Graves' Disease and Mitral Valve Prolapse

I was trying to figure out why I have such a hard time exercising with GD and also, why I get extreme headaches after doing so. I used to work out super hard and never get headaches like I've had the last 1.5 years. I know it could be attributed to dehydration but my urine isn't indicating that:)

I have other symptoms like my heart feels like it skips a beat, sleeplessness, sensitivity to caffeine, and chest pains. Well, a little research shows I may have mitral valve prolapse which is connected to autoimmune diseases like Graves' Disease. There's nothing I could do about it but if that is the case, it's good to know. I know doctors must hate self diagnosers but there is just so much info on the web now.

I see my endo at the end of the month so I will ask her about this. One of my doctors had detected a heart abnormality before but I did not take notice because they didn't seem concerned. I can't even remember what it was. I feel like my level of safe exercising is maybe running 3km. If I have a football game or run 5km, I have a headache that makes me want to vomit for about 12 hours. Not really worth it!!

Oh boy. Fun doesn't stop around here:)

One Year Later

So. Here we are. One year after it all began. How do I feel? I feel pretty good! I feel like I've reached 90% of normal Louise. It's hard to know what to contribute to working too much and having two monkeys running around and being 32 but I think that if I had a normally functioning thyroid, a few things would be different.

I just take 50mg PTU in the morning. That's it! Sometimes if I'm going to be doing something stressful or running around a lot, I might take a beta blocker. Maybe once or twice a month, that's it!

What things are still affected the most?

1. My neck is sensitive. If I piggy back the boys, they need to hold onto my shoulders. Even having a sheet on my neck is uncomfortable. The thought of a turtle neck makes me shudder.

2. Insomnia. It's not too bad (dare I say?!). I now fall asleep by midnight 5 nights a week and the other two nights I fall asleep somewhere between 1-3am.

3. Weight. I am a good 10lbs heavier than I should be. Why? My metabolism changes constantly AND I am unable to exercise like I used to.

4. I have muscle weakness but it's not too bad. I'm still `normal' in the strength department but I used to be quite strong:) I don't know that I could carry a 40lb pack and hike for 5 days. That makes me sad.

5. I wake up feeling like I'm shaky but I just take my pill and I'm good to go!

6. Some random coronary artery spasms but they usually only last a minute or so.

The upside of Graves' Disease?

I can work til 11pm each night, no problem!!

Goal?

So, I really want to run 5km this year. I have the Run For the Cure in a month and I have to run the whole thing or I will be so disappointed in myself. I ran 4.7km a month ago and I'm trying to run here and there. So yes, I will run 5km on Oct. 3rd. No choice. I'm so glad I got my half marathons in when I did because I don't know how I could do them now!

Thankfulness? I am thankful that this is all I have. I am thankful for drugs. I am thankful for a diagnosis. I am thankful for an understanding husband. I am thankful that I can work from home.

So, to anyone that is newly diagnosed with Graves' Disease, it gets better, I promise!! But, you have to take time to get better (like, don't work) and you need to eliminate stress. See your endo. Take your medication faithfully. Get your blood tests monthly. You will be okay!!

Thank you to everyone for your support, I really appreciate it!!

Hmmmm

So, still up at 1am with a growling tummy. I'm thinking I'm heading into the hyper direction again....should get a blood test. When will it ever just settle down?!

New Symptom: Dizziness

It started 4 days ago and I thought it was because I had been rocking on a kayak. It's not vertigo because I'm not spinning, I just feel like I'm rocking all the time. It's especially bad when I'm standing, I'm almost unsteady on my feet. I called my endocrinologist and she is sending me for a cortisol test when I get back from holidays. She said in the meantime just eat and drink enough and don't drive. Um, okay, we're on a long road trip.

My blood pressure is low but not super low (93/58) and heart rate is nice and low too (yippee!).

I am getting the cold that the kids have so I wonder if an infection is brewing in my ears?

We were supposed to be hiking in 2 days but I don't know that I can hold Koen safely in the Ergo. GRRRRRRR.

Just when things start settling down...

Dizziness does occur with Graves' Disease but usually with a bunch of other symptoms such as heart palpitations. Ah yes, keeping me on my toes!

Blood Test

My TSH is still less than 0.01 and my free T4 is now 14 which is just getting lower which explains my 10lb weight gain right around my middle. I just don't like it because my clothes don't fit properly and I'm just so....soft. Yuck. Oh well. It's just so crazy that my TSH remaines so low and that my T4 has gone down too. My antibodies are driving my thyroid NUTS. Still happy to be feeling quite normal, besides my weight and feeling jittery in the morning before my PTU (antithyroid meds). I'm sure turning 32 next month isn't helping with the belly:)

Latest Endocrinologist Visit

It was good. I felt good. She says that I have two different types of antibodies affecting my thyroid; one that stimulates and one that inhibits. The stimulating one is in control right now keeping my TSH less than 0.01. Once I can get my TSH in a normal range, I need to maintain that for 6 months and then come off of my meds. If it never gets in the normal range, it is safe to take my meds forever. I was worried that she was going to say that I would need radiation or something. PHEW! Only side effect of the meds is that it could lower my white blood cells which is dangerous if I get sick/fever etc. So far, so good! The only random lingering weird symptom is the intermittent chest pain. Usually it only lasts maybe a minute a day but if it goes for 10 minutes, I'm supposed to go to the doctor. I have to say that I am feeling better than I've felt the last 10 months. Awesome. I'm only on 50mg PTU/day (I started at 3X50mg PTU day).

Louise

Weight

I have a good 10lbs to lose. I noticed this again when Gary caught a picture of me and I was wearing something not too flattering. I went out that night and bought new pants. I don't know if I want to work hard at this or make subtle changes. I'm thinking subtle changes. More exercise, less baking. It's really hard for me to try to lose weight because my metabolism fluctuates so much each month (based on my hormones). I will go up and down about 6 lbs each month. I shouldn't complain, I just am way too soft in the middle for my liking! I've never been so...um...soft. You know, with the big love handles.

And talking about exercise, I ran without beta blockers for 10 minutes before hitting 200bpm. Not bad eh?!