[net.med] Questions on Thyroid that's doing too well

slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden) (10/13/85)

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has had experience
with hyperthyroidism.  Either as discussion in this newsgroup, or
by e-mail.

My doctor was hoping that mine was temporary.  It was established
last year that I have no tumor, just a go for broke thyroid.  It was
under control with propylthiouricil (spelling?  my bottle is not at hand
right now) and then he took me off it to see if the condition would
return.  It has.  I'm pretty miserable right now, and waiting for
the medicine to start working again.  My mistake--I waited, and
didn't go back to him when I was supposed to.  I was always "too
busy" and now I'm paying.

The funny thing is that I have been GAINING weight.  That isn't
what he expects.  I think it is because I am tired, so I don't 
move much, and at the same time am so hungry.  (It's disgusting!
The one good thing I could get out of this disease, and I go the
other way.:-)  The tests show high thyroid, and I have high blood 
pressure (130/110), and high pulse rate (~105 at rest)--so everything 
else agrees.  My main complaints are tiredness, nervousness, and 
headaches.  (I've had a headache since July :-)

At any rate, he has informed me that I will most likely require
surgery to correct the condition.  He plans to get me under control
again, then send me to an endocrinologist for a second opinion.
Does anyone on the net have any experience with thyroid surgery?
Just how serious is it these days? Does anyone have any more information 
on the causes of this?  Everything I've read just comes up with a "cause 
unknown"--but maybe there's newer research out.

Thanks a lot.
-- 

                                     Sue Brezden
                                     ihnp4!drutx!slb

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I march to the beat of a different drummer, whose identity,
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