Graves disease and headaches

[Flissity83]

I have been recently diagnosed with a Graves' disease and have since developed really intense headaches. Is this one of the symptoms? I am taking carbimazole and lthyroxine daily as a block and replace method. Does anyone have any experience of this?

[DavesGrisease]

I have also just been diagnosed and am waiting to see an endocrinologist. I can't advise re the headaches but just wanted to join your thread and offer my sympathy. Hopefully someone else will come along who can advise.

Has it affected your eyes? It has mine and I do get a feeling of pressure behind them.

[Flissity83]

Hi Daves (I like the username). My eyes are fine thankfully. I don't even get the palpitations anymore. It's just these horrific headaches. My partner says I've got a bit moody and snappy since being diagnosed but I don't know if that's related. I also feel really tired all the time.

[DavesGrisease]

I have also suffered from mood swings and periods of anxiety. And the tiredness. Sadly I have a slight eye bulge am going on to. And a goitre. Have the tablets started to make you feel better? I am seeing someone next week and I am dying to feel normal again.

[DavesGrisease]

I meant to say I hope your headaches get better soon.

[SeedySister]

When did you last have your bloods done? Make sure they test T3 levels as well as T4 and TSH. Feeling tired is often a sign that you are hypo rather than hyper so the carbimazole is doing the 'blocking' but you may not have enough thyroxine doing the 'replacing'.
I was diagnosed 6 months ago but I am just on Carbimazole. I was also diagnosed as Coeliac despite not having any symptoms. I had read that the two autoimmune diseases can be linked and asked my GP for the blood test. She did it to humour me and then had to ring me to say it was positive. I had an endoscopy to confirm and I have been gluten-free for 5 months now. I used to get frequent headaches and I have only just realised that I don't get them anymore.

[Flissity83]

I have a blood test booked in two weeks for my second endocrinology appointment at the end of the month. The whole thing confuses me greatly. It seems to effect everyone differently and no one seems to understand it. I was told by one dr I shouldn't be doing the block and replace and told by another I should. I've also been told I should wait before trying for another baby which is frustrating. I just wish it would go away.

Daves - I was put on beta blockers which helped my heart palpitations quickly. The carbimazole did lower my thyroid levels but it takes around 6 weeks. I hope you feel better soon.

[SeedySister]

Ah, have you had a baby within the last few years? I have heard that it is very common after you have a baby and quicker to treat too.

[Flissity83]

Yes my son is 16 months old. The consultant didn't think it was pregnancy related as he was 9 months when I was diagnosed. But I'm starting to learn a lot of this is just guess work. I was only diagnosed due to a blood test after I went to the GP to ask about help with weight loss. They tested my thyroid to see if it was under active. They were surprised it was so over. It was a few weeks after this I developed symptoms.

[SeedySister]

That's good news in a way as you are more likely to be successfully treated. I have read that you need your TSH to be between 1 and 2 for optimum fertility.

[Flissity83]

You see very clued up on it all. Perhaps I should do some of my own research. I just worry about stumbling into some horror stories and then panicking.

[SeedySister]

I am my own worst enemy - I google everything and end up getting very anxious and fearing the worst. I was right about the Coeliacs though and, as I don't actually get any symptoms, that was quite lucky that I found out about that.
I think that most older people that have Graves (I'm 48) end up having s relapse and the choice is then radioactive iodine or surgery, both of which result in hypothyroidism. It's a bugger really.