[cathycnm]

#1074617

Hey Storm – Welcome! How interesting on the UK.

I don’t know how to answer your question on how hard to push. Your body needs to heal – but sometimes just laying around can trigger depression and that does not help the healing process either. Maybe the others will have some other ideas – I pushed until I got tired – then I went to bed or took a nap when I could. I made sure I got 8 hours of sleep a night, etc.

I also wanted to comment on the whole idea of "suffering" versus "being a survivor" or even better "being on a healing journey." I am saying that primarily to myself. When I was at my worst – I found myself falling into a victim trap with how I spoke about Graves. It was a turn off and I am a leader in my community. I had to approach it differently if I wanted people to listen. I am trying to reframe it as a journey that is part of my life. It helps me to do that – I feel less helpless and depressed – and it seems like others are more engaged with me when I frame it like that, too. Then again, maybe I am being way too American with that ” title=”Smile” /> Anyway – welcome – I am so glad you are here and would love to hear more about your healthcare system there! Cathy

[stormandsummer]

#1019860

” title=”Very Happy” /> Hello I am storm and i am 38 years old born and breed english lady .. well most of the time i am a lady

I am a fellow graves sufferer and i was diagnoised in august 08 after suffering for years with various symptoms, in the UK there does not seem to be a great deal of knowledge or support so i have joined in the hope that i will be amoungst fellow sufferers that do understand what it is like to live with Graves.

I am really suffering at the moment despite being on carbimazole 40mg and propanolol 120 mg per day, which was only increased yesterday so i am waiting to get some relief for the symptoms. I have had weeks of loose bowels oh what joy eh, and itching, sweating and i am so irratible i am surprised i have not done someone some serious damage yet lol

I am going through insomnia and have done for weeks and i am exhasted too and just finding life really difficult right now, esp after i got a lecture from the endo about not requesting an urgent appy when i knew i was not all that good… i think having the energy to be bothered had something to do with it

On the bright side i am the only in the UK happy that it is so cold as i am so heat intolerant right now, although i am fed up with being asked are you not cold in a T shirt when i am clearly sweating

It is very hard in the Uk to find anyone that has Graves, and getting my GP to stop looking up Graves everytime i go in there hardly comforting is it lol so i thought i would join the forum in the hope that my sanity might be saved ” title=”Very Happy” />

I really want to ask some serious questions, how much/hard do you push yourself to do things ? most days i am dragging myself about but i find it emotionally hard to say i can’t do things, how does everyone cope with this ? I guess i am worried that if i give in and stay in bed that my life will just stop, yet i know i could be making my condition worse by pushing myself all the time

[Bobbi]

#1074618

Hi, Storm, and welcome:

I would like to add my tuppence (do they still have that in the UK?) to cathy’s comment about the words we use. Early in my diagnosis and treatment with Graves, Jake (who started this board and nurtured it for years) wrote a post about being "Graves’ Warriors." It helped me a lot to think of myself doing battle with, rather than suffering from a disease. I don’t think Jake intended the image I conjured up — that of a Valkyrie, horned helmet and all. But it works.

A friend of mine who is a psychologist heard me talk about hot flashes one day and said vigorously, "Hush! What the mouth says, the brain hears! Power surges, please. Power surges." I laughed, as she intended, but the same message as Jake’s came through. Our words to ourselves matter.

As to how far you should push yourself. We have no idea where you are in the realm of treatment, so the responses should be fairly general. First, your doctor has to tell you that it is OK to exercise. That is crucial. (Of course, given that your doctor doesn’t know much about Graves’, his OK might not be comforting.) If he/she says little to no exercise, then you could limit yourself to stretching exercises on the floor, or rocking in a rocking chair. (Yes, that rocker does make us use our muscles — albeit gently.) Otherwise, if it is OK to exercise, you need to do enough to energize you, not wear you out, and consistently increase the amount over time. I started out with 15 minute walks, and lifting smalll paperback books to increase arm muscle strength. (Truly) I gradually got to longer walks, and heavier weights on both arms and legs. The key is that you should end up– at least until you are well again — feeling more energy, not completely worn out. ONce you’ve managed to walk a couple of Ks on a regular basis without feeling like you need a nap, you could get back to other forms of exercise that you enjoy more. It is very important that we do exercise when we are given the go ahead. OUr muscles have gotten slack from the disease taking its toll, and they need to be restrengthened for us to feel normally peppy again.

Take care,

[cathycnm]

#1074619

Bobbi – Interesting on Jake and being a warrior. Years ago, when I was going through divorce, my psychologist suggested the Dan Millman book "peaceful warrior" to help me stop talking like a victim. Still slide back sometimes – my family of origen were not good teachers. The more I grow and learn about resilience – the more I realize internal talk matters. I find there is always room for my own growth in this area. Cathy

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