Seeking Moms with a Hyperthyroid

Kelp, and brocoli are supposed to slow the thyroid down. Gluten could be a factor. I avoid all because everyone in my family is hypo but me. Keep searching for answers, doctors don't know all that much. Don't forget to breath.
I like this web-site. http://askwaltstollmd.com/

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a few years ago. My symptoms were significant weight loss, a goiter, very jittery, and trouble sleeping. Good luck at the doctor's office.

My son was diagnosed, shortly after birth, with VERY low thyroid levels. I was warned that this condition could make him abnormally small, but he was started on synthroid right away. Frequent blood tests now show that his thyroid levels are fine.

A.,
Great that you have found your source of the problem.
Please, please, please seek out all information about this and the levels you are at. Everyone is different and no levels are the same.
Get second & third opinion before removal or radiation iodine. Watch your levels for awhile and SEEK OUT HAVING A NUTRITIONAL TEST OR MUSCLE TESTS!

After my 3rd child, my chiropractor told me to have the blood test done for thyriod and wow was she right I had hypothyroidism went on meds, had ultrasounds and did fine, but last year I was up and down and all around with different levels of meds.
I had some NUTRITIONAL RESPONSE TESTS done and found out that I have an allergy to wheat/gluten that triggered most of my thyroid problems.
I am off medication have avoided wheat/gluten and changing to a vegetarian diet (trying to avoid sugar, my downfall). It is incrediable the change and how your body can bounce back.
Most dysfunctions with our bodies is due to changes or problems with our nutrition!
Please,Please,Please check out every avenue with this- you can always have surgery but can't get it back, but you might be able to sustain it and maintain with out meds!

Check out the Alternative Health Care Center at www.ahccenter.com, this is where I go.

Also this list is great:

THYROID: Hypothyroidism (investigate progesterone deficiency)
1. ALFALFA: good source of balanced iodine
2. LECITHIN: essential for thyroid hormone production
3. RAW PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT: essential for the formation of hormones; builds
glandular strength
4. VITAMIN C: essential for glandular health; speeds tissue healing & connective
tissue integrity
5. APPETITE REDUCITON SPRAY: helps detoxify
6. ZINC: essential for glandular health
7. B COMPLEX: essential for glandular health
8. VITAMIN E + SELENIUM: powerful free radical scavenger
9. CorENERGY (Ginseng/Cordeceps): for energy
10. CoEnzymeQ10: energize every cell
11. OPTIFLORA: for immune health

THYROID: Hyperthyroidism
1. RAW PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT: essential for hormonal balance (Shaklee Energizing
Soy
Protein, or Shaklee Instant Protein Soy Mix)
2. B COMPLEX: essential to nourish the hypothalamus gland
3. VITAMIN C: reduces degeneration of cellular tissue in gland
4. VITAMIN E + SELENIUM: powerful free radical scavenger - reduces degeneration
of cellular tissue
5. GARLIC: anti-oxidant for immune support; anti-inflammatory
6. CAROTOMAX: immune support
7. GLA: anti-inflammatory; immune support, aids hormone imbalance
8. OPTIFLORA: for immune health
FIND these products at www.shaklee.net/cook

Hi A.~

Hyper and hypo can really wreak havoc with your entire bodily system, which would include emotions and fatigue. I went through H-E-double-hockey-sticks for about five years ... seeing multiple doctors (including specialists) until I finally found someone who really knew what he was doing. Just because someone has M.D. after their name doesn't mean they know what they're doing, and I'll tell you what my [now] doctor told me: "What do you call a doctor who graduates at the bottom of his class?" ... the answer is: "Doctor."

If I could say nothing more, I'd tell you to go to http://thyroid.about.com/ and read, read, read!! Read about the symptoms and the varieties of thyroid disease. There's a checklist of symptoms you can review and there's also a "find a doctor" area, which is where I finally found my present doctor who gave me my life back!

Good luck!

A book you may find helpful is Hormones, Health & Happiness by Steven F. Hotze, MD. His website, www.hotzehwc.com has good info about thyroid disorders and a natural approach to treatment. I recently received a free booklet from his site called The Thyroid and Hormone Connection. It's good to learn as much as you can about different approaches so you can have a meaningful dialogue about your treatment options with your doctor.

Definately see an endrocrinologist and naturopath. I had a lot of the same syptoms and was misdiagnosed. It starts with your hormones! A saliva test will test your hormone properly. I started on Natural Progesterone cream and no longer have those issues and it's been 6 years. I have some great information I would love to send you. I battled these for 10 years before doing research and experiencing amazing results with the cream. This is actually quite common after having a baby because your progesterone levels drops from 200 mg to almost zero. You need 20-40 mg a day.
email me if you would like some more info. ____@____.com
There are some great books to read.

I have Grave's disease which is from hyperthyroidism. Before I knew what I had I was ALWAYS tired, no energy at all, my hands would shake like I drank a lot of caffeine, and my eyes would become very sensitive and would water up a lot. A lot of people think that hyperthyroid problems cause you to have lots of energy but a specialist told me that isn't so. Please let me know what happens and I hope I was helpful. Oh yeah, I now take meds. twice a day and I notice a difference.

--D. P.

Oh My so many things match...It sounds like me until I got mine taken care of...I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism after my first son and I went to our chiropractor which also prescribes natural remedies...I can give you the recipe if you would like...just message me....or you can go through with the DR and use medicine for the rest of your life but I tell you it isnt necessary....just let me know if you are interested....find a chiropractor that does kinesiology

Hi A.,

If you are having trouble with your thyroid, it is usually because of a poor diet over a long period of time, and some predisposition. Our thyroid is very important to the overall heatlh of our bodies and needs vegetables, good oils (like flax and fish oil - 1 tsp a day), organic foods and whole grains. Instant, processed foods make it hard for your throid to function properly. I wrote a book that will help you get started eating and feeling better. It's called "Shopper's Guide to Healthy Living". It's on Amazon.com. It takes only four hours to read, is written for busy moms and has tear-out shopping lists to help you remember what to buy and what to leave out of your diet. Good luck and let me know if you have questions!

In a different phase of life, my input may or may not be relevant as a 59 year old "Mom". This thyroid condition is also the opposite of mine, being hypothyroidism. Stress can bring it to life, and there is a chemical found in rocket fuel and jet fuel, called perchlorate that they belive is part of the epidemic of thyroid disorder around today. This fuel is dumped from time to time from planes and it gets into our ground water, multiplying our chances of contracting a disorder of our own. All my children have thyroid disorder, and the more you talk and discuss, the more people you will find have a disorder. Look into this on line and also ask your doctor. Medications are good to help, but still, it is part of the immune system. Good luck

Hypo/hyperthyroidism runs in my family, so I wasn't suprised to find out, 6 mos after the birth of my second, that I have hypothyroidism. All the advice that's been given seems very helpful. My advice also is just to be patient, get all the facts, and find out about all your options before doing anything permanent. My dad had hyperthyroid and had his thyroid "destroyed", and now has a hypothyroid, and yes, is taking medication for the rest of his life. Not that that is a bad thing, but if you have an alternative that might work better for you, you should definitely check into it. I am currently taking medication for my hypothyroid daily. I have bloodwork done every 6 mos to make sure all my levels are good and according to my endocrinologist they are. He also tells me since my levels are good any problems I'm having would not be due to my thyroid. He is the third doc to tell me this and I don't believe it for a minute! It's been 3 and a half years since I was diagnosed. I don't have all the same problems I had in the beginning prior to being diagnosed (hair loss, weight gain, excessive swelling, didn't sweat in humid 95 degree weather, moody, all kind of skin problems, brittle nails, and even a hard time concentrating and remembering things), but I do still have problems with my health that I didn't have prior to developing this. I talk a lot with my dad and he's been told by one of his doctors, that thyroid levels can fluctuate on a daily basis, regardless of whatever medication you are taking. And I know personally, as someone else mentioned before, that stress, exercise, and other factors can affect your thyroid levels even while you are taking medication to regulate them. This is the reason my endo has me do bloodwork every 6 mos. I was glad to read about a Nutitional Response Test. I've never heard of it and appreciate learning new info that could help. I'll be talking to my endo about it at my next appt. It sounds promising. Anyway, just remember, everyone is different and as long as you are patient and get all the facts, along with a supportive endocrinologist, you are the only one who can make the best treatment choice for yourself.

hi, i'm so glad you have an appt. next week. i have hypothyroidism and take synthroid. regardless of hyper or hypo throid conditions, the thyroid is responsible for pretty much every thing because it controls your brain chemistry, which dictates your moods, your energy, your metabolism, etc. i used to think i was crazy. i had no energy was depressed and lethargic, etc. and now i'm just normal tired. :) i probably waited to long, thinking i was just inadequate and a loser for not being able to "do it all." i was my own worst enemy.

A.,

I read the responses you received and there is a lot of good advice there. I wanted to tell you about the possibility of the adrenals being involved as well. I was misdiagnosed for decades. Finally I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue and am in the recovery process. Please make sure to have your adrenal levels checked, especially if you find you have tried other avenues and are stumped. Your irritability, shakes in the morning (likely a hypoglycemic reaction) indicates to me a possibility of the adrenals being an issue. Please keep this in mind and find someone who will do an adrenal test for you. Most doctors now are still not familiar with this diagnosis which is prevalent and highly underdiagnosed today.

Good luck...

Karen

I am so glad I ran across all of this information about thyroids. My doctor has been watching mine for the past year because there is a nodule on it. They asperated it once, but I think it's causing problems now. I have so many symptoms that I wrote off to getting older (only 31) and not having lost baby weight. What really got my attention lately is the memory, or lack there of! I also think it's really interesting to see the information about our environment and nutrition and how it may be contributing to it. Definitley worth looking into. Good luck A.!!!

Dear A.,

I am a mom who was also diagnosed as hyperthyroid after the birth of my now 15 month old. He was 8 months old at the diagnoses also. I was scared and confused and felt terrible, so I went on-line to see what I could find. I found the name of an author: MARY J. SHOMON who has written numerous books and on-line articles about thyroid disease. I ended up buying her book "Living Well with Grave's Disease and Hyperthyroidism." It was such a life saver (probably literally)! It was easy to understand and had so many resources and ways to go about fixing my problem. It talked about natural helps, homeopathic helps, medications, and radioactive treatments. My aunt and uncle both had their thyroids radioactively destroyed when they were young adults, but after educating myself, I decided to try other ways to deal with it. Both my aunt and uncle have had other serious health problems that I wanted to avoid. My endocrinologist told me there was no way for me to impact my thyroid function and that my thyrroid just swung in and out of normal range on its own. That didn't sound right to me. There HAD to be a reason why some hyperthyroid patients go into "remission" and others do not. I took tips from the book and began eating differently and taking care of myself differently. Five months later, my blood work came back completely normal. I didn't have to take any medication. Destroying my thyroid would only cover up the underlying problem that was causing my body to be unbalanced.

Also, just having a baby is so h*** o* the body. I was told that every time I get pregnant and have a baby, my thyroid will act up again (because of the hard work of filtering out my body and the baby's body's waste) and that I will have to work to get it back into remission. I know that now. Like I said, by the time my son was 13 months old, I was in complete remission. Give it some time.

The last thing I want to say is that someone mentioned the book "Hormones, Health, and Happiness" by STEVEN F. HOTZE. That is also a WONDERFUL book! I decided to get allergy testing a couple months ago after reading in MARY J. SHOMON's book that many people have underlying food allergies that help trigger their thyroid problems, and HOTZE also talked about the allergy link. I was tested and discovered I am HIGHLY allergic to wheat and nearly all grains along with nearly all nuts. When I removed those foods from my diet, my life COMPLETELY changed! I have energy I have never had before and my mood swings completely subsided. I can't begin to emphasize enough what a huge difference this made in my life. I wish I had thought to get tested earlier!

I am not trying to give you any "miracle cures," but being a skeptic myself, I was shocked to find that so many "little things" like allergies, could have such a profound impact. I completely believe you can be healed. Be your own advocate. Doctors are full of knowledge, but the truth is, if you ask your doctor, he will not be able to tell you why you have this problem or what you can do to fix or prevent it in your children. They are not trained in such answers. You have to look for them. I hope I helped and I wish you a great blessing in your search!

I was diagnosed at age 19 and I'm now 33. I had all the symptoms plus heart palpatations for many years before I diagnosed myself. I developed a goiter and when a friend mentioned thyroid I read up and was shocked to discover that I didn't have the worlds best metabolism(I ate like a pig and lost weight! I bottomed out at 140 at 6ft tall which is underweight.) and my heart palps weren't too much caffiene. I went to the ER with them one day and they clocked me at 193. After trying to regulate me with meds un successfully which I guess is common with hyper, I had the radiation. I have no thyroid now and am considered hypo and will be taking meds forever. I seem to go up in dosage after each baby and I now can gain weight easily if I'm not careful.While this is a bit of a bother, the alternative to the radiation ws probably death because it was affecting my heart. I agree with some of the suggestions about trying alternative meds before the radiation, but if you notice the heart palps coming on or your eyes start to bulge don't delay in getting it taken care of. Although it just seems bothersome now and not having to worry about gaining weight is kind of cool, this is a serious problem that can have serious cosequences if not treated. Best of luck.

I have had the same condition (Hyperthyroidism) and have been successfully treated for it for 12 years. It can be brought on by many differnt things. Mine is, and many cases are Graves Disease which is an auto immune disorder wherein the thyroid is attacked my the bodies immune system.
These symptoms ARE ALL associated with Hyperthyroid. The exhastion and lazyness stemming from your body working at such a higher speed then normal metabolically. The shakes, sensitivity to light, irritability, hair loss, mood swings, are all due to your thyroid being overstimulated by the messages it's being sent by your master pituitary gland.
Are you seeing an edocrinologist?
There are two treatments that are usually offered by most typical doctors, one being surgery to remove your thyroid, or radioactive iodine which will shrink it. When this happens you then BECOME Hypothyroid and have to take a synthetic hormone replacement as a daily supplement. You are probably now on a medication that slows your heatrate to keep your metabolism in check which is what your thyroid gland is in charge of.
Nowadays there are other alternatives to consider though, and I would suggest HIGHLY looking into alternative natural options as well as those suggested by your specialist and in conjunction with traditional treatments. It is possible, because doctors don't know what really causes this, that due to stress and other factors like diet, that your thyroid is acting up.
There are many books on the subject.
Check out the website for the American Thyroid Association for more info.

I have hypothyroid I discovered in July of 07 . We keep a book at home titled "Prescription for Nutritional Health" . I referenced it immediately. Began taking kelp right away and L-tyrosine as directed by this awesome book . I had more energy in a couple of days . I now include the recommended foods in my diet . I have chosen a natural route in my treatment as I am told that synthetics will only make the thyroid lazy and you need to support the Thyroid .
We also bought a water system from a wellness company , Nikken , to filter out the chlorine and fluoride in the water plus put minerals back into the water .This water system is incredible .
My accupuncturist also has me on some herbs .
I go for my first doctors appointment in March .I do believe that depending on the severity of ones condition not all treatments are for everyone . Shelley

Don't do the radiation! I wish I hadn't, I've never been the same.

Hi A.
I would suggest seeking out a homeopath to get your immune system/vital force back on track. My friend actually had graves disease (which is one step beyond hyper) and is curing it retroactively from going to a classical homeopath. Even her eyes and thyroid enzymes are back to normal! Took 3 years of working with her homeopath but she is back to 'normal'! Good health is a process and pharmceuticals don't work with the immunity, just get us through (which is beneficial at times). Hyperthyroid responds especially well to homeopathy, whereas hypo is slightly more challenging. So you're a good opportunity waiting for healing. Check out the National Center for Homeopathy for further investigation on finding a practitioner.! And, by the way, I've raised 3 children for 25 years just using homeopathy for their good health.

I had a temporary hyperactive thryroid as a result of being pregnant (post partum thyroiditis). It lasted a few months, but I had several bloodtests over the course of a year to make sure it wasn't permanent. Hyperactive gives you more energy & could cause you to loose a lot of weight & hypoactive makes you more lethargic & you can gain weight, among other symptoms. I know w/ hyperactive your systems are all basically on overdrive, and hypo is the opposite. The complicated thing is a hyperactive thyroid can turn into a hypoactive thryroid, & back again, so your symptoms can go from A to B to A, etc. I would definitely see an endocrinologist. If not corrected, being hypo can affect future fertility. I think it's common for this to occur temporarily as a result of being pregnant (b/c our bodies are out of whack for a bit), but a doctor will be able to tell the severity of yours by a series of bloodtests. Please note, with my post partum thyroiditis I did NOT have to take any medicine at all. DON'T RUSH INTO ANY REMEDIES UNTIL YOU'VE HAD A SERIES OF TESTS SHOWING IT IS A PERMANENT ISSUE. I saw 2 dr's, 1 wanted me to do the radioactive iodine treatment right away (can't breastfeed then!), the other (a woman) wanted me to wait for a few months. Thank God I stuck w/ the female dr. who wanted to monitor me for several months. You most likely do not have to jump into treatment b/c it could make a temporary thyroid issue a life-long issue.

Hi A.,

I am sorry you have to be experiencing this disease. Also, be very careful of who your endocrinologist is, research. Check out this website for a doctor near you, http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/
I agree with other's that you give it some time on meds and see if it levels off. My history, I was diagnosed after I stopped nursing when my son was 10 months old. Went to the Dr., he wanted to do radiated iodine, I didn't agree. I found another Doctor who has been treating me. What we have found is my thyroid levels are fine, the hormones put out by my pituitary are out of whack and there is no way of treating those. But my symptoms have also disappeared. So, I am not typical and was patient with my disease and feel great, with my thyroid in tact. Most Doctors will even agree with the fact that some of the endocrine system is very mysterious and little is understood about autoimmune diseases such as Grave's. Everyone is different. The more you research the better you will understand what is going on.

I wish you the best.

C. (____@____.com)

I am an nutritional educator for over 20 years. I have (hypo)-thyroid which is different than (hyper)thyroid. Hypo is when your thyroid is basically low, and not putting out the correct amount or not enough tyroid hormones. Most naturopathic doctors who work with the glands will never treat a thyroid issue without also treating the adrenal glands, which are 2 glands that sit on top of your kidneys. They also are your main stress glands and work together with the thyroid in many cases. It is harder to test for adrenal health and the test are expensive. There are many books out on adrenal health written by nutritionists and medical doctors.
the majority of Americans, experts conclude, have adrenal issues in todays hectic life where we do not rest enough, eat right, and are always putting excess demands upon ourselves.
Just some things to think about and blessings to you. It is tough to feel that way and be a mom with all that goes with it. I have known many men and women who were not able to get the thyroid medication regulated until support was given to the adrenal glands as well. There are many nutritional supplements that have been used for centuries for adrenal health as well as changing you diet and looking at life with a different perspective. Again, check out your local helath food store or bookstore for books on the subject.

My doctor diagnose me with Hyperthyroid last year. What has helped in me in addition to medication is changing my diet. I remove all meats from my diet and eat only fruit and vegitables, tofu and beans for proteins. Foods like cabbage, califlower, brussells sprouts, kale, mustergreens, turnip, ratabags, pears and peaches actually supress the thyroid producting harmone. I also increase my multivitamine, B-complex, Vitamin C etc to build my immune system. Get losts of rest and reduce the stress. There are more things that the natural cures suggest you may want to check it out. another thing that help me a lot was milk thistle extract for liver support to remove the toxins from my body and this really help me in the shaking of my hands and lowered my blood pressure. Yes irratibility and the things you describe I experienced them as well, but I dont have them anymore, My healing is going well; thanks be to God

About a year or so ago, I was diagnosed as hypothyroid and I was put on synthroid. Now I am pretty sure I am hyperthyroid because I get the shakes in my hands, I have terrible insomnia, my heart races to the point that he put me on a heart med to slow it down and I have horrible anxiety attacks. I have mentioned all this to him and he is convinced it's not my thyroid because my levels have tested normal. My problem is...I think my thyroid was low way longer than it tested low so why would it be so hard to believe that the blood test is not the best gauge. I really need to see an endocrinologist I think. Good luck at your appointment!
*****
EDIT ON 2/22/08
I am glad you posted a follow up because it gave me a chance to come in and edit what I wrote here. I have been having double vision for about a month to the point I can't even drive now and I just went to an eye specialist and they are pretty sure it's Graves disease. My thyroid tested high (big shocker) I just find it's so strange that a thyroid could go from naturally low to auto-immune disease related too high! I will get the right answers eventually I guess. It will soon be off to an endocrinologist I am sure. I am just now looking into my options for treating Graves disease so thanks for the update! It was really helpful for me to reread all of these responses considering I didn't know I had Graves when I wrote this!! Good luck to you!

Dear A.,
My daughter was very depressed and lacked enthusiasm. I took her to a doctor where they ran lots of blood test. It turned out her thyroid had "tanked" as the doctor put it and because of the low thyroid her cholesterol was way up. It was then that I noticed that her thyroid was swollen like a fat, flattish hard boiled egg in her throat. They prescribed medication but I wanted to see what natural cures were out there - I have a friend that says that every disease can be traced to a missing nutrient - Well what I found was that the thyroid cannot possibly function correctly without enzymes from fruits and vegetables. (See this website http://www.healthrecipes.com/low_thyroid.htm
) I immediately ran out and purchased the Vita Mix machine (Jack La Lanne) makes the same machine but in white for half the price but I didn't know that then. Anyway I started pureeing mixed berries, whole apple with seed, gapes with seeds, cactus, mixed greens such as collard and mustard, big hands full mixed baby salad greens, tomatoes, carrots, a whole orange,cabbage, bok choi and any other veggies and fruits I come accross at the grocer, yogurt, minerals from this source www.wateroz.com/madeinamerica4u
The results were astounding. We drank these drinks from mid Sept 2007 and returned for blood test January 2008. Her thyroid AND CHOLESTROL are perfect and her mood is wonderfully perked up. Most evident was her thyroid on her neck, which was no longer visible on her neck. Need I say more. The American dies of burgers and burritos was not giving her thyroid what it needed.

I see you've been given lots of good and varied advice. I just wanted to say that I was diagnosed with Graves disease Hyperthyroidism) after the birth of my first child and was strongly urged to get the operation. I wanted to get pregnant right away again so I chose medication which worked beautifully. I have since been told I never even had Graves disease. I have Hashimotos disease (hypothyroidism) which often starts by getting post partum hyperthyroidism. It's all very confusing and I still haven't got mine under control 8 years later. It seems fine for awhile then I start having symptoms despite my tests saying I'm normal. I go hyperthyroid sometimes and get shakes and very tired and hot flashes and panic attacks and more. I have never gained or lost weight in relation to my thyroid so not everyone experiences the same symptoms. I have trouble thinking straight sometimes and it makes it very hard to be the best mom and wife. Good luck. I haven't done so yet but I'm going to start looking into alternative therapies because I'm not getting very far being a yoyo!

you might postpone that appointment and try taking some pills of Bladderwrack or kelp- or get a mineral supplement like the one called Concentrace. Also google clay bath- this will detox the body of heavy metals ---bladderwrack and kelp Natural cource of IODINE and other essential minerals the food is lacking these days---if u cannot find these at a whole food store around you-buy them off the net. and i saw one response saying the pharmaceuticals take a while to kick in- i bet you notice the effects of the bladderwrack or kelp or Concentrace before the pharm. stuff- and the body can stop producing, with some of those pharma. meds, it's own stuff and become dependent on them i have heard. We do Not live in the clean environment our greatgrandparents did- our soils are depleted of essentail minerals and our waters are poisoned like the soil with chemials of the worst kind-so many 20-somethings are getting sick these days with stuff i saw in 50 year olds ONLY when i was in my 20's. vaccines, flouride,pesticide, Genetically modified plants and meats....
i have seen people do well with the kelp and bladderwrack and the concentrace has the kelp and is from sea or ocean water-lots of mineral---can't absorb vitamins without minerals-Best to You. ~p.s. you might ask Beth R. what meds she was taking that she was able to taper off of ~make sure your doctor knows you want to end up Not Taking Meds for this the rest of your life.

I had an over active thyroid when my daughters were little. When it was finally diagnosed it took a long time for it to normalize, perhaps a 9 months or so. I remember being so nervous and felt like I wanted to yell at my kids because my system was in high gear and then after 3 days of feeling like I was on a racing freight train, then I couldn't move off the couch. I couldn't speak or function for the first few hours of the day. I did feel like I was losing my mind sometimes. I would read the Psalms in the morning and after awhile things would start to take sequence and I could get up and do one chore at a time. It was a tough time and at the time I had no idea that how I was feeling was because of a thyroid condition. I just knew that I felt like I was going to lose it. Hopefully your doctor will be able to give you the medication you need. I do agree that I would seek chiropractic or naturopathic treatment. I can also offer you a nutrition product called Reliv. We are seeing people recieve a lot of help from these shakes. I have a business site on Mammasource for A.'s Optimum Nutrition. My info is posted there. A.

Yes that is normal how you are feeling because until you get medicated right for this it causes a chemical imbalance. So that is normal to get irritable and to shake and get tired . These are the sypmtoms of hyperthyroid. I have a family member with this so I can understand what you are going through.So hang in there and they will check your thyroid and see what level you are . They will medicate you and before too long you will be back in balance.

A.,

I have a step-sister with hyperthyroid, and YES! she gets irritable, and has very little energy, even though she is raising three beautiful little girls ages 3-15. I know hyperthyroid can have these, but there are always other things that can cause the same symptoms.

yes definitely all the symptoms are a sign of it. are you on meds for it now? you need to change your dose for sure. Get intot he dr. that definitely happens to me and i am mean too! you are not loosing it it is defintiely the hormones from your thryoid for sure! Just pleae get your blood drawn asap!
good luck
J.

I was diagnosed last year with Graves Disease/hyperthyroid. I thought nothing of the weight loss, rapid heart beat, being very active (more than usual). With hyperthyroid you should not be tired -- the shakes are normal though.

The only way they found my levels were off was when I was taking fertility meds and my blood test was off the charts!! Because of my age and my past medical issues (3 years trying to have a baby, tubal problems, damage from appendix burst, endometriosis) I chose to have my thyroid removed. I have never been happier with my decision. I am finally, after 7 months, at a "normal" level and we are trying to have another baby. If it doesn't happen in the next few months I am going back on fertility meds.

I hope you have a great doctor -- mine sure is -- it makes a HUGE difference when the doctor listens to your situation and is responsive to what YOU want to do with YOUR body!

Good Luck!

Hi A.,
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 1963 and have been on thyroid medication since that time. Then we did not have a specialized field of endocrinology, but was placed on thyroid medication with the removal of the thyroid gland. Even though the "T" tests indicated I was in a low normal range, they wanted to reduce the activity of the pituitary gland to stimulate the left lobe of the thyroid (there are two thyroid glands. When I first went on the medication I had a very hard time adjusting to the change, as the thyroid gland affects many aspects of your body. The medication dosage was reduced and then I was able to handle the drug and the physical changes.

You will have changes in your body with the meds. The thyroid gland is nothing to monkey around with trial and error stuff that people recommend. People are well-meaning, and everyone's body responds differently. What works for one person may not work for you. Seek the best medical advice and go from there, and follow-up on your tests.

D.
###-###-####

I had it after the birth of my 1st daughter. I would have no energy, be tired all the time, I would get a shaky stomach and hands, and I was moody. My levels were WAY off. I was on meds for 1 year.

Now that I have had another baby in August, my levels are off again, but just barely.....last time they were way off. So they are making me wait another month and then get another blood test to see where my levels are.
Good Luck.

I didnt see this postage till right now and I just want to tell you good luck mama! When I was 20 I went to the Dr because I was in a very bad car accident. Not ever seeing this dr. I didn’t know what to expect. Right when she opened the door she looked @ me with a smile that quickly faded. The first thing she said what do you have a thyroid problem. I didn’t even know what a thyroid was. So she examined me and sent me to an endocrinologist. That was when they took a biopsy and told me I had thyroid cancer. I ended up getting my thyroid taken out and now have to take a pill every single day. But let me tell you when I was 20 I was also over 220 pounds and very athletic, I was in volleyball, basketball, cross country and track and I could not shed any weight. When I had my thyroid removed and was on my medication I lost the pounds like nothing. Now I’m 25 and between 150 and 160. I say between because for some reason it has been hard for me to get the right dosage in my body my doctor does not know if its my body constantly changing or if it’s the medicine, so that is something that you should look for. If you are on your medicine and you all of a sudden see that you are loosing too much weight to fast (you might be happy) but see you doctor because you can get really sick. That also happens with weight gain you can wake up and be 2or 3lbs heavier and you will feel it. You will feel so bloated and fat its not even funny. Mood swings are also very sneaky they will still pop up along with your energy. I just hope you have more luck them I am having that’s all.
T.

It's actually a HYPO thyroid condition that makes you feel sluggish and lazy.Cranky and irrate. What a dreary way to spend the day!Believe me, I suffer the same aweful curse...LOL
Ive been on meds for a severe case of this condition and it helps considerably.Now, as far as the "oh don't take those pharm. meds." is concerned ,my friend, science has progressed to an amazing point. Don't be afraid to look into what God has blessed the human race with. Technology! New Meds that mimic the bodys own design. If your the earthy, natural, no this , no that, then by all means....have at it...just explore your options with an open mind... Hope you feel back to your good ole self soon!A lot of people seem to be referring to a hyperthyroid condition when in actuality it is a hypothyroid condition..so just be careful who's advice you take...you could be naively misled by someone who is not clear on what it is that they are giving you advice regarding...Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Thank you for posting this question. I have Graves Disease but am in remission right now. They were about to radiate my thyroid and thankfully, I leveled out right before the operation. I was so nervous to do this since I knew I would never have a functioning thyroid again. The doctor really scared me into thinking the only way to cure me was to eliminate it. How crazy is that!

After seeing all of these posts, it is encouraging that people had alternative solutions. If my thyroid ever bounces back up again, at least I'll know have some better resources. At the time, I was so scared and believed the doctor had to know what was best. Now I know I have other options.

I would like to encourage you to follow at least one of the previous posts advice and look into a chiropractor. I just recently started going and am astounded at how many ailments I've been dealing with that maybe wouldn't have surfaced at all.

After looking at my x-rays, my C7 vertebrae had been injured (years ago in college) and the C7 has nerves that directly affect your thyroid gland. It was about a year after that injury that I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid (It has changed thru the years and during pregnancy). I wish I had known this so long ago and could've avoided all the trauma that your body and mind go thru with this illness. If there is anything out of alignment in your spine, it can compromise other organs, tissues and cells. Chiropractors are actually very reasonable, especially compared to other specialists that I've gone to, and usually covered by insurance.

It is certainly difficult to make a decision different than what a doctor recommends but you have a lot of great advice from these posts. Good luck to you in your research. I'll pray that God will put the right people in your life to find the answers you need.

Hi - I have hyperthyroidism too. I gained nearly 100 pounds before I finally found a doctor that checked my blood & discovered I had it! (Bummer) I have very little energy usually, even though I am now taking medication for it. I have also been quite irritable. But the fact that you mentioned being shaky, that is quite an eye opener for me. I never realized that that might be due to the thyroid. Thanks so much for mentioning that. Glad to hear you're seeking medical attention. Getting that gland regulated is extremely important. Good luck.

A., There is an answer for you, and I would be most
happy to share this answer for you.

It certainly has helped everyone else. My heart goes out
to you in your experience of this situation.

My phone number is ###-###-####, and my email is ____@____.com name is G., and I am a working mother.
I would love to hear from you so that you can be helped.

It is, of course, a natural approach. One medical doctor
said "the discovery of this natural product will go down in history as being more important than the discovery of penecillin".

I know that I am a little late with this response, however I suffered from thyroid disease. I had my thyroid removed in November of 2007. It was causing me all kind of problems. My recommendation to you is to have it monitored by blood tests monthly until you know for sure that the medication dosage is correct. I was going from Hyper to Hypo. I have never felt better than I do now. Naturally, I had to get my medication correct after the surgery but now I feel normal. If you can ever feel normal. Smile

Best of luck to you. Make sure you are seeing a endocrinolgist.

V.

Yes, yes, and yes... I haven't read all the advice here, but I just wanted to tell you that all your symptoms are b/c of your thyroid. I got diagnosed with Graves after i had my daughter. They told me my three choices which are the surgery (removal) the iodine or medicine. P lease pick medicine first. Try it out and see how it works. If you do the other two there is no turning back and 90% you will end up hypo which you will have to take medicine anyways. If you take the tapazole or what ever else they prescribe you at least there is a 50% chance you might go into remision, that's what they told me anyways. I have been on medicine for a little less then a year. I started out with 40mg and now I am down to 12mg. So it's working. Good luck, and make sure you think about all your options first.

Yes, those could be symptoms of hyperthyroidism. I have Graves Disease & have had all those symptoms. It sounds like you're taking the right step seeing an endocrinologist. S/he will most likely do a physical exam (to see how your thyroid feels -- if it's enlarged, etc.) and check other physical symptoms (like a tremor, rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, etc.). The other thing is a blood test, to check your thyroid levels.

There are various treatment options, all of which have pro's & cons, that you should discuss with your dr. I take medication 2x/day, but you can also take radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid or have the gland removed altogether.

Good luck & let us know what happens!

G.

A.,
I too like all of the other moms have hypothyroid. A great book that helped alot and has become a great reference is "The Thyroid Solution" It is written by an endocrinologist. When all looks frustrating, this book helps. Best of Luck.

It sounds more like the traditional symptoms of hypothyroidism but like the previous poster said, it can be different for everyone. Good luck getting some answers.

A.,
Are you sure your blood sugar is stable and not fluctuating
up and down? That can cause tiredness plus the other problems.
R.
A.,
After reading all these responses I feel I should add to this. I know (from researching) that the pitutary, Thyroid, and Adrenials put out hormones in response to each other. The P. tells the T. then the T tells the Adrenal what to put out and then the Adrenal tells the P.
It is called a pathway. You need a hormone test that tests
all three. I think it is called tsch.
Also I would like to tell you about a Nutritional Product that I have discovered that is the best and I have tried a lot of them. It is Vemma which is an acronim, Vitamins, essential Minerals, Mangosteen, and Aloe. It is a liquid, bio-available, and you use only 2 0z a day. If you want investigate it go to www.myveema.com/rludlam
They have a good business oppertunity too if you are interested. They do 80% of the work for you.
Hope this helps you and you get well.
Another thing that I wish I had known many years ago is that coffee raises your blood sugar fast like sugar does and then drops it fast, but it eventually knocks out your Adrenal Gland. That also affects the blood sugar. I am now a diabetic.
R.

Visit a good Naturopath as well

A. I wish I had seen this before today it actually brings tears to my eyes reliving my ordeal with Graves/hyperthyroidism. It seems that finding out after pregnancy is very common, my son was 6 months old when I was diagnosed and when I went to the Dr. he was so ho hum about testing me. In fact, I diagnosed myself after reading an article about Gail Devers at another appt. I then went in and asked for the test. I was very irritable, my heart felt like it was going to explode at times it would be beating so fast and then go right back to normal, I had very dry skin, brittle nails and I was a royal b!@#h. I know my husband couldn't stand me at times because I couldn't stand myself or understand what was going on but it was so scary, especially when my heart raced. I just hated that feelin gof having absolutely no control over what was happening to me or what I was feeling. I lost a ton of weight, in fact, I'm 5'10" and my normal weight is 165-170. During my pregnancy I topped out at 165 and my son was born at 8lbs fortunately he was healthy. I was wearing a size 4-6 immediately after my son was born which I hadn't worn in years normal for me was a 10 which I was fine with. I checked into the treatment and did the radioactive iodine which meant my 6 month old son couldnt be around me for 2 full weeks. My sister flew to Cali picked him up and my husband and I slept in different rooms during that 2 week period, I couldn't spend anytime with him or my then 8 yr old. Well my youngest just turned 9 on the 17th of February, I just turned 42 in November and I am at 215 lbs. I have tried the meds and they weren't able to get me on the proper dose. Mving alot and changing doctors hasn't helped either. So I struggle everyday with my weight, I am still irritable alot of time, I still get night sweats which they tell me aren't from the thyroid problem HA!! They are so much worse just b4 my period, my skin is still crazy dry oh and did I mention, I can still be a royal b!@#h at times. So I will try another doctor and try to get my meds correct because it is frustrating to say the least. Since there are so many of us who have experienced this here in the Clearwater/Tampa area, maybe we should start a thyroid support group. But good luck A., definitely make sure you read up on it and check into natural options, my 1st doctor scared me so bad that I figured the radioactive iodine was the best way to go. So do your research and good luck again.

I know that you went to the doctor and he told you that it was your thyroid and I know that you are relieved and that is great! I wanted to post this because I had my daughter and 1 year later got pregnant with my son and had something called polyhydramnios. Basically it was my body producing too much amniotic fluid. My levels got as high as an 80 and I had to have it drained out of my stomach... anyways I feel as though the whole time it was my thyroid and if my doctor would have ran 1 simple test - this could have all been prevented. So if there is anyone who has poly and they dont know why then ask your doctor to run this test!

I had hyperthyroid for the last two years. Yes, it can make you irritable and shaky. Beware, it can take a long time for the drugs to kick in so you might not feel better for a while. I was HT for two years. It took about three months to get the meds regulated, after which I very slowly (over the course of two years) tapered the meds down and now I'm off the drugs completely. Good luck. Tell your family that it's not you, its just your body's chemicals, and that they need to hang in there with you as you get better. And you will get better. Believe me, if there's a chronic disease to have, this is the one. Treatment is relatively painless (compared to diabetes for example), and the consequences aren't too bad (compared to asthma).

Good luck!

The posts are wrong....HYPO thyroid makes you tired, weight gain, cold, hair falling out, confused, lethargis. HYPER is an overactive thyroid (Barbara Bush - eyes buldgin), weight loss.....

You need t3-t4-TSH uptake tests are also important. Many times with HYPO thryoid - you can be diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis....

If you live in the Laguna Beach area - seek Dr. Gabrielle O'Connor's help. She's at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach - is one smart smart woman....former Chief of Staff of the hospital....

I had my thryoid removed 4 years ago....had my child at age 37 - and was diagnosed one year after. Had Hashimoto's, regular thyroid scans and had a pesky nodule that looked suspicious.

I am a holistic person - did not vaccinate my daughter and tried everything I could to cure Hashimotos...but its an auto immune suppressed disease where my body is attacking my thyroid gland.

Mary Shoman was writing her book when I met her and I submitted my testimonials and other information along with others to her..

N. C.

I all so have what is called graves disease and have had it for about 11 years. It does do all that and do you finde your self feeling like you are having a panick atack when you lay down beckase your hart is racing ? It will come and go . think twice before doing radio active treatment . finde out all the info first . I all so teach dance I teach Belly dance 4 nights a week . my husband works in the day it works out nice no baby sitters . Good luck Jody

I just wanted to let you know; my sister had hyperthyroid and she went to a nauropathic doctor. She was able to cure it just by going on a special diet for a month or two. If you decide you don't like medication, it's something to consider.

Hi A.,
It sounds as if you have found a temp. solution to your problem to get things back in order. I think a question you could ask yourself is 'How am I going to get to the root of this problem?'
I am a health coach and have learned that a contributing factor to an overactive or under active thyroid has dietary connections and can benefit by enhancing your nutritional status from eating lots of whole foods, ie. fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds and grains. Did you know our food pyramid recommends that we consume 7-13 raw fruits and veggies everyday to achieve this goal? If you are opened to further info about a simple solution that could help please let me know and I can share the info!
Best of health, L.
____@____.com

Hi A. P. I don't have the disorder but I went through the symptons, diagnosis process, and med adjustments with my cousin. The symptons you are experincing are not in your mind. I watched my cousin get the shakes long before she was diagnosed. She would go to work and sleep (that's it). She was on and still on an emotional rollercoaster ( partly because she didn't like the side effects of the medication and stops taking it). Don't give up hope...hear what your doctor has to say.

There is a strong link to problems with the thyroid (in fact the whole endocrine system) and exposure to electro pollution which comes from cell phones and other electronic devices. WiFi in the home is like bringing the cell tower inside. You can go to this website where there is lots of information about the problem and what we can do about it in the form of protection.
Since this is a pollutant which is virtually undetectable it is easy to ignore. There is a strong link to electro magnetic radiation and autism and it is interesting to note that the rise in autism corresponds with the introduction and 'advances' in the cell phone technologies! I have links to many studies if you are interested in more information.

http://protectkidsfrom.emf411.com

There is a link to another site where you will find more information about the products themselves.

Wishing you the best,
In health,
C.

Hi A.,

I'm glad you went to your Dr for a diagnosis. Legally in the United States only a Licensed MD can do that. Now you need to do all the research you can. Look at the natural/alternative approach before you make any decisions you can't take back. Medical Doctors nutritional training is very limited and most won't tell you to change your diet. Many people have food allergies/intolerances that are undiagnosed. Eat a natural diet with as much organic foods as possible. Wash all fruits and vegetables that are not organic. Keep a food diary and pay attention to the foods that make you feel worse then avoid them for two weeks and see if you feel better. Your body can tell you what it needs and doesn't tolerate if you listen to it. When I talk about natural foods I'm talking about the way foods grow in nature. I've never seen a soda pop tree or a candy bar tree. Fruits and vegetables are the foods our body are designed to run on. You also want to invest in a good water filter system. There are many things added to our water today that shouldn't be in our water.

I hope this helps!!

L.

A friend of mine, single mom of two teenage boys, found out she had Grave's Disease about 5 years ago. Then I found out I was intolerant of wheat, possibly gluten intolerant. I told her. We discussed symptoms. She had a lot of similar symptoms. She gave up gluten products. She felt a lot better. She ate a wheat cookie, was exhausted the rest of the day and just plain did not feel well. She went back to eating a gluten-free diet. To make a long story short, she was able to get off her thyroid medication pretty quickly. She did have a problem with her thyroid a long while later (2 years?) when she was going through a stressful time. She had to take medication again. After the stress was gone, she was better. Don't know if this might be what is causing your thyroid problem. If not gluten, possibly something else?
If you try it, you'll need to check in with your endocrinologist for blood work to be sure your levels are good if you feel like you don't need the full dose of medication.
Good luck!

A., I am glad you have gotten a diagnosis. Let me share my story with you and hopefully it will show you there is light at the end of this long tunnel. My story began 15 years or so ago. I was 4 months pregnant with my second child and very sick. My heart raced all the time I ate a ton of food but yet was loosing lots of weight. I had horrible hot flashes and I shook all the time like I was freezing. I couldn't walk across the room without being exhausted and out of breath. My doctor I think thought I was making it up until I came in for a checkup and my heart rate was through the roof I was 4 1/2 months pregnant and 85 pounds. I was diagnosed with Graves disease and my husband was told that the baby and I would probably not make it through the pregnancy to get everything in order. They put me on meds to slow down my thyroid and it stoped hers. Tiffini was born by c-section 1 month early and weighed 7lbs 11 oz. She was gaining over a pound a week that last month. Now the good news 15 years later she is healty and strong. I opted for the iodine and killed part of my thyroid. There really wasn't much choice then and went on the synthetic thyroid hormone. It took about 3 years to get me regulated and the right dose of meds. But it can be done you have to have a dr. you trust and that will listen to you because you know your body and how you feel better than anyone. If your dr is not listening to you find another dr. I will tell you that what I have found through the years is that once you have an autoimmune disease you are likley to develop another. I also have rhumetoid arthritis but technology and medical research is advancing so rapidly that there is always hope. Enjoy your children and your husband and life. It can all change in a heartbeat. Remember there is always hope and if one person wont listen just keep moving till you find someone who will.

My email is ____@____.com If you ever want to talk to someone who has been through it drop me a email.

N.

A.,
Have you heard of MonaVie? It is a 19 juice blend featuring the Acai Berry from the Amazon Rain Forest. MonaVie is full of phytonutrients and antioxidants to help you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Many people are receiving amazing health benefits from drinking this juice. This is a proactive approach to boost energy, vitality, and alertness through nutritious and delicious means. Please check out my website to learn more about MonaVie. If you are interested I can tell you personal stories about me, my daughter, and other family members including a sister with hyperthyroid that are benefitting from drinking this juice. Sincerely, T. W. www.mymonavie.com/tameraw

i have the same problems. what did you ask your doctor while you were there?

go see a good endocrinologist. t3 and t4 levels can affect how the brain of an unborn child develops. i'm hypo-thyroid and have been seeing dr. luis rodriguez for 3 yrs now and think he is great.

http://www.hormoneproblems.com/LRR_bio.htm

Hi A., I wanted to give you one more piece of advice I haven't seen on here. :) I too am going through this for the 2nd time. I have Graves antibodies, as well as Hashimotos anitbodies, but I seem to have the symptoms of Grave's Disease. Had it before pregnancy. Went into remission during pregnancy (with help of combination of natural remedies, energy healing, regular meds (Tapazol) and heavey metal (Mercury, Lead, Arsenic) detox). Now it's back 3 months after pregnancy, I think brought on again by stress, as it was the 1st time.

I've learned a couple new things this time around. One woman told me her link turned out to be an overgrowth of Candida in her gut. Now I'm seeing a naturopath who believes and sees a strong link between the gut and Grave's in her practice. It makes perfect sense to me since Graves is an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune issues are caused by diet or stress, so I hear.

So, I'm now pursuing the gut issue. I'll be doing a GI Health Panel Test with my Naturopath. Allergies to gluten and dairy are in my family, as are thyroid issues, so my own gut tells me this will be the link for me.

This naturopath also uses true Iodine Therapy (not radioactive) to treat Grave's with great success. I'm looking into this.

Just check out the gut/Grave's link, as well as the Candida link before you make decisions you can't reverse.

Best of luck!

Hi A.! I have hypothyroid, so I know exactly what you're talking about. How long have you had the hyperthyroid, when did they diagnose you with it? I remember that before I was diagnosed, I experienced everything that you are. My mom has it as well,and she finally told me to have it checked b/c it runs in our family. Well sure enough. I found out when I was pregnant with my now, 5 yr. old boy. When you go to the doctor, if they prescribe your medicine, make sure you always take it b/c otherwise you will feel the ill effects of it. Trust me I know. I hope this helps.

E.

I just found out that I'm having thyroid problems. But instead of meds I am being treated naturally. I had no idea what was wrong with me I felt so lethargic...like a ball of lead. I nap in the day go to sleep early at night and still feel like I've never slept. A simple visit to my chiropractor told me what was going on, she scanned my spine, muscles and nerves and found that I had many miss alignments. I will eventually be back to normal after I see her a few times. It will take a few visits to get back to the way I'm supposed to be, and regular monthly visits will keep me straight. All this without out meds to add more to my plate. Most insurance companies will cover this, I can't answer all your questions but if you go to www.advancedhealth.topchiro.com maybe you can get more answers. Our spines and nerves and muscles are all attached and when were not properly aligned be it from stress or just overtime the daily physical toll we encountered we can face health issues. Hope this helps. P.S. I was also very irritable with no explanation.

Hi A.! Hyperthyroid doesn't make you lazy it makes you hyper! It's hypothyroid that makes you lazy. I don't know about the shakes or irritability though. My daughter has hypothyroidism and she is very irritable. Hope this helps at least a little bit. Good luck to you!

Read about Graves disease before deciding to take any radioactive pill to destroy your thyroid, it can be a side affect of doing that. I have hypothyroidism and sometimes I get a thyroid storm that caises me to swing hyper. It really is important to go see a specialist like an Ears nose throat DR to monitor your thyroid growth and an endocrinologist to monitor all of your thyroid levels and he/she should be able to find out if there is any other imbalance which often there is.

I don't have a hyperthyriod, but my daughter-in-law does and your symptoms sound exactly as hers DID. She is on medicine and a diet now. She had one other symptom and that she had thinning hair. She's been on the meds now about 6 months and is doing much better, so there is hope. Good Luck!

Hi I was just reading your post and I have a lot of the same symptoms. I get the shakes really bad and I am also irritable.
I have been on zoloft for 8 months for post pardom depression. I had my thyroid checked when I went on it and it was fine. Had you been checked before? Any info you have for me would be great. It's not fun feeling this way.

Hi A.,

You sound like the perfect person for this product! My friend was having the same problems as you plus a couple other health issues as well. Anyway, she went to www.maxgxl.com/maxmagic and tried MaxGXL. It worked! And it worked FAST! The first thing she noticed was within 2 days her memory was much better and she didn't need her notepad! Also her shaking had stopped. She just kept improving with all her health issues. She told me to try it too. I'm VERY glad she did! I have a brain injury and shake a lot. Plus, my balance is NOT very stable. Within an hour I was able to write with my right hand and it was legible! I've noticed lots of other improvements myself too! I'll never stop using MaxGXL!

Please check it out and see how it will work for you!

N. R.

Hi A.,

I am a registered dietitian and yes these symtoms are possible.

What are your eating patterns like?

I would recommend you do a 3 day food diary. Document those times of the you feel these symtoms. Also, documnet everything you eat and the times of the day.

T. Hall
www.prohealthviews.com

Hi A.,

I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism or Graves Disease a year after having my daughter. I did tons of research on the internet and knew more about it than my regular physician. I started out trying vitamin cocktails that didn't work at all. Wanting to have another baby and not knowing the real effects on the rest of my body from radioactive iodine I opted for medication. I was on propylthiouracil (PTU) for three years. This is the medication of choice for use during pregnancy and I took it throughout my second pregnancy with no problems. There is a substantial possibility that your thyroid will regulate itself after being on this medication for 2-3 years. I have been off of the medication for about a year and a half and my thyroid is fine. I was seeing Dr. Anthony Morrison (Endocrinologist) at USF and really liked him. Just wanted to share my story. Good luck.

I just turned 80. About a year ago I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Yes, you can expect to be irrit-able,lethargic,and tired all the time. In addition, I developed a sleeping problem: I can fall asleep without difficulty, but awaken in about 2 hours, have a hard time getting back to sleep. This goes on throughout the night. Also, had a problem with diarrhea.

Finally was treated with radioactive iodine. 2 more blood tests are needed to know if I've been cured.

Hang in there!!!!

R. B.

A.,
I have had a thyroid problem for years, and at one point my former doctor put me on Paxel because he thought I was depressed. I finally had a blood test done and found out that I had thyroid problems and I take Synthroid everyday and it helps. Unfortunately, your thyroid function changes and so you will need to be checked out often to make sure the medicine is working. Be sure to talk with your specialist about using a generic version of Synthroid or Synthroid if you start with one, be sure not to switch because they have different chemical components and can really mess your system up. I of course found this out the hard way, I don't take generic Synthroid ever!!
J.

A.,
Yes, what you are experiencing is part of the hyperthyroidisim. I had it years ago, but didn't get diagnosed until it was much worse. Please be sure to keep your appointment with the specialist before it gets worse.
When you are having a hard time, remind yourself why and ask God for strength to overcome. He will give it. L. C

Just seen the post today, wish I had earlier. I was diagnosed w/hyperthyroid after my first child. Tried medications to regulate and could not get it under control. Did the radation (pretty much just kills the thyroid) and am now considered hypo. Will have to take Synthroid everyday for the rest of my life. Not a big deal just a little pill at bedtime. It is though important as to what time you take your thyroid medication for it to work. I have no problems, just a blood test every six months now, down from every two weeks when this first started. Very important to monitor closely is pregnant.
Good luck!!

Good work!!! Sometimes just listening to our bodies we realize something is not right!
I have a thyroid problem...it was bad and then it was gone after having my son 3 years ago....Now I am on meds again...I could tell by my mood and my weight gain I was heading down the same path again! I get my blood work done every 6 weeks to keep me in check.
We do not realize how much our thyroid plays a role in our bodies...
Hang in there, with the right medication you can work through this.