Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 Thats great , Glad you did pick up the beta-blockers I was only on them for 3 months then weaned off once labs stabled out. I wasn't aware some docs left people on beta blockers for years that must have been scary for Pam B. They did help me in the very beginning but they are meant for short term anyway. Hawthorn does sound like a good alternative treatment. Great glad your checking out the sites I sent you. You will like them. Alegra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 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 Your welcome, I agree a low dose is good to start so you know how it effects your body. Glad you found Elaine's article helpful. The only other thing left to do is join up w/ the Mediboard lots of information there I'm sure you have tons of ?'s or will when our labs start comming in and you need them translated in English. Make sure you get original copies of your labs so you can see the lab range that is normal and where you stand. It does get better a day at a time. I thought I would never get better but you will too things will work out. Read all you can and absorb as much info as you can that is the best way to take care of yourself is to take responsibility and not rely on just the doctors they are all just human and alot of them have no idea on how to manage graves disease. Most are to busy solving Cancer problems and bigger fish to fry I think and we are just the little autoimmune cases and considered not a huge deal to them. I just see no point in trading once Autoimmune disorder for another one because thats exactly what you do if you choose RAI you are hypo for life then and have to take synthroid. At least on PTU there is always a chance of remmission. Surgery and RAI are permanent choices so just make sure you read up and learn before you do anything RASH. I would have taken RAI if I hadn't have learned so much so quickly I was almost scheduled for it but didn't do it. I'm so glad I didn't Alegra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 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 : 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 > > > 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 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 Your welcome, Just remember her book is written in more of a reference form so at first it seemed hard to follow so I skipped around alot but you will find tons of info and when you get to certain points in your recovery you will go back and reread some information and its nice to have as a reference. Alegra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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