Back on Tap

Today was my second visit to the endocrinologist. I had been off Tapazole for a little over a week because of concerns about a potential side effect, but since my labs were all normal. I'm back on—at only 5 mg per day. If all goes well, I'll be on it for about 18 months.

My TSI antibody levels at 24% are not exceedingly high; they are average. The antibody level—and the mildness of the former hyperthyroidism—bodes well for a remission, he says. He thinks my eyes look better, although I say the lid retraction on the right eye is worse than in December. The degree of proptosis has stayed the same (20 mm for both eyes this time; 19 and 20 last time. The ophthalmologist got 22 and 23).

He had a resident along and let her feel my goiter. He also pointed out to her how taut my eyeballs feel.

The scale was unkind, showing a gain of 7 pounds since early December, which is a "good" sign when it comes to most Graves' patients. As for me, I am cleared to exercise again, with a caveat to watch my heart rate. I might get to go off the propranolol if I tolerate exercise poorly while on it.

Crappy med. I don't miss the heart palpitations, but everything else about being on propranolol stinks, in my opinion.

So, back on Tapazole and labs in another month. I may only need to check with the endo every 4 months or so. I asked him again about my low insulin-like growth factor, and he said it might have just been because I was sick. A reaction similar to how ovulation is sometimes suspended during periods of illness.