Graves + seizures

[Guest guest]

I just started working with a 29 y/o male diagnosed with Graves 1.5 years ago

after a rapid decline in health, with what appears to be episodes of seizures

of slow onset (10-15 minutes) of gradual whole body muscle contractions,

beginning with tingling in the hands and feet which can leave the patient

paralyzed for about 30 minutes then completely exhausted for several days after.

Not all " attacks " are this severe, some he describes as charlie horses of the

body or cramping in his feet such that he can not pick his feet up. Estimated

attacks are 1 x month over the last 1.5 years. His GI symptoms and weight loss

stabilized when going gluten free and his thyroid labs are now WNL after taking

PTU, however he continues to have excess fatigue, dry eyes, insomnia, anxiety,

diarrhea, nausea and these ongoing " attacks or seizures " . There are time his

wife has to spoon feed him because of the complete muscle exhaustion. Until

recently he has been on medical leave, however with the normalization in his

labs he has had to return to work part-time. Previous work-up includes MRI, CT

and basic bloodwork (CBC, ferritin, Comp Met) which seem to only indicated the

Graves. He works a minimum wage job at Home Depot, does not have health

insurance and feels targeted due to his poor health from his boss. His history

is significant for major trauma in his teen years - mother attempted suicide,

ex-girlfriend intentionally got pregnant & sister's lies lead to 5 years pt

kicked out of the family.

He appears to be a kind, gentle and sensitive individual with a supportive wife.

Given lack of funds, I have started him with the BTG's, anti-inflammatory diet,

100% gluten free, probiotics and magnelevures while I wait for medical records.

I plan to repeat thyroid labs (TSH, fT3, fT4), check Comp Met, CBC, UA, ANA,

CRP, ESR and cortisol.

Any thought or insights welcome.

Thank you!

Deborah Nixdorf, ND, LAc

Northwest Health & Healing Center

1515 NW 9th St

Corvallis, OR 97330