[npatterson]

#1060248

Hi everybody,

We printed out a few too many handouts for the Baltimore conference, and I brought them all home with me. If you will send me $1.52 postage, and your name and address clearly printed on an index card, I will mail them to you. Include your e-mail and I will let you know when they are sent out. I have lots of 9′ X 12′ envelopes. A couple of the articles are available on-line, but the others are not. Mail your request to: Nancy Patterson
84 Streamside Drive
Hendersonville, NC 28791

They include: Graves’ disease: Impact on emotions and relationships (Charles Zafonte, LSW, LADC; Emotions and Graves’ disease: am I crazy?, Gregory Brent, MD; What is wrong with me? I am not myself anymore, Ruffolo and Stearns; An open letter to the husbands of Graves’ disease patients , David Bos; Me, Bush and Graves’ disease, Abigail Trafford, The Washington Post; Some thought on Graves’ Disease: a bio-psycho-social view, Cy Worby, MD

[LauraMyles]

#1181494

I have been researching for weeks and looking for answers to why I feel “crazy”. The articles that were downloadable were of great help. I am currently unable to work. I am a school secretary for a small, but busy Parochial school. I couldn’t problem solve, remember things I was asked to do even if I wrote them down and my anxiety will hardly allow me to sit still. I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism in Nov 2009 after waking from a Brain hemorrhage that left me unconscious for several weeks. While in rehab the Thyroid issue was discovered. I had RAI in July 2010. Then started developing Graves’ Disease symptoms and having Graves’ Eye Disease became active in the Fall of 2012 and progressed quickly. I had decompression surgery on both eyes this past July at the Kellogg’s Eye Center. When my boss brought this issues to my attention I was hurt and confused. I came back from an Aneurysm had worked for 4 years and now I am being told I am not performing my job to the expectations I had always met. I had no idea until I have been able to see Doctors, sit here at home and research. I am in the middle of changing Endo’s since the one I have been seeing doesn’t really deal with Graves’ Disease. I am hearing that the new Endo does deal with Graves’ Disease.

Thank you for publishing the articles I will be taking them to my appointment.

Laura

[Shugie53]

#1181495

Nancy, I just now saw this post. I put a check in the mail to you today.
Thank you in advance!
“Shugie”

npatterson wrote:

Hi everybody,

We printed out a few too many handouts for the Baltimore conference, and I brought them all home with me. If you will send me $1.52 postage, and your name and address clearly printed on an index card, I will mail them to you. Include your e-mail and I will let you know when they are sent out. I have lots of 9′ X 12′ envelopes. A couple of the articles are available on-line, but the others are not. Mail your request to: Nancy Patterson
84 Streamside Drive
Hendersonville, NC 28791

They include: Graves’ disease: Impact on emotions and relationships (Charles Zafonte, LSW, LADC; Emotions and Graves’ disease: am I crazy?, Gregory Brent, MD; What is wrong with me? I am not myself anymore, Ruffolo and Stearns; An open letter to the husbands of Graves’ disease patients , David Bos; Me, Bush and Graves’ disease, Abigail Trafford, The Washington Post; Some thought on Graves’ Disease: a bio-psycho-social view, Cy Worby, MD

[npatterson]

#1181497

Dear Laura,

Your articles will go out in Monday’s mail. In the meantime, something to consider is that we need to be able to explain to our employers and co-workers what is going on–without it sounding like an excuse. I have been there!

Dr. Terry Smith is our Chief Medical Officer, and is located within Kellogg Eye Center. Many of the professors at Michigan make up our speakers at conferences. Be sure to mention us when you see your new Endo, as well as Dr. Smith. It is one time that name=dropping will be very appropriate.

Take care,

Nancy

[npatterson]

#1181498

Dear everyone,

Thanks to those of you that have send for the articles. What I really need are the stamps, rather than money. They will save me a trip to the post office. If I did my math correctly, four first-class stamps will more than cover the postage.

Nancy

[npatterson]

#1181499

There are still several sets of reprints. You are all welcome to them. Nancy

[kevlyne]

#1181500

Hello,
I was diagnosed with Grave’s disease about 10 years ago. Not long after, the endocrinologist treated me with RAI. It took two treatments to completely kill the function of my thyroid gland. Ever since, I have struggled with it. I have been taking Synthroid and the doctors have had a hard time regulating my thyroid gland. I go from hypo to hyper. My life has been in turmoil ever since. I am 5”5, weigh now about 135 pounds and is currently taking 150 Synthroid. My dose has been changed many times. I even had to go up as much as 175 of Synthroid. My doctor suggested to try a naturapath, who tried me on some other treatment wich made things worst. I have tried to have my doctors send me to a specialist but I am not able to for some reason. I just don’t know what to do anymore. Nobody will help me and takes my symptoms seriously. I often have symptoms of depression and bipolor like. Is that normal? I go for blood tests almost every month. My tsh, my T3 and T4 fluxuate and go up and down. Can anybody help me understand why I have been through this constant turmoil?

Thank you.

Lyne

[loppysmum]

#1181501

Hi

I’m new to the site and unfortunately living a bit far afield to have the leaflets sent out – is there anywhere I can download any of these or something similar?

[Kimberly]

#1181502

@lyne – Depression and bipolar can occur independently of thyroid issues, but as I mentioned in another post on anxiety and panic disorder, the symptoms can overlap. It would certainly make sense to see if someone can help stabilize your levels before making a diagnosis of depression or bipolar, as the symptoms could very well correct with stable levels. Can you self-refer to an endocrinologist? Although many patients do fine with a primary care doc to manage post-RAI levels, it seems like you need more of an expert opinion. The “Looking for a Doctor?” thread in the announcements section of the forum is a good place to start. Please be persistent until you find *someone* who will help you get to the root cause of this issue — and help you get some relief!

@loppysmum – Some of the bulletins Nancy mentioned are only available in printed form, but many are available online for free:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://gdatf.org/about/about-graves-disease/patient-education/

[dvbharris]

#1181503

@lynne The most important part of Kimberly’s answer to you is “be persistant”.
Monthly testing of TSH, t3 and t4 is absolutely accomplishing nothing but the reason you are so up and down. A change in strength of thyroid hormone takes six to eight weeks to produce a difference in symptoms. You need a new doctor. Find yourself an Endo that specialized in thyroid. Each specialist has a sub-specialty and a lot of Endo’s sub-specialize in diabetes, which does thyroid patients no good. I have been diagnosed and dealing since May of 2005. Believe, start to take names and kick butt cause if you don’t they will patronize you to death, literally. Good Luck! p.s. If there is a Graves Support Group in your area, run don’t walk, to join it now. I don’t have one my state and am unable to drive to nearest one. I know, I should start one , right? I’ll do that in my spare 30 seconds, since by body is so up stress and all that!!
p.s.s. I am trying to find post RAI support and there is not a lot of information out there. Primary Care doctors are not trained to treat or manage such a complex disease as Graves. Contrary to popular belief, antidepressants do not cure everything, they are what I call “don’t give a ____ meds”! They only cover up or make you not care about real issue! (I’m going to catch it for that but if my doctors prior to 2005 have listened instead of prescribing them, I might have a different story to tell!

[npatterson]

#1181496

In response to the couple of posts about “diagnosis” and treatment of bi-polar and/or depression, anxiety and/or panic in Graves’ disease: The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) of the American Psychiatric Association has some very clear guidelines about these disorders when they are connected to a physical illness. Now in its 5th Edition, it points out that although there are clear guidelines to diagnosing these disorders, that when coupled with the underlying physical conditions, we do NOT meet the criteria. There are diagnostic codes for depression secondary to a physical illness (same for bi-polar and anxiety). One of the problems is that endocrinologists do not read the DSM V. They are at least recognizing that there is a problem—but not the source–which makes a difference in how they treat it.

On another note, when used appropriately (meaning the correct medications) anti-depressants really do help. Especially the SSRI’s and the SRNI’s. If those medications have made you “numb” (and they can certainly do that), the dose is too high. Again, this is not their specialty. The medications for anxiety and panic disorders and not antidepressants, although some of them help with anxiety.

You are all touching on one of the areas that prompted the founding of the GDATF in the first place. Not enough information, not enough understanding, not enough accurate treatment. The psychiatric nurse practitioner in me couldn’t let it go! Thyroid hormone level DO make a difference. When they get stable, then it is time to look at the problem differently. Please don’t be misled into “no treatment” or conversely, things like naturopathic treatment. Take care of yourselves.

Take care,

Nancy

[amosmcd]

#1181504

Hi, Nancy–

I’ve been away from the forum for a little while. Are there any articles left?

Thanks,
Amy

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