Graves Disease

[suzie2004]

I am constantly hungry and also wake up in the middle of the night and have to get something to eat . Could it be the 40mgs of carbimazole' 40mgs propranolol or the fact I have Graves disease? I started medication beginning September but its only the last 2 weeks that I am constantly hungry.

[Clutter]

Suzie2004,

When were your thyroid levels last checked?

[suzie2004 in reply to Clutter]

9th November and I go and get them done again this Thursday 21st December and due to see endocrinologist early January. I have a really bad taste in my mouth as well over the last 2 weeks

[Clutter in reply to suzie2004]

Suzie2004,

Increased appetite may be a sign of undermedication but I would have expected you to have experienced that long before you were taking 40mg Carbimazole. Your blood tests on Thurs will show whether you are adequately dosed on 40mg.

[suzie2004 in reply to Clutter]

Thank You I appreciate your reply and advice and any information as I am rather clueless and trying to read as much as I can about graves disease but my concentration is zero and I must admit my memory was always great until recently

[Clutter in reply to suzie2004]

Suzie2004,

Previous posts on Graves healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... and hyperthyroidism healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[suzie2004 in reply to Clutter]

Thank You

[Valarian]

I had a huge appetite when I was first diagnosed with Graves, but for a while before that, there were some foods I couldn’t face at all. However, as Clutter says, you’d think the appetite

[Valarian]

Oops, pressed send too soon ! (See above for the start of this)... the big appetite might have been expected sooner. Have you experienced any weight changes ?

If the propranol was prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of Graves - eg the shakes, thumping heart, anxiety - you might be able to reduce the dose if your thyroid levels have come down, but should definitely discuss this with your doctor rather than simply stopping it.

Was the carbi prescribed by your endo, or will January be the first time you see them ? If you get copies of your blood tests, someone here will be able to help interpret them. If you’re in the UK, they should give them to you on request, although there may be a nominal charge. Obviously, the ones you have drawn next week will take a week to come back, but the November ones should be available now.

By the way, brain fog is a classic thyroid symptom, I believe it affects both hyperactive and hypos. You may also find yourself stumbling over words, and if you get down on the floor to pick something up, may find your legs don’t work. This can be horribly depressing and even frightening, but the Carbimazole does seem to sort it fairly quickly (within the context that you will probably be taking Carbimazole for at least a year).

[suzie2004 in reply to Valarian]

I was really weak for the first two months or so and I could barely sit up and through that time I never felt hungry & even when I was I felt too ill to get anything I lived of protein shakes & got one out the fridge when I could. My legs especially were really weak and I could barely walk & lost 0ne & a half stone in 4 weeks. For a few days about a couple of weeks ago my body didn't feel like a lump of lead and my mood was better and now I feel worse than ever and hungry every second of the day and same through the night

[suzie2004]

yes my carbimazole & propranolol were prescribed by the endocrinologist I just cannot understand why or What is making me sick with hunger

[shambles]

Gosh yes, that's when I learned the 'hangry' word! It was one of the unforgettable stages and memories of my disease. I could not fill up and would eat and eat and eat. For someone that wasn't that interested in food, it was a shock. I had to bring food with me everywhere and even when I ate, I had still had that empty feeling. If I got into a position were there was no way of eating I could feel myself starting to shake and get in a rage. Anyhows, the feeling eventually subsided much to my relief a month or two into my medication...... Not sure what the reason is for it, I almost forgot about it.

[suzie2004 in reply to shambles]

Thanks hope it might go soon I feel hungry even when I have just eaten something 2 seconds ago