Graves disease and cardiomyopathy

[doloresmc]

Hi, I was just diagnosed with Graves disease and I've been reading a bunch about it. I was wondering if there is any way of knowing if my cardiomyopathy was in any way related to Graves?.
thanks!
Dolores

[JAMESFETT]

Grave's disease--hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)--as well as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can both cause a dilated cardiomyopathy (and of course PPCM is a dilated cardiomyopathy, for which all other potential causes have been excluded). Careful consultation with endocrinologist and cardiologist would help to sort things out, and in any case treatment is indicated for all of those things.

James

[doloresmc]

I don't know how to start sorting things out, specially since I've changed cardiologists so much (Had sudden death in Argentina, where they tested me for Lupus but not thyroid disorders). Do you have any suggestion on what to do next to help sort things out?. I am now in treatment for Graves (tapazole 30mgs and they increased toprol xl to 100mg from 50 to help with symptoms). My heart is normal in shape and my EF at diagnosis was 30%, and it's 55% now(it was 50% last year, could that 5% just due to the extra output that Graves produces?)>My EF was 45-50% a month after diagnosis.
Do you think these are things I'll never have an answer for?. And do you think I'm at a high risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy again?. I am still unsure what I am going to do in regards to long term treatment for Graves; is there anything that's better from a cardiological standpoint? ( anti-thyroid drugs, RAI, surgery)
Tzhanks in advance,
Dolores

[JAMESFETT]

It seems to me that everything for you is going in the right direction. You are on treatment for hyperthyroidism, keep on course and depend upon the advice from your endocrinologist. You are recovered from PPCM, and that speaks in favor of your DCM being PPCM, not from hyperthyroidism. I think your outlook is very favorable, and you should stay on your present course.

James

[marciejw]

This is so weird. I am being tested for Hypothyroidism. I have been doing some research and wondering if my thyroid is the reason for my DCM and not the pregnancy. I was diagnosed when my son was 8 months old and had no problems during my pregnancy. I have switched primary doctors. This new doctor seems to be on top of things. She has schedule me for an appt with an Endo in Oct. I just want to feel better and get to the bottom of this.

I am so glad that we have this site. The more that I read, I see we all have something in common.

[marciejw]

I don't have my next cardio appt until Nov but do plan to ask him. In the mean time, I will keep doing research as this could explain my weight gain. I cannot loose any weight. I exercise and eat right but still cannot loose. As a matter of fact, I am gaining. I do believe that if I could loose some weight, I may get a higher EF. My last cardio appt showed that my heart was at the higher side of normal but normal is normal.