Thyroid Issue

[Walnutcakelover]

I have been of my meds for nearly 18 months, so I guess I'm in remission. My problem is that if I get any symptoms like palpitations, jittery feeling, I automatically think it's my overactive thyroid (graves) come back again. My last blood test was 3 months ago which came back normal, I've noticed that I get these symptoms just before I am due for my period. My question is can one be in remission for the rest of their life or not?

Hi there, im not really sure, but I know that you can go underactive and vice versa. Trouble is these blood tests from the hospital are not always correct. Are you a member of any thyroid forums? If not, Healthunlocked thyroid uk, is really good. If you become a member on this forum some of the guys know much more than doctors and they will advise..Goodluck.

Thanks kyria I wil check that forum out.

excellent that you have been off the meds for 18 months

do you think stress may have been a large factor in the thyroid issues? pms tress may be possibly making you feel a bit jittery - can you find a way of helping your symptoms to calm you and not get jittery therefore aleviating stress around this time and keeping you level

yoga or relaxation tapes/cd?

Thanks ivy that's exactly what my Husband has said to me, and yes I do think I need to calm down, relaxation sounds good, although with a demanding daughter it's hard .

how old is your dd?

From what I understand you can stay in remission for 2 years or 20 years or go back on meds and come off them again,

I have come to the conclusion that stress is a very large part of graves and getting rid of stress stops the switch flicking over and effecting the thyroid - I may though be wrong it is just my opinion

I was diagnosed with Graves 18 years ago (definitely agree that stress could be a factor). I was on carbimazole for 2 years I think and then came off the medication. Since then, my thyroid became slightly overactive a couple of years later, so I went back on low dose medication for a few months. I was off medication for 14 years before my thyroid went the other way and I am now taking thyroxine for an underactive thyroid (I think I preferred it when it was overactive!) but still feel sluggish all the time.

When I was overactive I was very ill - dangerously ill the specialist said.
I was diagnosed at 25, but had been having symptoms for years, and GP was late diagnosing it. That happened when my Thyroid swelled up into a large goitre and my eyes were bulging. The symptoms I had before that he put down to nerves.
I went on the Carbimazole for about 6 months - was overdosed and Thyroid was hardly working at all. In 6 weeks I blew up into a swollen barrel shape, had cramp in all my muscles which was agony, was slurring my speech as if drunk and I put on 2 stone < after losing 1.5 stone while being overactive. Reducing the dosage eventually got it right.
I had been told by both GP and specialist that I would go into remission, but more often than not it would return after 18 month-2years. Then I would get the operation that had a 99% success rate.

That is exactly what happened and had op 4 years later. I wish I had had the right and knowledge then to demand the op at 25.

Your condition may not be as serious as mine was.

Ps
They stopped the carbimazole altogether after 6 months to see how it went.

OP
Actually it was 40 years ago, and I vaguely think I did take the carbimazole for 18 months and then come off them. It did return though after 2 years.

Thanks digerd my blood test results should be coming on Wednesday. I did go to the Dr today, and he did say that you can be remission for life and it's not uncommon.

I do hope so in your case. The 1st symptom of being overactive in my case was losing weight.
Later, I worked with a woman who was also overactive, but strangely put on weight - DR said it was very unusual. Hers was very slight and didn't get anyworse. She couldn't tolerate the carbimazole, so was on no medication and managed.