Autoimmune Disease/Meniers Disease

DoctorPotterWho

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I know this was posted last year, but I have an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease aka Hyperthyroid. Usually you hear about people having the opposite one, hypothyroid. For me, everything in my body is affected and sped up. I can sympathize with you @stojanovski92113 with the dizziness. I have an appointment tomorrow with the 4th or 5th specialist. It's tough going on with life normally when you feel so abnormal. It's the little things that help me day to day. My most recent being the tortoise hobby hehe. I am not sure if you are on here anymore, but if you are I really hope you are doing well. I've read that a low sodium diet may help. :<3:
 

Tidgy's Dad

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I know this was posted last year, but I have an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease aka Hyperthyroid. Usually you hear about people having the opposite one, hypothyroid. For me, everything in my body is affected and sped up. I can sympathize with you @stojanovski92113 with the dizziness. I have an appointment tomorrow with the 4th or 5th specialist. It's tough going on with life normally when you feel so abnormal. It's the little things that help me day to day. My most recent being the tortoise hobby hehe. I am not sure if you are on here anymore, but if you are I really hope you are doing well. I've read that a low sodium diet may help. :<3:
Sadly, my forum friend Shannon ( @stojanovski ) hasn't been on the forum since January.:(
Good luck with your appointment tomorrow.
 

JoesMum

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Does anyone suffer from any type of auto- immune disease? Curious...having some health issues lately and deciding if I should see a rheumatologist, dermatologist, or an allergist??? I have Meniers Disease which is supposedly related to an autoimmune disease? I've had major issues with vertigo, hearing loss, pressure in the ears, other stuff too, and it's been so bad that I've missed a lot of work this year, and in the past. However now I've been having skin issues and not sure what to do. I will post pictures only to individuals who know about autoimmune diseases or Meniers Disease. I've been to many Doctors and not much help at all since 2009...skin issues are very new. It's been a crappy year, I figured I'd ask here in the forum since there are so many member...Thanks!
We're going through this with my Mum at the moment.

She gets bouts of extreme dizziness which make her vomit and leave her totally exhausted.

It all started about a year ago. She has a referral to a specialist at the end of this month. She refused to see anyone before; she's a stubborn independent 79 year old, but after the most recent series of attacks my sister and I insisted.
 

JoesMum

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I know this was posted last year, but I have an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease aka Hyperthyroid. Usually you hear about people having the opposite one, hypothyroid. For me, everything in my body is affected and sped up. I can sympathize with you @stojanovski92113 with the dizziness. I have an appointment tomorrow with the 4th or 5th specialist. It's tough going on with life normally when you feel so abnormal. It's the little things that help me day to day. My most recent being the tortoise hobby hehe. I am not sure if you are on here anymore, but if you are I really hope you are doing well. I've read that a low sodium diet may help. :<3:
Sympathies on the Graves Disease too. I had that 20 years ago triggered by the hormonal changes when my son was born.

In my case, I had "block and replace" therapy. I was given a drug to stop my thyroid from functioning completely. I then had to take thyroxine tablets to replace the thyroxine that my thyroid should have been making. After 6 months, I stopped taking both and my thyroid started working again. For me, it was successful and I have had no problems since, but I do have annual blood tests to check.

Taking the pills wasn't entirely straightforward. The side effects weren't good. I ended up taking beta blockers for a rapid heart beat and drugs to counter "allergic poly-arthritis" (very painful joints) both triggered by the drugs I was taking for block and replace. :( I was able to stop those at the same time at the others.

About a year later, my friend also got Graves Disease. Block and Replace wasn't successful for her and she had radioactive iodine treatment which basically destroys part of the thyroid. It's a bit imprecise and, in her case, destroyed a little too much so she now has a slightly under-active thyroid; she is now taking thyroxine tablets for the rest of her life.
 

DoctorPotterWho

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Sympathies on the Graves Disease too. I had that 20 years ago triggered by the hormonal changes when my son was born.

In my case, I had "block and replace" therapy. I was given a drug to stop my thyroid from functioning completely. I then had to take thyroxine tablets to replace the thyroxine that my thyroid should have been making. After 6 months, I stopped taking both and my thyroid started working again. For me, it was successful and I have had no problems since, but I do have annual blood tests to check.

Taking the pills wasn't entirely straightforward. The side effects weren't good. I ended up taking beta blockers for a rapid heart beat and drugs to counter "allergic poly-arthritis" (very painful joints) both triggered by the drugs I was taking for block and replace. :( I was able to stop those at the same time at the others.

About a year later, my friend also got Graves Disease. Block and Replace wasn't successful for her and she had radioactive iodine treatment which basically destroys part of the thyroid. It's a bit imprecise and, in her case, destroyed a little too much so she now has a slightly under-active thyroid; she is now taking thyroxine tablets for the rest of her life.

Thank you, @JoesMum! That is great news that they were able to treat you with block and replace therapy.

I've not once had a dr. even suggest it to me. They've always told me to either get the RAI or get the surgery to have it removed. I elected to remain on the medicine instead. I was doing great on it for about 16 years, but unfortunately now my liver enzymes are elevated because it's so hard on the liver. I am now faced with the decision to either get the RAI or surgery.
 

JoesMum

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Thank you, @JoesMum! That is great news that they were able to treat you with block and replace therapy.

I've not once had a dr. even suggest it to me. They've always told me to either get the RAI or get the surgery to have it removed. I elected to remain on the medicine instead. I was doing great on it for about 16 years, but unfortunately now my liver enzymes are elevated because it's so hard on the liver. I am now faced with the decision to either get the RAI or surgery.
As I understood it, the block and replace was quite new... but, that was back in 1996!

I'm astonished they have never suggested it since :( The drugs are horrible that stopped the thyroid, and the side effects nasty. Some sail through them, but I'm not surprised that it's caused your liver problems.

Let's hope they can fix you now.
 

DoctorPotterWho

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As I understood it, the block and replace was quite new... but, that was back in 1996!

I'm astonished they have never suggested it since :( The drugs are horrible that stopped the thyroid, and the side effects nasty. Some sail through them, but I'm not surprised that it's caused your liver problems.

Let's hope they can fix you now.

Thank you! <3

Very strange indeed since I was diagnosed in 2000. Either way with the RAI or thyroid removal, I would most likely have to take the replacement thyroid hormones for the rest of my life.

I am going to try an experimental medication first called Low Dose Naltrexone to see if it helps. They have had some fantastic results for lots of autoimmune conditions. If it works I wouldn't have to take any other medication =)
 
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