I have Graves' disease, diagnosed last year. I'm currently taking 10mg of carbimazole per day. I had bloods taken on Thursday but don't have the results back yet. I suspect I need to reduce my meds further. For the last couple of weeks I've been feeling quite light headed, my limbs feel heavy, and I'm generally fatigued. I have low blood pressure and slow pulse and my muscles are quick to get tired. I feel like my cognitive processes have slowed too.
I also take Tamoxifen (I had breast cancer in 2016/17) which I'm due to finish up with in July! I'm longing for a day when I no longer need any meds! I've been reading Elaine Moore's website and she mentioned some herbal remedies for Graves' (Lycopus virginicus (Bugleweed), Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm), Leonurus (Motherwort), Skullcap). Then I looked on iHerb and I came across a remedy made by Herb Pharm called "Thyroid Calming". I'm wondering if anyone here has tried it and was it helpful? Perhaps I shouldn't take it as I'm taking carbimazole but it looks rather tempting. I'll post a picture of it for reference.
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MyNameIsAugust
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BTW, I realise that I shouldn't take this herbal supplement if my thyroid is under active as I suspect at the moment. I would wait until my hormone levels have stabilised again and then try this remedy to help me further reduce my carbimazole dose.
Having messed up my thyroid by taking a multi supplement I would advise anyone to only supplement with what they know they are lacking. And to only take a supplement when they know what the effect will be.Taking something and hoping was what started my hyperthyroid journey!
Hi August my name is Trisha ...lovelygraves I was on Carbimozole for 2 years10 mg for several months then 15mg for a few more months then 5mg for nearly a year .I put on a kilo a month so in all22kgs awful. good news i have been off carbimozole for over a year now thyroid normal lucky me And lost 15 kgsalready.
i would wait before taking thyroid herbs while on medication Wishing you good recovery Trisha
Your endo is unlikely to want you to be taking carbimazole for any longer than necessary, but self- supplementing with preparations which may have an anti-thyroid effect will make it difficult for them to monitor the effect of the carbimazole effectively. Add to that, the label of this product says which herbs it contains, but not how much of each, so your endo will be trying to adjust the levels of antithyroid medication you are taking, while at the same time you are taking a supplement with unknown quantities (which might change from one bottle to the next) of ingredients which may have an antithyroid effect.
There is quite a lot of info online about bugleweed and its effect on the thyroid, and much of it emphasises that while there may be an anti-thyroid effect, clinical trials have never been done. Some articles also note that if you stop taking bugleweed suddenly, it may lead to a rapid increase in thyroid levels.
Personally, I wouldn’t touch it - and certainly not while taking carbimazole.
Hi there Sorry I don't have answers to your questions but came across your post looking for advice on lemon balm also. I just wanted to ask though, you mentioned the heavy limbs, did your endo advise a reduction in meds and did you find this was due to high dosage?
I'm on different medication but am only double what I was previously and have very heavy legs which is worrying me, I have my endo appointment next week but just curious if this was the reason for you and if it got better?
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