Meds

[Nonna-56]

Newly diagnosed & endocrinology still trying to get me stable on 20mg carbiminazole. Should I spread the dose hyperthyroid & am really struggling with insomnia

[Lalatoot]

Can't remember! I was on 40mg so maybe you are needing an increase. I used to lie in bed with 1 earplug in listening to ipod. Helped me drift of or just lie.

[Nonna-56 in reply to Lalatoot]

Hi, thanks. I shall give it a go.

[Lora7again]

I am hyperthyroid or I should say I have Graves' which is now in remission. Read my profile and you will see what I have been through over the last 10 years ..

[Nonna-56 in reply to Lora7again]

Thanks for the reply. It sounds as if you have really been through a tough time. My hyperthyroidism was an incidental finding. I actually have atrial fibrillation and my heart rate was running at 147 and wouldn't stabilise. Eventually after a 5 day hospital admission I was discharged home on medication to stabilise my AF and 10mg carbimazole. After 4 weeks my TFT's came back grossly abnormal so my dosage was upped to 15mg. I saw an endocrinologist 3 weeks later and my bloods are no different from August so I am now on 20mg which I started yesterday. I am still having problems with my AF but I know it is my thyroid causing my biggest problem at the moment. The sleep deprivation is insane and has prevented me from returning to work. Sorry for the long winded reply.

[Lora7again in reply to Nonna-56]

I can't sleep more than 6 hours a night at the moment so I have been ironing and wrapping xmas presents! I stopped working when I got this disease because I felt so ill.

[Lora7again in reply to Nonna-56]

It is early days with your medication I'm afraid it will take weeks to work.

[Nonna-56 in reply to Lora7again]

Thanks so much, I appreciate your replies.

[Coconutty]

Hi do you know your FT4 and FT3 levels? Make sure you are being dosed on those and not on TSH. It’s a good idea to start keeping a file of all your results, and perhaps mark against each one how you felt at the time. Trust me this will be invaluable info later down the line. I would definitely split your carbi dose to better match the half life, this is something Elaine Moore recommends. You can keep it simple and do 10mg morning and 10mg evening. And just give it time.

[Nonna-56]

Yes, my dosing is based on my FT4/3. Good idea to keep a note and I will split the dosing equally. Thanks very much for message.

[pennyannie]

Hello Nonna

It's also important to try and keep your core strength strong and stable. Your metabolism was running very fast, though now with the anti thyroid medication, you might have been slowed down, maybe too much.

Either way, your nutrients may now be low and this in itself will compound your unwellness. Ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D all need to be optimal in the ranges for any thyroid hormone to work, whether your own or that which is supplemented.

As mentioned the Elaine Moore website is all things Graves for all Graves sufferers.

Graves is an autoimmune disease, and your thyroid has become the victim of an attack by your own immune system. The thyroid is a major gland so when it is under attack from you own antibodies the symptoms experienced can be alarming, confusing, and not necessarily related.

Graves tends to thrive on stress and anxiety, so I know this may sound silly, but try not to worry, learn how to relax, cut yourself some slack, and start reading up, as sadly this seems to be a poorly understood auto immune disease.

I'm with Graves Disease, diagnosed in 2003 at 56, RAI 18 months later ( which I deeply regret ) and now manage Graves ( lingering symptoms ) plus thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism.

[Nonna-56 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you