100+ bpm.
Take care... :-)