Graves and new results trying to get off Tapazole.

[cgauthie]

My thyroid has been stable for a year. I have graves. I am 57 years old and still get my period. I think this complicates my situation.

I am still on Tapazole 1.25mg every other day. Trying to get off this drug. I was on this dose for 3 weeks and tried this past week to reduce to every second day.

My new thyroid results from Saturday are

TSH .01(normal range.32-4) mlu/l (I have graves)

T4 20 ( normal 9-19) mlu/l (was 12 a month ago)

T3 5.3 (normal 3.1-6.2) mli/l (was 4 a month ago)

I have been having sore right armpit for past few weeks.

Constipated. My graves eye disease is burned out(no symptoms anymore).

I have been trying to get off this drug. I am gluten and dairy free which has reduced my Graves antibodies. I have not been tested for hashimotos.

What do these results say to you? Am I hyper again?

Any recommendations?

[Valarian]

The results, especially T4, are certainly heading upwards, which isn’t really what you want to see at this stage. The endo will almost certainly increase your dose for a while, but hopefully this may just be a bit of a blip

You mention a sore armpit - have you had an infection, or been particularly stressed recently ?

You say that you’ve recently tried halving your medication, was this on your endo’s advive, or were you just responding to your own symptoms ? Either way, getting the right dose is a bit hit and miss, but achieving remission from Graves’ takes a long time, and can’t really be hurried. I assume you are on “titration” therapy (ie that you are not also receiving thyroid replacement) - this typically takes 12-18 months, so it wouldn’t really be surprising if you aren’t ready to reduce right down yet.

I can understand why you are keen to reduce the Tapazole, but your thyroid does need to be brought under control. If this can’t be achieved with anti-thyroids, the endo will no doubt begin talking about RAI.

[cgauthie in reply to Valarian]

Thank you for your information. I appreciate your insight.

My endo wanted me to off the meds completely, but I wanted to taper (thus my reduction). Heart rate and blood pressure are very normal. To answer your question, I did have a slight infection last week.

I am getting symptoms of Adrenal fatigue (waking up in night startled which started a few days ago). I am wondering if this plays a part in my decrease in TSH/incr of my T4. Do you know?

[Valarian in reply to cgauthie]

I don’t know about adrenal fatigue (although if you post with that in your title, others may). Many of us find that stress makes our Graves’ symptoms worse. My heart rate has always been fast when my free thyroid levels have been elevated, but only your FT4 is over at the moment, and that only marginally, so you might not see an increased heart rate anyway.

[cgauthie]

That is interesting. Last week I was exceptionally stressed at work.

[Valarian in reply to cgauthie]

Avoiding stress is easier said than done (especially as anxiety is a classic hyper symptom anyway) - but being stressed really doesn’t help.

Maybe think about some yoga or relaxation classes ? Or even just come up with a “relaxation playlist”?

[cgauthie in reply to Valarian]

😌🐾

[Samy3]

Hi cgauthie I have graves and I'm in a remission from ur blood results ur tsh is still suppressed ...ur both ts are in the high upper range apart from pain in ur armpit do u have any other symptoms.

[cgauthie]

Blood pressure and heart rate are low....hr68 resting. Over weekend I had a problem waking after a dream started...as well as waking in morning.. no other symptoms. I was in remission up until this weekend and for the past year. I had small amt antibodies last November.

[Samy3]

My blood pressure is in between 70./72 as well so ur antibodies OK I have read on another forum a lady her tsh was suppressed for two years even her both ts were with range she got herself tested for l carntine she was deficient in that she started supplementing and now from the past 8 years her tsh is normal not suppressed anymore

[cgauthie in reply to Samy3]

Thanks is for this. I will try getting tested. I just saw a great.video on utube by a dr. He said when cortesol is up TSH decreases dramatically. I know cortesol is up as I have been waking up startled and slightly increased heart rate since Saturday. I started taking adrenal support. Has anyone else taken l carnitin?

[Samy3 in reply to cgauthie]

Yes I took it for a little while it did help there s another forum ppl there have tried it and it worked for them

[cgauthie in reply to Samy3]

So is it something that I'd go on temporarily until levels come up? Or is it something you stay on forever?

[Samy3 in reply to cgauthie]

No its not forever u have to take always ask ur doctor to check u first if u r deficient in that

[cgauthie in reply to Samy3]

I have read that l carnitin is very bad for.you and can effect.your heart.

[Samy3 in reply to cgauthie]

I don't know abt this research but I myself took it for a short time

[cgauthie in reply to Samy3]

Did you eliminate your antibodies completely?

[Samy3 in reply to cgauthie]

Don't know abt trab antibodies bcs they were only tested once when they diagnosed me but few weeks back I got my tpo and thyroglubin antibodies tested and they were in the range not over

[Samy3 in reply to Samy3]

I think antibodies u can control them by going gluten free and if u r on a very low dose of carbimazole otherwise I don't think they will be in control u can take selenium everyday too to lower the antibodies

[Samy3]

I had left side armpit pains in my left side breast too took so long for doctors to find out that's when I started burping issue with stomach pain and the day I asked him for endoscopy ...then I was diagnosed with gastritis

[cgauthie]

Thanks again for your insight.