Hyperhyroid in Hoston

[Guest guest]

I was recently diagnosed (in April) with hyperthyroid and live in Houston. The

endocrinologist was surprised that my heart palpitations and chest pain didn't

happen all the time. Before and after I took Propranolol, it usually happened a

couple of times a day and each time lasted a few minutes. The most time it had

happened was five times a day. I had a day or two where nothing happened. How

about your experience?

I don't have a family history of thyroid or other conditions. Also, I suspected

that I got hyperthyroid because I was eating six packages of dried seaweed (5 g

each pack) for about six to seven months mostly Monday to Friday since last

year. It all happened last August when I ate some dried seaweed and my eye

sight seemed to improve. My eye doctor said that if my eye sight got improved,

then maybe that's a nutrient my body needs. Since then I started to eat 6

packages of dried seaweed at work each day. However, the endocrinologist and

family doctor didn't think that the dried seaweed (iodine) contributed to my

problem. I also ate a lot of pineapples during that period.

Since I started to take Methimazole a couple of weeks ago, the symptoms of heart

palpitations, frequent bowel movement, tremor.....all are under control. I am

going back to the endo for a second appointment in June. What would be some

important questions to ask? I know that each time blood work is required. But

I don't know if it is going to be done before or after the appointment.

Also, I have not done the thyroid uptake and scan test yet. The reason is

because we did a lung catscan when I started to have heart palpitations and

iodine contrast material was used. It was from the lung catscan that the doctor

saw my enlarged thyroid. So the diagnois of hyperthyroid was actually by

accident. We had done blood work twice to confirm that it was hyperthyroid. In

addition, I had the Fine Needle Biopsy done for I have two nodules (1.4cm and

1cm on each side). The result was benign. Meanwhile, I have to wait 6 to 8

weeks after the lung catscan to have the thyroid uptake and scan. The earliest

I can have this test is in June. There's no telling if the endo will send me to

do this test since I only visited him once so far.

I have always been healthy and am learning a lot since the onset of the heart

palpitations. Some people online are saying that aloe vera gel is good for

hyperthyroid. I am afraid to try because the last time I saw someone said that

she could eat marshmallow under hyperthyroid. I bought and ate some but seemed

like it caused my heart to act up while I was sleeping.

I am hoping some of you may enlighten me since I am single and don't know anyone

who is in the same boat. Thanks.