[billyb]

#1018120

It’s been over a year since my last post, and looking back, I guess at the time I was struggling with feelings as usual, and I was tired of Graves disease. I was tired of the every day battles, I was confused. Well now im studing health and fitness at a local collage i’m one year into the program and I have learned a whole lot about the disease. I have also learned about myself and I think that is important for us people who deal with this,to have a strong sense of self. I dont know if the disease forces me to be the way I am ,or is that just my normal personaity. I dont know where the line is, I dont know where Bill ends and where the alter-ego begins in my personality. And to have to sort all that out in reality ,as it plays in real time in our every dat lives, is difficult to say the least. If you read this post answer question for me please: does your chaotic mind, be it paranoid imaginations or situations related to the way you feel inside, manifest as real situations in your life?, weird. maybe these things have nothing to do with graves disease. What I do know is that when Im feeling out of balance inside (you know the feeling) then the situations in my life at that time seem to be in shambles, or is it vice versa. Either life is crazy or i’m crazy, is sometimes how I feel. I’m interested in your stories if you can relate any of this

[snelsen]

#1062786

Hi Bill, I read your old posts before writing to you now. It sounds like you have done a great job with establishing some goals, for that is much easier to do when you are feeling better. My view of Graves’ is pretty simplistic, more of a sequence of anything else that happens to my health. It developed, it was recognized, it was treated, it requires some monitering and maintenance, I take my Synthroid becauae it is needed. Being hypER is terrible. Being hyPO is terrible. How fortunate we are to have a simple and safe thyroid hormone to take so we can return to the normal population. I think about it when I need to, and this board is a great place to talk through our experiences.

Although it is the thought of others that Graves’ is triggered by an event, I don’t share that thought, nor do I think it makes a whit of difference whether it does or it doesn’t. If it occurs, it needs to be treated, in the sequence that you already know.

Regarding a troubled background, childhood, and other physical/mental issues that some people experience in greater magnitude than others, I hope that the help is available, and it contributes to feeling more "grounded."

In answer to your question, it is hard for me to give an answer. I think there are periods in a life that are more stressful than others. I do not have the experiences that you have mentioned. Having said that, it sounds that you have made gigantic and wonder inroads into feeling better than you were feeling over a year ago. That is great!

In the general population, of course, there are other illnesses that might not be recognized, therefor not treated, that could contribute to a better quality of life. Lots of folks have a history of depression, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, chaotic childhood. Of course, when these illnesses are treated, life is better and manageable. When they are not recognized, life is tough.

I hope others chime in to share their experiences. Regarding you and Graves’, I presume you are having labs now and then and that you are taking thyroid hormone? Yes? No? For that is essential for you to move forward with your life and begin to feel grounded and healthy. It sure is good news to hear that you are no longer taking 27 meds!!
Congratulations on your chosen studies! Sounds like you have a great professional future coming up when you are through with school.

[KAM]

#1062787

Hi Bill,
I personally don’t have Graves but my life has been very effected by it. Or as you mentioned did my life effect the Graves? In my opinion Graves effects people much the same way as alcohol or drug addiction in that it effects more than just the person who has the desease. They make your mind race, it creates worry about insignificant things. I could go on and on as we all know. Life is crazy, you are not. I am not. It has taken a lot of work on my part to learn how to quiet my mind. Meditation, acceptance, keeping my thoughts in the moment. Personally I was either never taught how to do that or I was was really not paying attention. It is very much a learned skill for me. You are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are.
Kam

[billyb]

#1062788

Thank’s for the replies, it always hard to put your feelings into words, they can never accuratley describe how you feel. I understand what Graves disease is, and I can only respond to my experiences. I remember a time in my life where I had no symptoms of graves or hyperthyroidism. I never had any symptoms as a child or a teen. I was a heavy set kid and at the age of 18 to 21 I was about 280lb. I have a lot of muscle wieght because I exercise as a hobby and I played sports, but still 280 none the less, thats pretty heavy. I went on a diet to cut wieght , and it was around this time that I first regonized the symptoms, looking back. I know Graves is autoimmune, so it’s in my blood. Im trying to understand if events can trigger symptom’s, why did these things happen when they did in my life when they did? I guess that is really what i’m trying to understand. I was not hyperthyroid at 280lb. If I had undiognosed graves disease from childhood, thats what the doctors say, why didnt I have any symptoms sooner? can anyone help me with these questions please,

[Ski]

#1062789

I’m not sure anyone can say you had Graves’ before they diagnosed you ~ it’s far more common to occur in adulthood, so unless you had some tests run that they can point to, or you constantly complained of Graves’-like symptoms, I’m not sure how much credibility I’d put in any statement that you were "undiagnosed" your whole life. Graves’ isn’t something that works that way, you’re not "born" with it. You’re born with a small genetic defect (they’ve found it) that makes you more likely to have an autoimmune disease of some type. Some people with this defect live their entire lives never having one. Others get one. Now THAT is the fun in the research right now. Why do we get an autoimmune disease? And why this one? No good answers for those. Yet.

[snelsen]

#1062790

Agree with Ski. how ya doing?

[Author]

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