Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 Dear Alegra and Terry, I appreciate your input and concern. I picked up the beta blockers, and will watch for dizziness, spaciness, etc. I think I should take a lower dose than prescribed, because my HR hasn't been that high, and I don't want to get addicted. Believe me, if I feel something's wrong, I will call my GP and the current endo. I am sure I need a new endo, as I don't feel comfortable relying on this one. I am guessing that I will be able to taper off the beta blockers when my FT4 and FT3 are WNL. They are not too far off, so perhaps that won't take too long, if all goes well. Thanks again, P.S. Due to the info posted on this board and for Atomic Women, I did have my GP to do the baseline blood work this week (WBC, CBC, liver, kidneys, thyroid levels). Disappointed that the endo didn't mention it when he spoke with me about sending the prescription. I am also checking out MediBoard and Elaine 's website (I ordered her book last week). Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 Thanks for clarifying, Alegra. I will ask my doctor how I should wean off once my lab values look good. It does seem scary to be addicted to them, and that is one reason why I thought I should stay away from them. But I think a small amount will be helpful for the short term. I am off to read Elaine's article on these meds. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 Alegra, I found Elaine's article helpful. Thank you so much for your input. I think I will start on a low dose and see how I do. Gratefully yours, At 12:15 AM 6/23/2003 +0000, you wrote: >Your welcome , > >Addiction wasn't an issue for me but everyone is different just >watch for the signs and don't suddenly stop taking them. Wean off >them like if your on 100mgs go down to 75mgs then 50mgs then to 25mgs >then off them that would be pretty safe I think thats what I did. >The reason why they were not addicting for me was because they do >cause weight gain and so does PTU so going off the beta-blockers >really helped to keep my weight back in range. > >I think a small amount if you can tolerate them would be major helpful >right now (being just temporary) then in the long term perhaps >hawthorn what Pam suggested would be good. > >Herbals are good for graves patients. I take a few myself. (another >days worth of posting) > >Glad your off to read the articles by Elaine. > >Alegra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 Hi Alegra, I have started a file, which includes pre-Graves' results (from 10/02), and all labs since. I have also visited MediBoard, which I probably will frequent through my treatment. I have read so much over the past week or so! It has been invaluable, and helped me to think more clearly so that I could resist plowing ahead with the doctors' #1 choice (RAI). I am not ready for it, and the way I am thinking now, I would probably opt for surgery over RAI (though that scares me too). The scariest part about surgery to me would be choosing the surgeon--you can't fire them and have a second chance! But for now, I will hopefully do well on the meds. Thanks again, P.S. The doctors I went to are thyroid specialists, and they are on in years (old school?). Nevertheless, it seems most endos in this country are pro-RAI, regardless of their focus or how long they have been practicing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 Thanks, . I don't know if this is possible, but I started PTU yesterday and I don't have any palpitations today. Probably a coincidence. Thanks for your input. My resting HR is about 80 today, and I don't feel anxious (other than the occasional upset that comes with adjusting to the news of having this disease). I will play it by ear, and if I feel palps, will take 25 mg of atenolol. At 03:59 PM 6/23/2003 +0000, you wrote: >: > >If your levels are low and your symptoms are mild or non-existent, I'm >not sure I would take the beta blocker - that is used for relief >against fast heartrate and the anxiety that a hyper system causes. It >might be nice to have it around but I wouldn't take it unless I needed >it - when I took it, my sitting HR was 125 as a norm, and I felt >freaked out all the time. Low dose is also good, that's what I did, I >only took it when I needed it, and did not at all get addicted. Once >the PTU kicked in, I stopped taking them completely. > >Good luck, > > >dx 1998, 18mos PTU, remission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 Yes, thank you, Alegra. I really appreciate it! I have been reading Elaine 's Suite 101 articles all morning, and they are excellent. I am looking forward to reading her book. At 02:59 PM 6/23/2003 +0000, you wrote: >Thats Great , > >It sounds like your doing all the right things. > >Lets hope the meds will work for you so you don't have to fret about >surgery. > >Alegra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 Hey, I am just taking the PTU (didn't take the beta blocker today), no palpitations, and my resting HR is now 64. This seems to be a rapid change, given I just started the meds yesterday! I am concerned I'm going to wind up in hypOhell real fast. I thought I wouldn't even feel any differently for at least a month. I think I need to call the doctor tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 Hi , I just got in from the weekend, but in checking a few posts, noticed that your levels were not that far off ??? What dose of PTU are you on to start and what where your thyroid labs to start with ? After the statements you were told to start with about RAI and ATDs, it makes me a bit suspicious about your dose. -Pam L - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 At 07:38 PM 6/23/2003 -0700, you wrote: >Hi , > >I just got in from the weekend, but in checking a few posts, noticed that >your levels were not that far off ??? Hi Pam, That's right. My lab values are as follows: TSH .01 (low) Free T4 1.8 (within the normal range) - T3 also within normal Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies >70 (high) TSI (thyroid stimulating immunogloblulins) 198 (high) RAIU at 26% (within normal range) Thyroid lobes appear at most minimally enlarged, with homogenous concentration of radioactivity >What dose of PTU are you on to start 200 mg. > and what where your thyroid labs to >start with ? > >After the statements you were told to start with about RAI and ATDs, it >makes me a bit suspicious about your dose. What are your thoughts? Thank you, >-Pam L - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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