[catman1975]

Well looks like I have Grave's disease to add to list of conditions.

Anybody have experience with thyroid conditions? What are the meds like, what can I expect when being treated?

I am sure all of these questions would be answered by my doctor but it will be several days before I get back there and I'm dreading yet another condition that needs to be treated with meds I probably can't afford and who knows what side effects from them.

But I have read that if it is left untreated it can result in congestive heart failure, which I have seen happen to people and looks like an awful way to die.

So I'm wondering what awaits me in terms of treatment, medication expenses, side effects ...

[Little Lulu]

I had Graves in 2000. I had a relatively mild case so I chose to take a beta-blocker to protect my heart, anti-anxiety meds, and rode it out. I never took RAI or anti-thyroid meds (I am not saying this is the right course for you ... just my story). Within a year I became hypothyroid and have been on Synthroid since then. It was a very tough year in terms of feeling bad and anxious but I feel good now.

Only very extreme cases, left untreated, are likely to develop heart failure. You can PM me if you have any questions. (((Hugs)))

[catman1975]

Did you gain weight from the medication? Others are reporting weight gain. If the meds cause weight gain I will not take them, for any reason. I quit several other of my meds because of this it's not the kind of help I need, treating one problem and causing another. After as much as I gained this winter, heart failure sounds better than gaining more.

[Little Lulu]

I only took a small dose beta blocker so I did not gain weight. Some of the anti-thyroid meds do cause weight gain due to slowing down the overactive thyroid. I had lost weight with the Graves so it was a welcome weight gain, believe it or not!

[catman1975]

Well, perhaps I will give it a couple of weeks and see if it works. But if the weight gain becomes a concern, I will put it in the round file right along with the antipsychotics and the other drugs that were causing weight gain.

[Moose72]

I have underactive thyroid and take meds for it.

[Mikeyboy]

I take 175mcgs for a non-working thyroid. My doctor suspects I had hashimoto's disease. The few months prior to when I finally went to a Dr. and got diagnosed were very rough, I felt like a 95 year old in a 27 year olds body. Doctor said I was very close to myxedema coma and heart failure by the time I saw him.

Best of luck to you. It's amazing the kind of havoc a small gland can cause.