Symptoms associated with Graves/PTU or unrelated?

[Polly04]

Hi, I’m hoping to get some advise re my husband’s symptoms. He had Graves Disease for 2 years and originally on Carbimazole but switched to PTU after experiencing small bone arthritis in his hands. PTU has been very effective and he has worked his way down from 150mg to 50mg daily. There is talk of him stopping altogether soon as his levels are within normal range. However he is presently experiencing muscle pain/breathlessness/sore throat/head aches. Endocrinologist and GP say it is not related to PTU and have arranged for a series of blood tests to be done.

My question is: has anyone experienced or heard of these symptoms with Graves’ disease/PTU or is it totally unrelated?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When were vitamin levels last tested?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.

Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with Graves’ disease

What vitamin supplements does your husband take

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or vitamin levels

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[Lora7again]

It sounds like he is getting side effects from the drug I think he may need to stop it for a while. He should see his Doctor and discuss this with him as soon as possible.

Here is a link about the drug

medicinenet.com/propylthiou...

[Valarian]

muscle pain, sore throat and breathlessness can be symptoms of Graves' itself (eg if thyroid levels are continuing to rise).

However, they can be symptoms of many other things too. It would be worth asking why the medics are so sure the symptoms aren't thyroid-related,