Hpyerthyroidism

You need to learn all about your disease in order to become an empowered patient.  Always get and keep a copy of any lab tests done on you so you can see your progress.  Post those results to this Board when you are seeking advice.  We can then better advise.  It took my Endo a few weeks to complete all the tests for Graves and she immediately put me on Propranolol which helped the fast heart rate.  I did not need it most of the time while I was on Methimazole.  Most docs offer three treatments, will try the meds first but quickly push for radiation or surgery and then replacement with Synthroid.  I was determined to avoid RAI or surgery.  My sister in law had RAI and said she never felt normal again.  In any case I was diagnosed in 2007 and my FT3 and FT4 were not too much out of range, approximately 10 points above normal.  However, my TSH was less than 0.001 and stayed there for two years while I was on 10 mg of Methimazole.  My TSH only rose when I researched and read about supplements and added them to my treatment plan.  I read a research study on the benefits of hyperthyroid patients taking 3,000 to 4,000 mg a day of Regular L-Carnitine.  I also learned that vitamin D was extremely important to hyperthyroid patients and many are deficient in it.  I was low on Magnesium.  When tested, I was deficient in Carnitine.  So I have added these supplements to my medical treatment and my doc was then able to lower my Methimazole dose significantly.  I now take 2.5 mg of Methimazole 4 days a week and my labs have been normal in an excellent place for a few years now.  I personally am happy with my treatment and am glad I avoided the other two.

Hi Rudy, Linda converted the most important things! I wanted to mention to you thou that it does take a few weeks for the Carbimazole (or equivalent) to have effect on the heart rate. Most of my nasty symptoms disappeared in the third week I was on 20mg/day (tremors, absence of periods, impossibility to fall asleep), but the heart rate kept being high. Only in the fourth week I have started seeing an effect on the resting heart rate, even thou this is noI around 65/70 which is still high for me (I am a long distance runner and have it around 45/50 normally), but indeed better than those awful weeks at 110.

I have been given propanolol as well but I have never taken it as I have soon found triggers for the high heart rate episodes: caffeine, sugar and gluten. Removing these things for me meant I could control the spikes in the rate of my heart a lot better. Try to find these triggers as well for yourself.

Good luck!