BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Thyroid Health Hashimotos/Graves & the in between

I have "heard" it is typical for some of us to go from Hashimoto's to Graves as I have, but what do I put on my emergency medical form?? I had Hashimotos, and now have Graves.....I saw my endo 2 days ago, and was taken OFF PTU after 2 months because I leveled out again. ....I have moments during the day when I can feel very woozy, weird, just ill....I'm not enjoying it, and now understand why people decide they just want their thyroid killed off...I hate to do that because it is such an important gland. It's confusing when you fluctuate from hypo to hyper, etc. What diagnosis do I use to explain my condition?? Autoimmune thyroiditis?? THANKS! :-)

If concidering having RAI, I can't stress enough to have your adrenals tested first. I have been going through a living H--- because of being placed on thyroid replacement hormone without being tested for low adrenal function. I started with Graves and now have Hashimoto's, along with adrenal insufficiency. It's been 2 1/2 years and I'm still trying to cope with the effects. If it wasn't for xanex, I doubt that I would still be here. The best test for your adrenals is a saliva test. If your dr. won't order, you can get your own (cost around $150), through CanaryClub.com. Believe me, you won't regret it. I wish I had known this and saved myself and my family a lot of stress and anxiety.

Hello. I am actually NOT wanting to do RAI although it is the only option my endo. has brought up (big surprise-not) I was only on PTU for 2 months which leveled me out again (w/a supressed TSH of course)I have heard it's best to try giving the ATD's a longer go for a chance at remission. Is that your opinion too? If it gets to the "I need to destroy this" point, I will elect to have a thyroidectomy over RAI. I asked my endo. to test my adrenals and they ordered an A.M. cortisol (nothing else) I won't have that drawn for another 4-5 weeks though. I am a divorced mom and can't really afford a saliva test like the one you mentioned, but I appreciate the info. very much. This has been a hellish journey for me. I am only 39, and feel ill daily. This week has been especially bad. I work full time and they have already spoken to me once about all my Dr. appt.s. It's tough to "look" normal and feel like you are dying. I saw my eye doc yesterday (haven't had any eye involvement yet) and he had me look up at the ceiling. He said my right eye is sticking up more than my left and he wants to see me in another 4 weeks. I got in my car and cried. I have never been a cry-er! If I didn't have my son, I would be totally at peace with just going to heaven now. I know that sounds drastic, but that's the place I am at. Thanks for listening. Stacie in Calif.

Stacie,

Your medical ID bracelet including "autoimmune thyroiditis" sounds like a good idea because in an emergency situation they would know to include thyroid blood labs.
I agree with the thyroidectomy over RAI if your Dr. opts for thyroid removal after giving time to get your thyroid levels stabilized but that is just my fellow-patient, non-pro opinion. I base that on the risks RAI can pose VS those of surgery. Both carry risks however and I would be sure to be thoroughly informed about both by the surgeon if that time comes.

S2long,

It is good to see you aboard on the forum! I also appreciate your comments about adrenal testing because not many Dr.s test adrenal function anymore, due to full blown adrenal insufficiency (most is caused by Addison's Disease) being rare. I feel however, that people with serious tyes of sub-clinical adrenal dysfunction (adrenal fatigue/exhaustion) are at risk for it progressing to full blown adrenal insufficiency if they experience another serious stressor like surgery or traumatic events.
JFK experienced Addison's after being shot down as a fighter pilot in WWII. He apparently had low adrenal function to begin with and the traumatic stressor progressed it to full blown. I also read recently in Dr. Mark Star's book "Hypothyroidism Type 2" (I'm soon to write a review of), that JFK also had hypothyroidism.
More Doctors should be testing adrenal function, especially in patients who already have another endocrine disorder, since they tend to co-exist/overlap in some patients.