new member

[Guest guest]

Hi , welcome to the group! You have come to a really good place here.

My story is online here: http://www.webmosaics.com/thyroid/ - I've pretty

much taken the alternative approach to this. There are lots of good links on

it at the bottom right. One is www.ithyroid.com which will help explain how

vitamin and minerals can help with some of the symptoms. It works for some

people, it really helped me in the beginning.

:)Pam B.

new member

I would like to introduce myself. My name is and I have recently

been diagnosed with Graves disease. This group was recommended to me by a

member whose web page I ran across while looking for information on Graves

disease. I have been dealing with my symptoms for several years which until

recently have been written off by doctors I've seen as emotional or made up.

I was so glad to finally find a cause for my symptoms, although now I have

to decide what to do about treatment. For now my doctor has put me on

propranolol to control my blood pressure and palpitations although I am

finding it isn't doing much for my other symptoms like sleeplessness. I am

hoping that by hearing what choices others have made an how things have

worked out I will be able to decide on which route of treatment would be

best for me. I am looking forward to being a part of this group and getting

the information and support I need in dealing with this.

-

~For Excellent Educational and Children's Books ~visit my site below:

http://www.ubah.com/D1226

[Guest guest]

!

I'm really glad you decided to join. This really is a great place and

there are so many here who have so much knowledge.

I think you may have read on my website that I went with PTU and

achieved remission after about 14 months. That's the treatment I

chose. ATD's (antithyroid meds) You will see people here refer to

ATD's and RAI (that another treatment) radioactive iodine.

Most memebers here have opted for ATD's or have bad luck with RAI

here's the file on why *not* to have RAI

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/graves_support/files/Top%2020%20Reasons%20RAI.txt

Here's also the symptoms list in full:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/graves_support/files/SymptomsList.txt

Always good to keep an eye on that..as there may be some symptoms in

there you didn't know were thyroid related.

Also, start keeping track of your labs, get copies and file them. You

may need to determine yourself at what point you feel really really

good.

Sometimes our doctors need some coaxing to meet our individual needs

and your knowledge about yourself and this disease is the best weapon

for that.

Again, Welcome!

I am so glad you're here.

Val

(the other Val)

[Guest guest]

Zelinski wrote:

>

> doctors I've seen as emotional or made up.

Hi ,

I'm sure this is a group none of us would be joining if we had

the choice, but you are very welcome, and I've found it helpful.

The doctors don't dare tell us men we are emotional - so they

call it stress - and still overlook your thyroid

> I have to decide what to do about treatment. For now my doctor has put me on

propranolol to control my blood pressure and palpitations although I am finding

it isn't doing much for my other symptoms like sleeplessness.

Propranolol won't address the other symptoms, it is mostly to

protect the heart.

Probably the best way to improve other symptoms is through

antithyroid drugs, the commonest of which are Tapazole and

Carbimazole (which is used depends largely where in the world

you are). Longer term you could consider surgery or radioactive

Iodine treatment, but the drugs offer a significant chance of

remission, which has to be better than destroying a vital organ.

Whilst there is some evidence that taking the antithyroid drugs

can impact the effectiveness of the RAI treatment slightly, this

is probably due to it reducing the output of the thyroid. If you

later stop the drugs a good period prior to RAI and eat a low

Iodine diet, it is likely the RAI will be just as effective.

Besides I see RAI as a treatment of last resort, surgery is more

effective and safer from what I have read.

If I were you I'd be bashing the doctor's door down asking;

" Is there any reason not to start Tapazole today? "

" What is your opinion on 'block and replace' therapies for

Graves? "

Advice in the UK is to alway refer new cases of Graves to an

endocrinologist, but Graves is relatively common, and the good

qualifications don't always make a good doctor. So I guess I'd

say if you have any doubts about your doctors experience with

this disease get referred to specialist.

In my case I started Carbimazole the day the diagnosis was

confirmed by blood tests, I later had surgery (but relapsed 6

years after), and am beginning to think I might have been wiser

sticking with the dug treatment.

Simon

PS: About 10% of patients have " significant eye involvement " ,

you didn't say if you are one. Any problems with your eyes?

[Guest guest]

OK, here's my question:

Do doctors just ignore the need for ATD's in hope their patients are so

miserable they'll acquiesce to RAI easily, or is there some other more

sensible reason to start someone on a beta blocker without bothering with

ATD's too?

Terry

>

> For now my doctor has put me on

> propranolol to control my blood pressure and palpitations although I am

> finding it isn't doing much for my other symptoms like sleeplessness.

[Guest guest]

I don't think that GP's feel that they are able to prescribe ATD's without

the patient having a consultation with an endocrinologist. My GP did the

same thing... put me on beta-blockers and then arranged for me to get in

with an endocrinologist at the earliest possible date. What surprises me

with some of the new people that I have seen post recently is the length of

time that they have to wait for that first appointment with an endo. I was

literally rushed to an endo within the next couple of days, and I don't

believe that my symptoms were as bad as some of the newbies here.

Take care,

Katy.

Re: new member

OK, here's my question:

Do doctors just ignore the need for ATD's in hope their patients are so

miserable they'll acquiesce to RAI easily, or is there some other more

sensible reason to start someone on a beta blocker without bothering with

ATD's too?

Terry

>

> For now my doctor has put me on

> propranolol to control my blood pressure and palpitations although I am

> finding it isn't doing much for my other symptoms like sleeplessness.

[Guest guest]

Shoshannah,

I agree with you on this matter. I think it is very important to wait until

weight loss is stable before getting pregnant. I got PG 3 months post-op and

would have waited if I had a choice in the matter , but I also believe

everything happens for a reason and God had different plans for ME. This

pregnancy has definitely not been easy and been full of stress that I

probably wouldn't have if I was 1 yr post-op. My advice would be to

definitely wait until weight is stable in order to ensure a healthy

pregnancy. Sorry if I have stepped on some toes as well.

Jana

RNY 04/02/02

EDD 04/04/03 Isaiah Riley

Pre-op wt 258

Current wt 155

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Nicky!

This is a great group. I'm sure you'll get lots of support here.

Blessings,

Jordan's SAHMommy

( in California)

new member

Hi everyone my name is Nicky and I'm a 32 yr old extremely overweight

mum to a 4 yr old boy. I am in the process of checking out lap ban

surgery sometime this year. I am so happy to have found this group as

(sorry for you all but good for me )as you will be able to help me

out here. The one thing that was putting me off the surgery was TTC or

the lack of ability. I wasn't sure if you still could TTC, if that

makes sense. With the initial emails I received the FAQ were fantastic

that is such a great idea. I am actually suffering from secondary

infertility so I'm hoping that the weight loss does help with

conceiving again. I do not want to go through anymore fertility

treatment I've had enough of it.

Anyway I'm babbling. Oh yeah I'm in Australia.

Look forward to getting to know you all

Take care

Nicky

[Guest guest]

Hi! My name is Marjorie and I just joined the list today. I'm a little over 3

months post op Open RNY. Surgery was on Jan 22nd of this year and I think I

might be pregnant. I started out as a lightweight. I was 5'7 " 264 lbs. and I

have lost 65 lbs so far. I only have about 40-50 more to lose. I have one son

names Tristan that is 3. When he turned a year old we had started ttc and I was

unable to get pregnant. I rarely mestruated and never with out something to

induce it. Well in Aug of last year, the month I decided to go forward with WLS

I got pregnant. Only 3 days after finding out I was pregnant I miscarried. After

that I had a period in Oct. and then not again until after surgery in Jan. Since

Jan I have not had another period. I just took a pg test today that came up

positive. I still have thoughts in my head that the test could have been wrong

although I think HPTs are pretty accurate especially when they come up positive.

I plan on retesting tomorrow with a different brand test to make sure its

positive. I'm not really too worried cause I know that I'm not the first one to

get pregnant this soon after surgery. I just hope that everything goes OK and

that I can have a healthy baby in nine months. I would like to hear of others

that have gotten pregnant early post op and how everything has gone for you.

Thanks in Advance,

Marjorie

1/22/03

264/199/150

maybe pg