TSH: 0.92
Free T3: 3.1
Free T4: 0.6
So things are pretty stable on ~60 mg propylthiouracil every day.
Hayfever last week has triggered some eye symptoms. Got an "eye headache" the other day. Any challenge to the immune system seems to goad the Graves'.
3 comments:
Hi Beth-
Can you recap your experience with the drug you first started taking- I believe it was Tapazole? I believe you are currently on PTU. I am also on PTU but my endo talked about switching me to Tapazole. I am not completely sure why but I will discuss it with him on my next visit in late October. I know Linda was on Tapazole too and she had a bad experience. Thank you!
Hi Kelly,
I think the major benefit of Tapazole is that it has a longer serum half life than does PTU (which still sticks around inside the thyroid for several hours).
I started out on a hefty dose:40 mg, which I cut within a week or two to 20, then 10, then 5. While on the 10/day dose, I got some sores on my ginginva and my WBC dipped from the usual 8 or 9,000 count to 4,000. This after the endo said that even a slight dip is cause to discontinue the medication (for fear of agranulocytosis).
I went off for a week or so, then got cleared by the endo and restarted. Immediate sore on my gum, again.
So he switched me to 100 mg of PTU per day (which is down to a 50 mg. pill in the mornign and a quarter pill at night, now)
In retrospect, the endo and I think it was not a definite reaction to Tapazole. It did happen relatively early, as most do, but the dose was on the low side, and it is unusual for a 10-mg dose to provoke a reaction.
I don't know what else to tell you about the Tapazole except that it was not a bad drug. The real problem is that I started out on such a hefty dose for relatively mild hyperthyroidism. Was like swatting a fly with an A-bomb, and I paid the price with brief hypothyroidism.
Let me know what your physician's rationale is! The drugs are basically equivalent. Tapazole is worse for pregnant and nursing women and may be a little worse for reactions, but the difference is not startling.
Beth- Thank you for the info. I will have to talk to my doc at the next visit. He mentioned the other drug and now I really don't know why exactly, I will find out. I don't want to put words in the guy's mouth- he's been great! I have been trying to get pg with a third but that doesn't appear to be happening- I know he put on PTU specifically b/c my husband and I were considering having another one but time is marching by which means I am getting older. Yeah.
Linda gave me some good info as well.
By the way- I think that pic of you and your son is adorable!! I think you look really pretty and would never guess you have graves and some eye issues. That little guy reminds me of my two boys! :)
Thanks for sharing that! I don't know why exactly but it makes me feel better seeing that pic.
Thank you!!
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