Re: Graves WITHOUT SYMPTOMS??

[Guest guest]

> I was recently diagnosed as new Graves patient, but I'm hesitant to

> proceed with meds. Please let me know whether I'm overly optimistic:

>

> I had a general checkup early this yearat 35. My father had died

> unexpectedly at 59 due to heart failure. HIS father had heart

> problems at 60 as well, so I'm trying to be prudent here... Please

> note that I have NO SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND.

>

> Apparently my GP included some thyroid component in the general

> bloodwork that was done. Elevated levels led me to more detailed

> bloodwork, and to an endocrinologist. More bloodwork and RAI-U

> showed elevated levels of T3, about 10% over the high end of normal.

>

> The endo pronounces me hyper and Graves. What's funny is that when

I

> first saw the endo, he noted I have NO symptoms of any kind, and he

> pretty much ruled out Graves. According to him, Graves is usually

> pretty acute, with weight loss as prime indicator.

>

> I still have NO SYMPTOMS besides heat sensitivity is something that

> runs in the family (and no, they're not all hyper) - the only

> possible symptom that may apply. Nonetheless, the endo prescribed

> 10mg Tapazole/day.

>

> My elevation is so small that I'm hesitant to take anything.

> Needless to say all these thought arose after I left the endo and

> read up on this thoroughly. Is there anyone out there with a

similar

> diagnosos? Any advise from seasoned patients? Any help is priceless

> to me.

>

>

> Pieter

Hi

Are you sure you have NO symptons? My husband has had Graves for 8

years now and we weren't aware of most of the symptons until fairly

recently..or at least we didn't associate them with Graves..I know

when he's hyper now as he itches a lot and is very bad tempered

(which is not his nature). From our experience this is progressive

so more symptoms become apparent after time, sometimes years. I'm no

expert and I'm sure there are plenty who will give you advice but

having lived with and seen how this affects someone I don't think

there can be NO symptoms.

Best wishes

Jemima

[Guest guest]

Jemima,

What a wonderful reply. Personally the view point of one living 'with' one

of us, is eye opening to me. This reminds me how important a list like this

can truly be. The answers to lab questions and medication are all well and

good, but really not the whole picture by any means.

Best example is something like... I see my labs, I do my adjustments in meds

I am right at my set point... and still my mind continues to wander to all

the rest of those " why am I like this, and why did I say or do that ? " ,

emotional questions.

The standard " you are not crazy " answer is lacking somehow.

Thanks for being here,

-Pam L-

-------Original Message-------

Hi

Are you sure you have NO symptons? My husband has had Graves for 8

years now and we weren't aware of most of the symptons until fairly

recently..or at least we didn't associate them with Graves..I know

when he's hyper now as he itches a lot and is very bad tempered

(which is not his nature). From our experience this is progressive

so more symptoms become apparent after time, sometimes years. I'm no

expert and I'm sure there are plenty who will give you advice but

having lived with and seen how this affects someone I don't think

there can be NO symptoms.

Best wishes

Jemima

[Guest guest]

> Apparently my GP included some thyroid component in the general

> bloodwork that was done. Elevated levels led me to more detailed

> bloodwork, and to an endocrinologist. More bloodwork and RAI-U

> showed elevated levels of T3, about 10% over the high end of normal.

Your situation reminds me of a friend of mine whose only symptoms were

goiter and itching. Since her TSH was low and Ft4 high she's been on

Tapazole, also starting at a lower dose than someone with active Graves

would start at.

Could you share your bloodwork and your lab's ranges for normal with us?

I'm especially curious about your TSH, free (not total) T4 and T3, and a

TSI. My friend's dr. refused to run a TSI on her based on the RAI-U scan.

In your case this is very important and will conclusively tell if you

have GD.

I wouldn't be too worried about taking 10 mg. but it seems rather low. I

do worry that your dr. might be one of these nincompoops who doesn't

start at what s/he thinks is the maximum dose you'll need, but who plans

to up your dose and arbitrarily jerk you around. Here are some things I'd

do BEFORE starting the Tap:

1. Get the following baseline bloodwork - TSH, FT4 (if you had these very

recently and they are truly out of range you can wait till you're on Tap

for a month to have them again), LFT (liver function), white blood count

and the TSI. I can't overstate the importance of having the TSI done

before starting Tap and don't let your dr. talk you out of it!

2. Ask your doctor if 10 is indeed an appropriate dose for you to start

at rather than 15 or 20. I don't want to see you overmedicated but you

can't be too careful with endos. If his/her game plan is to up your dose

in a month or so tell him/her you want to start at the higher end now.

(With no or mild symptoms you probably shouldn't go higher than 20 mg.)

Oh, I assume your doctor isn't telling you to take the 10 mg. in one

dose, right. Tap has to be taken preferably 3 times a day at fairly even

intervals, though if your dr. says 2x a day I wouldn' t take points off

since many people do ok taking it twice a day and that's been the

standard recommendation. (Even though the medicine's insert says take it

3x a day.)

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Pieter,

A few things: first, we have a pretty good symptom list on the home page.

you may not be aware that you have Graves symptoms, since you don't know

what they all are. I for one never lost weight, but could eat a lot without

gaining a lot. Was hungry all the time too. But other symptoms will be

present if you have GD, not just weight-related ones. Fast pulse for

instance. Insomnia. I could go on, but the list is there.

Also, for me GD was triggered by my fathers' death. It often is triggered by

the death of a loved one. That particular kind of stress seems to have a

strong effect.

Share your blood work results with us, it's a good way to have us help you

interpret what's going on. If you have a mild case of GD that's really

without symptoms, your treatment course is different than if you have

full-blown GD. The blood test results will tell. The 10 mg. of Tap will

either be more, less or just the right amount to start with but nobody can

tell unless we see those levels. Also, if your GD is really mild like you

describe, you may be able to just work with alternative meds and not have to

take the ATD's at all--if you are so inclined. There should be a lot of info

on the home page on that, see Pam B.'s writings and links.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2003 19:03:08 -0000

> To: graves_support

> Subject: Graves WITHOUT SYMPTOMS??

>

> I was recently diagnosed as new Graves patient, but I'm hesitant to

> proceed with meds. Please let me know whether I'm overly optimistic:

>

> I had a general checkup early this yearat 35. My father had died

> unexpectedly at 59 due to heart failure. HIS father had heart

> problems at 60 as well, so I'm trying to be prudent here... Please

> note that I have NO SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND.

>

> Apparently my GP included some thyroid component in the general

> bloodwork that was done. Elevated levels led me to more detailed

> bloodwork, and to an endocrinologist. More bloodwork and RAI-U

> showed elevated levels of T3, about 10% over the high end of normal.

>

> The endo pronounces me hyper and Graves. What's funny is that when I

> first saw the endo, he noted I have NO symptoms of any kind, and he

> pretty much ruled out Graves. According to him, Graves is usually

> pretty acute, with weight loss as prime indicator.

>

> I still have NO SYMPTOMS besides heat sensitivity is something that

> runs in the family (and no, they're not all hyper) - the only

> possible symptom that may apply. Nonetheless, the endo prescribed

> 10mg Tapazole/day.

>

> My elevation is so small that I'm hesitant to take anything.

> Needless to say all these thought arose after I left the endo and

> read up on this thoroughly. Is there anyone out there with a similar

> diagnosos? Any advise from seasoned patients? Any help is priceless

> to me.

>

>

> Pieter

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Fay,

Excellent points. We had all forgotten to mention the liver and WBC must be

done first, so there is a baseline to refer to later, if need be.

You mentioned the infamous TSI antibody test, but I wonder ???

What does an uptake scan show if one in in a hyper phase of Hashimoto's ?

Anyone ????

****

Pieter,

Welcome to the group. Have you had a chance to check out the file section of

the group yet ? And do be sure to get paper copies of all the lab work. This

is the only way you can work through this, and have a clear understanding.

My final decent into thyroid disease was the illness and death of my partner

You will find many of us around and about. It is wonderful that you caught

this early, and the outcome may well be sooner and easier for you that some

of us. I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.

-Pam L-

3 1/2 years Graves', TED, and PTU. Remission due to SLOW reduction of PTU

(despite an incompetent endo ! ), improved lifestyle, excellent nutrition,

herbs, and looking at the big picture.

Pills alone only help the symptoms. We must help our bodies to heal.

-- Re: Graves WITHOUT SYMPTOMS??

> Apparently my GP included some thyroid component in the general

> bloodwork that was done. Elevated levels led me to more detailed

> bloodwork, and to an endocrinologist. More bloodwork and RAI-U

> showed elevated levels of T3, about 10% over the high end of normal.

Your situation reminds me of a friend of mine whose only symptoms were

goiter and itching. Since her TSH was low and Ft4 high she's been on

Tapazole, also starting at a lower dose than someone with active Graves

would start at.

Could you share your bloodwork and your lab's ranges for normal with us?

I'm especially curious about your TSH, free (not total) T4 and T3, and a

TSI. My friend's dr. refused to run a TSI on her based on the RAI-U scan.

In your case this is very important and will conclusively tell if you

have GD.

I wouldn't be too worried about taking 10 mg. but it seems rather low. I

do worry that your dr. might be one of these nincompoops who doesn't

start at what s/he thinks is the maximum dose you'll need, but who plans

to up your dose and arbitrarily jerk you around. Here are some things I'd

do BEFORE starting the Tap:

1. Get the following baseline bloodwork - TSH, FT4 (if you had these very

recently and they are truly out of range you can wait till you're on Tap

for a month to have them again), LFT (liver function), white blood count

and the TSI. I can't overstate the importance of having the TSI done

before starting Tap and don't let your dr. talk you out of it!

2. Ask your doctor if 10 is indeed an appropriate dose for you to start

at rather than 15 or 20. I don't want to see you overmedicated but you

can't be too careful with endos. If his/her game plan is to up your dose

in a month or so tell him/her you want to start at the higher end now.

(With no or mild symptoms you probably shouldn't go higher than 20 mg.)

Oh, I assume your doctor isn't telling you to take the 10 mg. in one

dose, right. Tap has to be taken preferably 3 times a day at fairly even

intervals, though if your dr. says 2x a day I wouldn' t take points off

since many people do ok taking it twice a day and that's been the

standard recommendation. (Even though the medicine's insert says take it

3x a day.)

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

[Guest guest]

We had all forgotten to mention the liver and WBC

> must be

> done first, so there is a baseline to refer to later, if need be.

> You mentioned the infamous TSI antibody test, but I wonder ???

>

> What does an uptake scan show if one in in a hyper phase of

> Hashimoto's ?

So if one possible theory is that Pieter is in a hyper state of

Hashimotos's, then should he also have the TPO antibodies tested? (I

think I'm finally grasping the alphabet soup of antibodies.) And if he is

then isn't the dominant condition treated, that is, you go by the

symptoms, or if they're not obvious then the numbers? So could be he

should be on Tap anyway. OR, as is done with thyroiditis, monitored every

3 months or so.

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!