| Thyroid Success Stories |
from Mary Shomon
Donna: A Difficult Case of Graves Disease, Finally Diagnosed!
Soon after the birth of my 2nd child, I began to experience palpitations.
Then, along with the palpitations I had chestpains. My family doctor
diagnosed me with mitral valve prolapse and put me on Inderal. The Inderal
did not so anything for the palpitations and with time, they got worse. I
saw a cardiologist who added a form of arrythmias to the diagnosis and
also added 2 more cardiac medications. My palpitations got worse! For the
next SEVERAL years, I saw specialist after specialist. The heart meds made
my blood pressure so low that it was an effort just to get out of bed -
let alone take care of 2 toddlers.
After 5 years, my arrythmias got to the point that I couldn't do
much
of anything. Playing with my girls at the park was out, riding my bicycle,
bowling,even a leisurely walk caused me too much discomfort, But, the
doctors said, I had to continue on my meds because I had a very severe
arrythmia (irregular heartbeat). Another 5 years and 5 new specialists
went by and I was still the same. And YES , thyroid blood tests were taken
and were all "in range."
Now, I started having other symptoms - my ankles were almost always
swollen, my vision changed often, my hair was thinning and a began to gain
weight. I happened to walk into a vitamin shop and talked briefly to a
nutritionist who asked me if I ever had a thyroid profile taken. I told
him that I had many throughout the years and they were always "normal." He
suggested that I have a few blood tests taken within a period of about 4
weeks. When I brought this suggestion to my cardiologist- he thought I was
carazy. He hinted at the idea that maybe my symptoms were coming from
"stress" and prescribed an anti-anxiety drug. When I refused, he
prescribed Prozac. I told him to, "Give it to your wife" and left his
office. I went back to the nutritionist and he handed me the phone and
told me to start calling other doctors.
I finally found one who was willing to try 2 blood tests in a row. The
first test was normal, but, the second was off the charts - I had Graves
disease (even though I was gaining and not losing weight, as you do with
Graves). At this time, my ankles were so swollen that the endocrinologist
said it was the beginning of heart failure (because of my VERY irregular
heartbeat) She put me on PTU and within a few weeks my arrythmias
disappeared , my thyroid blood tests are "normal" and in 3 years, I have
NOT had 1 palpitation.
Donna
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