[alice1976]

#1019576

Hi I am from Greece, 32 years old and very dissapointed of life. The only thing that makes me happy is my 2.5 years old baby, and thanks God, this gives me some strength!! I was diagnosed with GD last July with undetectable TSH, 4 times higher FT4 and three times higher FT3. I started on PTU and methimazole that I was allergic to both of them (eczema and fharmaceutical hepatitis). I had to do surgery, since here in Greece is more preferable than RAI. At the end of last October I had the surgery of total thyroidectomy, and I woke up fine, no pain, no lost voice. I only needed to take extra calcium, since one parathyroid was removed. Now, five months later I feel horrible, not because I am not feeling very well but also because I look horrible I used to be a very nice girl and now, I have gained nearly 20 pounds, I have lost much hair, dry skin and some ofthalmopathy.
Two weeks after the surgery I started on 137 T4 of levothyroxine, after a month 150 and now 175 (for 10 days now), I started feel better but not well yet. At least I stopped loosing hair. My weight is stabilized ( too much for what I eat, since I eat 1200 ckal per day, walk 2 hours per day and weight 180 pounds), but it is not rising any more. My left eye is OK but the lid of my right eye is swallen, like I have an allergy. Before surgery I had exofthalmos but not very bad. After surgery was worst. A month later exofthalmos was fully improved, but both lids were swallen. A month later my left eye was OK, and my right eye stays swallen.
TSH was suppressed 0.06, FT3 and FT4 was normal for 4 -5 months. Suddenly I had the test and showed TSH 8, and same FT3, FT4 normal. That why we increased dossage of levothyroxine.
I need any help, information, similar cases for any of my problems!!!! I am sorry about my english, but if you have an idea what is happeniong to me and what is going to happen, please advise.
Great thanks
Alice ” title=”Smile” />

[hyperm]

#1072617

Hey,

You have had a time of it! I can appreciate what you are saying. I am by no means vain but like you I appreciated that I was reasonable pretty…I had very thick curly hair ( a family trait! ” title=”Smile” /> ) and now it is like meat loafs (the singer) at the moment. My eyes were always my main feature and they are so sickly looking and kid you not when i say that i have bags almost down to my nose and often they are swollen. I have had the weight gain/ weight loss situation too. Often I ask my husband if I have lost all my looks not out of vanity but insecurity. However, I have been so ill and therefore the last thing on my mind has been getting my hair cut (what is left) or putting on make- up.

My mums friend called the other day (she is a nurse) she was concerned to hear what had happened and she said that my mum remarked that "you would cry if you seen my daughter at the moment she looks so ill". It terrifies me that I may never feel well again and as a young wife – will I ever appear attractive to my husband again.

so yes I can appreciate what you are saying – its not vanity but a feeling of insecurity. Not much help but I do appreciate how you feel.

M x

[alice1976]

#1072618

Oh God I know… Vanity has nothing to do with our case but if everybody who used to know you in the past is so negatively surprised when he sees you, then you understand that sth is really wrong. How long you fight with graves for? what is your situation?

[mamabear]

#1072619

Alice, HERE IS A BIG HUG

Here is a link on tips for skin/hair/cold’s and stuff like that to help you especial since you are a mom as well and germs are everywhere.

YOU WILL BE OK, but it will take time..babysteps! And don’t be the hero mom like most of us tried or try to be. It’s called K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Silly). That means if you are feeling like crap stop what you are doing and ask for help or just lay down next to your toddler and relax. Lay with child while they are sleeping and stroke their hair, it will help you relax.

Your medicine needs to be adjusted to the right dose in order to feel better, please make sure you contact your dr. and stay with your appointments so that the right dose is achieved. I am sure others will have more advice but this is what I can offer.

You are worth waiting for so be patient for yourself and know that the bottom line is you feeling better and this is just another hump in the road and that you will overcome this too. When you feel depressed talk to your husband/family member/priest,minister or rabbi/or talk to your dr. about how you are feeling…never keep the issues you are feeling inside let them out. If you are upset with your child then ask your husband or family member to watch them and walk away and take a few minutes to yourself.

Please see your eye dr. as well and get a full check up as thyroid eye disease is different than Graves disease. So make sure that your eyes are healthy as well with regular check ups. My eye dr. wanted to see me every 6months when I was out of remission for graves just to make sure that my eyes were ok as well and continue to be ok. I do get checked often even in remission because my eye dr. is a pain in the butt. lol

Hugs and prayers to your for your this journey that you are taking.

[alice1976]

#1072620

Thank you for your kind support, it was so cute… I am just waiting, anyway I can not do anything else, but I really feel that I cannot take much more ” title=”Neutral” /> . thank you anyway lol

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