I can't take this anymore Options

[frozentundra]

This may be too late in coming but there are a few other things to consider with RAI. If the dose is not strong enough it can be a temporary fix and if the dose is too strong (my case) it obliterates the thyroid entirely and one is completely dependent upon T4 or another replacement therapy. There is a treatment that has been used I believe either in the Orient or Europe where T4 is used to suppress the overractive thyroid gland until it resumes a normal function.

The success of this therapy depends largely upon finding your triggers. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder where the antibodies attack your own thyroid gland. There is a reason for that. Something is triggering this autoimmune reaction and in my case, it was undiagnosed celiac disease. Had I (and my affected sisters) been diagnosed PRIOR to middle age, we would have likely avoided thyroid disease. One of my sisters developed goiter and Hashimotos while I developed graves. She had thyroid suppression treatment and I had RAI. Hashimotos is the stage that occurs PRIO to full blown graves. If you catch it in this stage, it is easier to treat. At any rate, look for underlying food or environmental allergies.

Contemplate your lifestyle. Are there any food allergies in your family? Environmental allergies? Do you eat an organic diet? Do you exercise regularly? Do you get plenty of sunshine and fresh air? Pure water or are you drinking tap or bottled? Do you live very near power transmission stations or have stepdown transformers near your workplace? Do you smoke or drink heavily? What sort of regular drug protocols have you been on? Its what you do or are exposed to on a DAILY BASIS that triggers and supports the autoimmune process. I have read that certain viruses can trigger an autoimmune response but unless that virus is harbored in your body, it should not create a disease process. Do you ever fast or do cleansing procedures? Do you live in a high stress relationship or environment?

Pray and contemplate over these things seeking answers. Try to find an endocrinologist who is familiar with thyroid suppression therapy using T4. This will ONLY work if you remove the autoimmune triggers simultaneously. It will only buy you time to make the necessary changes. RAI or surgery are radical but very effective approaches. I have known MANY people who had RAI and NONE that devleoped an eye problem after it...only before it. Is menopause a sufficient trigger to provoke graves or hashimotos? Not on its own but in combination with other significant stress factors, YES. There are foods you can use to help suppress your thyroid production naturally. Try them. This will include soy and soy protein drinks, cabbage, broccoli and any cruciferous vegetable. By just drinking a soy shake twice a day you may help simultaneously stabilize your thyroid and female hormone levels.

But in the meantime, take the meds. I doubt you will want to be on the present thyroid suppression protocol for a long time. Its hard on the liver and I don't think people feel well on it, none that I have talked with anyway. If you cannot find your autoimmune triggers, you will eventually choose between RAI and surgery. I have known people who had surgery and others who chose RAI. Young people generally choose surgery as there is some concern that RAI can shut down the ovaries and perhaps affect the eggs. I had the highest dose of RAI they give outside of cancer and it shut my ovaries down for a year...no periods. But I also underwent a very difficult recovery period as I was deathly ill with Graves and actually experienced thyroid storm. My periods were restarted by an OBGYN with clomid, also not fun. But it worked. It took ten years to get my T4 dose regulated and I had to self regulate and find the right med. Not every T4 is right for every person. This was a long and difficult struggle that felt very lonely to me at times.

I cannot take T3 and will not use a pork based product so the natural meds were out of the question. I am also a fast converted. So I have to use a smaller dose of T4 than many people and have to take it with FOOD which is listed as a NO NO! When they talk about this new protocol of taking ALL your T4 for ONE WEEK at a time I think its nuts. But there have been NO reported cardiac events associated with doing so. Since heading into the pause, I get thyroid rushes as my T4 converts in the gut. I can FEEL IT. Most people would say thats nuts. But I had celiac for forty years so my digestion works a little differently than those who were not affected with a serious digestion problem.

This winding tale is only meant to offer suggestion not direction. For direction, use prayer and seek the advice of MANY experts in this field. I feel better since going on the celiac diet than I have my entire adult life prior to that time. I urge you to get to the bottom of your autoimmune process and see what happens to your graves disease. Stay on your meds until you have a professional protocol in place you are satisfied with...you don't want to experience thyroid storm!

[SKEEWEEAKA]

This may be too late in coming but there are a few other things to consider with RAI. If the dose is not strong enough it can be a temporary fix and if the dose is too strong (my case) it obliterates the thyroid entirely and one is completely dependent upon T4 or another replacement therapy. There is a treatment that has been used I believe either in the Orient or Europe where T4 is used to suppress the overractive thyroid gland until it resumes a normal function.

The success of this therapy depends largely upon finding your triggers. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder where the antibodies attack your own thyroid gland. There is a reason for that. Something is triggering this autoimmune reaction and in my case, it was undiagnosed celiac disease. Had I (and my affected sisters) been diagnosed PRIOR to middle age, we would have likely avoided thyroid disease. One of my sisters developed goiter and Hashimotos while I developed graves. She had thyroid suppression treatment and I had RAI. Hashimotos is the stage that occurs PRIO to full blown graves. If you catch it in this stage, it is easier to treat. At any rate, look for underlying food or environmental allergies.

Contemplate your lifestyle. Are there any food allergies in your family? Environmental allergies? Do you eat an organic diet? Do you exercise regularly? Do you get plenty of sunshine and fresh air? Pure water or are you drinking tap or bottled? Do you live very near power transmission stations or have stepdown transformers near your workplace? Do you smoke or drink heavily? What sort of regular drug protocols have you been on? Its what you do or are exposed to on a DAILY BASIS that triggers and supports the autoimmune process. I have read that certain viruses can trigger an autoimmune response but unless that virus is harbored in your body, it should not create a disease process. Do you ever fast or do cleansing procedures? Do you live in a high stress relationship or environment?

Pray and contemplate over these things seeking answers. Try to find an endocrinologist who is familiar with thyroid suppression therapy using T4. This will ONLY work if you remove the autoimmune triggers simultaneously. It will only buy you time to make the necessary changes. RAI or surgery are radical but very effective approaches. I have known MANY people who had RAI and NONE that devleoped an eye problem after it...only before it. Is menopause a sufficient trigger to provoke graves or hashimotos? Not on its own but in combination with other significant stress factors, YES. There are foods you can use to help suppress your thyroid production naturally. Try them. This will include soy and soy protein drinks, cabbage, broccoli and any cruciferous vegetable. By just drinking a soy shake twice a day you may help simultaneously stabilize your thyroid and female hormone levels.

But in the meantime, take the meds. I doubt you will want to be on the present thyroid suppression protocol for a long time. Its hard on the liver and I don't think people feel well on it, none that I have talked with anyway. If you cannot find your autoimmune triggers, you will eventually choose between RAI and surgery. I have known people who had surgery and others who chose RAI. Young people generally choose surgery as there is some concern that RAI can shut down the ovaries and perhaps affect the eggs. I had the highest dose of RAI they give outside of cancer and it shut my ovaries down for a year...no periods. But I also underwent a very difficult recovery period as I was deathly ill with Graves and actually experienced thyroid storm. My periods were restarted by an OBGYN with clomid, also not fun. But it worked. It took ten years to get my T4 dose regulated and I had to self regulate and find the right med. Not every T4 is right for every person. This was a long and difficult struggle that felt very lonely to me at times.

I cannot take T3 and will not use a pork based product so the natural meds were out of the question. I am also a fast converted. So I have to use a smaller dose of T4 than many people and have to take it with FOOD which is listed as a NO NO! When they talk about this new protocol of taking ALL your T4 for ONE WEEK at a time I think its nuts. But there have been NO reported cardiac events associated with doing so. Since heading into the pause, I get thyroid rushes as my T4 converts in the gut. I can FEEL IT. Most people would say thats nuts. But I had celiac for forty years so my digestion works a little differently than those who were not affected with a serious digestion problem.

This winding tale is only meant to offer suggestion not direction. For direction, use prayer and seek the advice of MANY experts in this field. I feel better since going on the celiac diet than I have my entire adult life prior to that time. I urge you to get to the bottom of your autoimmune process and see what happens to your graves disease. Stay on your meds until you have a professional protocol in place you are satisfied with...you don't want to experience thyroid storm!

Thanks for the information Frozen. Can you tell me what does a thyroid rush feel like in your gut! My sister has been having problems, she has a slight heart problem along with untreated goiter that returned after RAI...which confuses me! I'm wondering if that is what she is feeling... My thyroid is on the hyper side as well, both she and mother had theirs removed...I'm wondering if that is why the soy shakes used to help me!


Best Wishes,

TJ

[frozentundra]

Hi

I learned most of this info from a nurse who had graves and underwent RAI and could NOT get her T4 to adjust properly. First of all, if you are having T4 conversion problems you might want to start taking selenium. This is good if you are just beginning on T4 also. It helps it to convert more smoothly. If you cant get your thyroid into the normal range, try that as well as amino acids taken twice daily. You would have to avoid the goitrogens including soy.

If you are a fast converter, your body takes the T4 pill and begins to assimilate it IMMEDIATELY. The drs and endos will tell you this is impossible. Your gut assimilates the T4 and begins converting it so quickly you get tachycardia. Its a terrible uncomfortable feeling and can also include palpitations. It usually happens fifteen to 25 minutes after taking your thyroid pill. The stomach begins overpumping acid and your heart rate speeds up, pounds or palpitates. This can cause what feels like severe indigestion or angina. I used oatmeal to slow down this faster conversion problem. It helps but does not always resolve it.

I have tried separating the thyroid pill into sections and taking it throughout the day. That resolves the conversion issue but I feel dragged out all day. I tried taking the thyroid at night or towards evening when my metabolism is low. That resolved it fairly well but I felt dragged out all the time. So when I read about this new protocol of taking a weeks worth of T4 at once, I begin to wonder what would happen to a fast converter. Would their body read that overdose and not overconvert or would they experience a cardiac episode? I for one, do NOT care to find out.

It may be better to take my thyroid without food and that may resolve this issue entirely. I did that when I was younger but got those massive headaches where it feels like a twenty pound weight is sitting on your head. Thats why I began taking it this way to begin with. I used to write the thyroid companies research depts and tell them to create a slow release thyroid. But that would only work for T3. That would not work for T4 because its uptake and assimilation are different.

So, I don't have an absolute handle as to why some peoples bodies overconvert T4. You can slow this process down by taking zantac one hour prior to the med. Drs and endos will scream if you tell them because they state you will not properly absorb the meds. I think you have to find a way to handle the medications you cannot live without in your own fashion. Keep testing the TSH every 90 days as you experiment with taking your T4 until it levels. When it has stayed in the normal range ( 1-3.) for six months, then retest with the full thyroid panel to see how the uptake and conversion is really going at that point.

You can have a totally normal TSH reading and be high or low on T3 or T4. As an overconverter that has a sensitive digestive process, I cannot take T3. That sends me into angina immediately at even the lowest dose. I don't need it as my body converts T4 extremely well. I take 3/4 of my current dose of thyroid and I take it with food. My dose is .088 and I weigh 114 lbs. By cutting the pill in 3/4 - 7/8 it ibecomes precisely the amount prescribed in the kg/lb conversion chart. They round T4 off to a nearest dose but you cannot get it exact and the experts tell you a little extra does no harm. Says THEM. They should be ME! I have to cut my pills to an exact grain amount and if it is a few grains over or under I know it within an HOUR. I feel it in my eyes and my overall energy level. They will tell you THAT is impossible also.

And so we, THE IMPOSSIBLES thrive by doing the UNECESSARY to achieve the RIDICULOUS - GOOD HEALTH!

[SKEEWEEAKA]

Hi

I learned most of this info from a nurse who had graves and underwent RAI and could NOT get her T4 to adjust properly. First of all, if you are having T4 conversion problems you might want to start taking selenium. This is good if you are just beginning on T4 also. It helps it to convert more smoothly. If you cant get your thyroid into the normal range, try that as well as amino acids taken twice daily. You would have to avoid the goitrogens including soy.

If you are a fast converter, your body takes the T4 pill and begins to assimilate it IMMEDIATELY. The drs and endos will tell you this is impossible. Your gut assimilates the T4 and begins converting it so quickly you get tachycardia. Its a terrible uncomfortable feeling and can also include palpitations. It usually happens fifteen to 25 minutes after taking your thyroid pill. The stomach begins overpumping acid and your heart rate speeds up, pounds or palpitates. This can cause what feels like severe indigestion or angina. I used oatmeal to slow down this faster conversion problem. It helps but does not always resolve it.

I have tried separating the thyroid pill into sections and taking it throughout the day. That resolves the conversion issue but I feel dragged out all day. I tried taking the thyroid at night or towards evening when my metabolism is low. That resolved it fairly well but I felt dragged out all the time. So when I read about this new protocol of taking a weeks worth of T4 at once, I begin to wonder what would happen to a fast converter. Would their body read that overdose and not overconvert or would they experience a cardiac episode? I for one, do NOT care to find out.

It may be better to take my thyroid without food and that may resolve this issue entirely. I did that when I was younger but got those massive headaches where it feels like a twenty pound weight is sitting on your head. Thats why I began taking it this way to begin with. I used to write the thyroid companies research depts and tell them to create a slow release thyroid. But that would only work for T3. That would not work for T4 because its uptake and assimilation are different.

So, I don't have an absolute handle as to why some peoples bodies overconvert T4. You can slow this process down by taking zantac one hour prior to the med. Drs and endos will scream if you tell them because they state you will not properly absorb the meds. I think you have to find a way to handle the medications you cannot live without in your own fashion. Keep testing the TSH every 90 days as you experiment with taking your T4 until it levels. When it has stayed in the normal range ( 1-3.) for six months, then retest with the full thyroid panel to see how the uptake and conversion is really going at that point.

You can have a totally normal TSH reading and be high or low on T3 or T4. As an overconverter that has a sensitive digestive process, I cannot take T3. That sends me into angina immediately at even the lowest dose. I don't need it as my body converts T4 extremely well. I take 3/4 of my current dose of thyroid and I take it with food. My dose is .088 and I weigh 114 lbs. By cutting the pill in 3/4 - 7/8 it ibecomes precisely the amount prescribed in the kg/lb conversion chart. They round T4 off to a nearest dose but you cannot get it exact and the experts tell you a little extra does no harm. Says THEM. They should be ME! I have to cut my pills to an exact grain amount and if it is a few grains over or under I know it within an HOUR. I feel it in my eyes and my overall energy level. They will tell you THAT is impossible also.

And so we, THE IMPOSSIBLES thrive by doing the UNECESSARY to achieve the RIDICULOUS - GOOD HEALTH!

I am having a conversion problem and so I do take selenium and kelp which seems to be helping me. My sister on the other hand, I believe, needs to find someone to treat her goiters as opposed to the wait and see approach. Especially, since she is having heart problems now! Finding a good doctor it seems is nearly impossible that wants to do anything that isn't by the book...especially the protocol that you mentioned. I'm sure they would look at me as if I had two heads on my shoulders, but I guess that would be nothing new !


Best Wishes,

TJ

[restless in NJ]

Thanks for all the info everyone..

I am on meds as of now.I still don't know if I should take RAI my Dr is not
pushing it He said I should try meds for a year. So all I can do is pray this
all works out...

[Ted79]

Hello! I would advise you are not thinking about bad, but anymore to listen good news, socialize with interesting people. And to drive from yourself brown thoughts. Due to your positive setting, your illness can quite abandon you. Will see here, only make attempt!

[joyceveronica]

Thanks Carol I am at the research stage still don't know what to do
I see My Dr on Thur.. Thanks for the prayers I need all the help I can get..
xoxo

Dear 'NJ'
Lots of Prayers coming you way my dear.I do not know a lot about Graves Disease but I read somewhere that Barbara Bush suffered from this condition and had very bad emotional and mental symptoms.She was going through Menopause at the same time.She went on medication and now well into her eighties is very healthy and spry.

I wish you all the best when you see your Doctor on Thursday.
Please keep us Posted.

Warm Hugs
Elizabeth

[restless in NJ]

Dear 'NJ'
Lots of Prayers coming you way my dear.I do not know a lot about Graves Disease but I read somewhere that Barbara Bush suffered from this condition and had very bad emotional and mental symptoms.She was going through Menopause at the same time.She went on medication and now well into her eighties is very healthy and spry.

I wish you all the best when you see your Doctor on Thursday.
Please keep us Posted.

Warm Hugs
Elizabeth

Thanks for the prays Elizabeth

My blood work came back and it is improving nicely so
I will stay on the Meds until hopefully remission..
I am feeling great and looking forward to our vacation
in Aruba..We leave Mother's day can't wait to relax on the beach
I really need this one

Hope You all have a Happy Mother's Day!!