Re: Need support and advice

July 21, 2003

> My name is Jan I am 45yrs old and was diagnosed with Graves last

> week. I feel so ill and so tired. I only sleep maybe 2 hours a

> night. I started meds last week : Toprol XL 50 mg daily and

> Tapazole 20 mg daily. My heart is still racing and I am so short of

> breath. Maybe I need more beta-blocker.I am so worried about trying

> to return to work. I am thinking I may have to go on short-term

> disability. Have any of you done that?

>

> My BIG question how long before I feel better? I need some hope.

>

Hi Jan. You WILL feel better though I remember being on ATDs a few months

before I stopped losing weight and feeling so angry all the time. You

should start to see your symptoms abate a lot sooner though.

Are you taking your Tapazole twice a day - 10 in the AM and 10 in the PM?

Some people report better results when they split up their dose over the

day at 3, not 2, equal intervals.

Also, while 20 is a pretty potent dose, a lot of endos will start their

patients at 25 or 30 with very active Graves. Any reason why yours picked

20?

Take care, Fay (in remission for almost 2 years after 14 months on

Tapazole)

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July 21, 2003

Hi Jan,

While you'll notice a reduction in symptoms within a week, you won't

experience the full benefits of your meds for 6-8 weeks. At this time your

thyroid

hormone levels should be normal or on the low side. GD also causes many nutrient

deficiencies because. Sometimes, correcting these deficiencies with a

nutrient-rich diet also helps. Supplements are often needed too, as long as you

don't

take any that contain iodine. Take care, Elaine

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