To:New Member

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

You certainly have had a tough time!! Just for the record - there are many

people who have been on meds for many, many years. I was on PTU for 4 years

and another person on this BB has been on your med for 20 years. It depends

on the doctor. Regarding your eyes, use preservative free eye drops such as

REFRESH to keep your eyes lubricated. Also sunglasses outdoors is extremely

helpful.

You need a baseline exam with an ophthalmologist. Some of us have thyroid

eye disease (TED) that usually stabilizes once your thyroid is stabilized.

I know you're frustrated. I was a nut case for over two years. I was

diagnosed in 1996.

You'll probably notice eye pain, memory loss, disorientation, lack of

coordination, and being tired. Please stay in contact with this bulletin

board - there are lots of folks that can answer your questions or just

listen when you feel like venting. Take care, Mona

New Member

> Hi. I am a new member and was diagnosed with Graves in October. I am a

> 37 year old female. I went into the hospital with an arrhythmia and

> heart rate of 260. With drugs they were able to bring my heart rate

> down. My blood pressure was also high. One doctor in emergency held his

> ground with all the others and said that he thought it was a thyroid

> problem. The others thought it may be a drug reaction to the blood

> pressure medication I was put on the day before. I had a red rash that

> covered my body.

>

> I spent 4 days in hospital and was put on Propranolol and Methimazole.

> After 3 weeks my family doctor thought the Propranolol wasn't working to

> lower my blood pressure. It was still 180/80. She put me on Diovan.

> Right away the rapid heart rate returned, so she put me on both Diovan,

> Propranolol and Methimazole. I finally saw an endocrinologist, after

> waiting a month (I didn't even get to see one in the hospital, as he

> never showed up!). He thought all I needed was Propranolol and

> Methimazole., but said to stay on Diovan also.

>

> Then a week later I saw the same cardiologist I saw in emergency. I

> hadn't seen him since I went in to emergency. He thought I should have

> never been put on Propranolol or Diovan. But to stay on the Diovan and

> he added Tenormin. So now I am on Diovan, Tenormin and Methimazole.

>

> As soon as I started on Tenormin, my eyes started to get sore, dry and

> tired. I never had any trouble with my eyes before. My family doctor

> didn't seem to be concerned, but through reading I found it is a symptom

> of Graves and I should be using hydrocortisone drops. That made a bit

> of difference. The my family doctor decided that the Diovan wasn't

> effective enough, so she doubled my dose. I feel exhausted all of the

> time. I haven't returned to work since October as it takes all I have

> to manage my 3 children and a household.

>

> The endocrinologist said he would see me every 4 months, and I can stay

> on Methimozole for 2 years..no more. The cardiologist gave me an

> echocardiogram and everything was fine with that. He had me wear a 24

> hour heart monitor, and 3 weeks later, I have yet to get a report back

> from that. I don't know if he wants to ever see me again. My family

> doctor has scheduled me wear a 24 hour blood pressure monitor on January

> 7.

>

> The last report on my thyroid, which was in November, said my T3-2.1

> (normal range 1.0-2.3--In hospital I was 5.5) and T4-170 (normal range

> 55-155--In hospital I was 326). My heart rate is usually around 60-70

> now, and my blood pressure ranges from 150/60 to 176/80.

>

> I am feeling so frustrated at being so tired all the time. I sometimes

> think I am being over-medicated. I am starting to gain back the 20

> pounds I had lost...that is frustrating in itself!!!!!lol!

>

> Any feedback and advice would be appreciated!

>

> Lori

>

>

>

>

>

>