I am new Graves’ Disease patient. It all happened at the Airport prior my dream vacation. I started to feel “not right “, nauseous, but instead of lying down I felt like I need to move… bend my knees. At the beginning I complained about my stomach, burping, nausea, not able to eat. My doc did all the tests and it seemed that I have small reflux. At the same time I realized that my heart is beating like crazy (around 120) and I am very shaky, nervous. All the symptoms were bothering me in the morning, getting better through the day and at night time I was a healthy person. My symptoms were so bad that I had to quit a job and I had to quit cigarettes (at least one good think that Graves did to me ) Then blood test confirmed hyper thyroid, I had to wait 3 weeks for iodine intake test and another week for endo appointment and in mean time I started to feel better and put aside beta blocker and sleeping pills just after few days . However I never had a problem with sleeping my doc told me to take it in the morning to reduce my nervousness. Finally test confirmed Graves’ Disease and doctor prescribed me Methimazole 20 mg.. I couldn’t be happier to know that finally I will be healthy person. I even arranged my back to work for next week. Unfortunately not so fast.. Second day on Methimazole I felt nauseous again, and 2 days after stomach problems, anxiety heart beat returned exactly in the same order and pattern like at the beginning. I blame myself for stopping beta blockers so right away I take them, unfortunately I had to take the anxiety pills too. Now it has been 2 weeks on Methimzole, beta blocker… and no improvement yet.. How much longer should I wait? My endo told me that my stomach problems are related to thyroid and feeling nervous. Is it possible? Did anyone had the same symptoms? Why I feel so bad in the morning? Why the symptoms reappeared after methimazole- could it be the same effect as it is after RAI?

Hi! Sorry your having problems. I just started taking Meth 3 days ago and so far am ok. I do have stomach issues sometimes depending what I eat. Graves can cause stomach pain and diahhrea as well. I was on beta blockers for 3 days and started with chest tightness which I didnt have before so I stopped them. Are you seeing and Endo or family doc? If not an Endo I would suggest finding one since they're specialized in this. Congrats! on quitting smoking thats one way to do it. Hope you feel better. I didnt have all the ucky symptoms just hand tremors. I've actually never felt better then find out I have this, ugh! Good Luck. Keep checking posts and you'll get alot of info. Also go to Elaine Moore's site who I found has a lot of info as well.

thanks so much thompson91. I am happy for you that you didnt have to experience Graves hard way. I am sitting at home for 2nd month having my ups and downs. I was going to family doctor but once overactive thyroid was confirmed I go to endo, but it is hard to make an appointment with a busy doc to resolve all my questions and problems.
Today I felt so bad that I had to go to walking clinic and it happened that I got a very good doctor that advised me to take beta blocker in the afternoon instead of morning , hoping I will feel better in the morning as it is not 24 h pill. She suggested to take 10 mg more of methimazole . I will go to 30 mg .... I am not sure, should I wait for my endo appointment in 3 weeks or increase the dose base on walking clinic doctor.
My stomach really worries me as well. it is one of the symptoms of Graves but I dont see a lot of people complaining. I am going to Elaine Moore site now.

The methimazole does not work instantly to make us feel better. It starts immediately to interfere with the ability of thyroid cells to create thyroid hormone. But the thyroid also STORES hormone, and until those stored supplies are used up, we are usually still very hyperthyroid. It can take a week or more for those stored supplies to be used up.

Also, once you are at controlled, normal levels of thyroid hormone, it can take some time before you feel your old self again, because your body needs time to heal. Being hyperthyroid is tough on a lot of different parts of the body.

And, with beta blockers stopping them without weaning off of them can cause the symptoms they've been controlling to come roaring back. We need to stop them a little bit at a time.

As to whether or not the nausea is caused by the drug, or something else, it can be helpful to talk with your pharmacist. They have drug literature that will state all the possible side effect symptoms.

I do hope you are feeling better soon.

sorry about your problems was on meth. for about 7 weeks it caused muscle pain and cramps also had stomach problem they were strickily related to the graves and finally stoped after about 2 to 3 weeks on meth. so it was not related to that med???? was put on PTU having itching on feet and hands am waiting for my surgion's apt on aug 3rd can't seem to do well on the meds has anyone used steriods to manage graves...have read some info on that.....thanks and hope ya feel better oh by the wy call the endo and ask him about med change (increase) don't be shy it is his job!!!!! cb

Thank you so much, your replies make me feel so much better. Today it is my 15th day on Methimazole so I really see the light at the end of the tunnel . I have appointment with Gastrologist but I really hope I will cancel it. Switching betablocker to night time did miracle to me this morning . I will see how the rest of the day will go

To Cynthia:

We typically do not take steroids like prednisone to "manage" the Graves because whatever meds we take are long-term, and there are other options for us that are significantly safer for us than the steroids. Steriods have HUGE side effect issues, especially for women. Taking them short term is one thing, but you would need to take them for years. If you are indeed allergic to the antithyroid meds, your usual option is to remove the thyroid and go on replacement hormone.

marta1234 - Just wanted to mention that if you are taking the methimazole on an empty stomach, you might try taking it with milk or with a bit of food. That helped the stomach issues when I was starting out. (Although it's hard to say for sure if it was the meds or the Graves'...)

Best of luck!

I'm new to this as well I have been on Methimoazole for almost 4 weeks now. I have had some issues with (Sore throat, Head aches Blood work is changing etc...) it but I am staying the course. After 2 weeks on it I saw the T3 going down but my TSH is still .006. The Meds and the Disease are both weird, because we are so in tune on how we fill, we have started on something that our bodies have to get use to i guess.

All doctors endos and primaries are use to seeing more Hypo than Hyper ( or at least that is what I have been told) so our symptoms they do not understand what or where they are coming from. My best suggestion is stay on top of your health care and don't let them tell you it is all in your head because most likely it is in your Metabolism.

This website has made me sane again in this insane world I have found myself in (Graves).

My endo - even though I am changing her soon. said that i was to take the 20 MG all at once in the morning my primary doc had me spread out on 5mg 3 x a day.

I am keeping on my toes on any changes and reporting them. If they tell me that it is not this or that I research it and get the info about my symptoms, I have even sent in a Med Log showing that I was not crazy and were because of this or that and this made them do a blood test to figure it out. I have finally come to the realization that the dishes can wait the laundry can wait. It is time to take care of ourselves when we are first told we have graves. It is a process.

I hope you feel better soon, Today after almost 4 weeks I feel a little bit better, hopefully tomorrow with be better than today. Also waiting on the Nero Opth for the TED. Good Luck Marta1234 and stay in touch.

Thanks Jules for great words. Kimberly , I took today’s pills with food . thanks for suggestions ! I feel indeed that GD symptoms and side effects are like a puzzle and you need to figure it out how to solve it. Everyday I wake up sick and by 4 pm I am a healthy person. Why ? I was too excited this morning that betablocker will help with my morning symptoms (Tremor, being nervous, palpitation, upset stomach) but they still got me and bothered me a lot today

I am spending my free from work time ( I am still not able to go back to work) reading this website . It is great , it has lots of information . Thanks for posting
Good luck to you Jules as well