[flora]

#1059937

Hi – I’m still pretty new here and am so grateful for all the support. I know that stress can sometimes be a trigger for the onset of our problems. In fact, as my poor husband was receiving his diagnoses for Parkinson’s last fall, and rectal cancer after Christmas (it has been such a rough ride), my symptoms appeared and worsened over the winter, till I got my diagnoses of hyperthyroidism in March. My question today is, does added stress slow down and set back recovery? About 3 weeks after my doctor raised my Tapazole dosage in early April to 5 mg 3 times a day, I began to notice some inprovements – better sleep, fewer shakies, and a little more energy (if not muscle strength or stamina yet).
But over the last two weeks, my husband has undergone pre-ap assessments, his surgery (completely successful, Thank Heavens!), and an 8 day hospital stay – all very hard on both of us. During this time, I seem to have slipped back – energy and muscle strength has decreased, muscle/joint aches and pains are worse, especially thighs, across the lower back from hip to hip, knees and hips. I feel so guilty for even mentioning my own situation, considering all that he has endured, but can it happen that severe stress such as we have been through, magnifies aches, pains, dragged out feeling – and discouragement? I appreciate your input, as always…
Flora

[vanillasky]

#1178898

In my personal opinion, I would say “yes.”

My last major flare up was last summer when my Tsh dropped rapidly from 2.39 to nearly 0.0l when my husband was diagnosed with renal failure. He spent awhile in the hospital and had to have surgery. Things were touch and go there for awhile and I began to feel worse. At first I thought it was the summer heat, but it was my dropping TSH that had me losing weight, rapid heart and super bad heat intolerance.

It took months for my TSH to go normal range again. that’s how my Graves’ was discovered.

[snelsen]

#1178899

Hi Flora, glad you found the forum. Nice to meet you. I’m one of your new friends!
I know that stress has been mentioned as a factor several times on the forum. But I am not sure how subjective that is. Graves’ itself is so stressful!

With all that is going on in your life, and your husband’s life, I can certainly understand why you feel discouraged on all fronts. That’s ’cause you are normal even with Graves’!

However, your muscle pains are definitely one of the lovely side effects from Tapazole.

This is a wonderful place to mention your own situation. Believe me, Graves’ is a serious illness, difficult to have. I see why you say you feel guilty about thinking of yourself, b/c of your husband’ recent diagnoses, but we women have to work hard an not feeling so darn guilty. We all do that, and hopefully, the generations to come will not be burdened with that particular non-gift and trait!

In closing, it seems reasonable that the added stress is another stressor to your plate full of stressors! ANd it does make a difference. I am not sure if anyone can state whether it slows down recovery.

I am SO SO happy that your husband’s surgery was successful with a clean bill health in that area. That is a sneaky cancer,and sometimes missed completely. Glad for the early diagnosis and treatment.

All for now, look forward to hearing from you many more times.
Shirley

[Raspberry]

#1178900

I’d say definitely. I’ve had a couple of times when my numbers were improving and I was feeling better only to have something stressful happen and get set back some. Please remember it’s okay to take care of yourself too – you are are going through a crisis time too as well as your husband.

[karenz516]

#1178901

Hi Flora, I am happy to hear your husband is doing better. I personally think stress never helps the situation and my body usually feels worse on those days. I try to remember to only worry about today and not think ahead, take a deep breath and move forward. It is definitely not easy, there are days I feel great but other days l don’t feel so good. I was diagnosed 12/6/12, had resting heart rate of 180 bpm and all the hyper signs, was diagnosed with Graves, had RAI on 12/14/12 and just recently went hypo and started synthroid. My endo who I really like said that it will take awhile and be tricky adjusting my meds but try and be patient, so I am trying to be patient. All the best to you.

[Kimberly]

#1178902

Hello – I wish there was better research on this, but from personal experience, yes, stress can be a trigger for worsening of hyperthyroidism.

I’ve had a handful of episodes in the last 5+ years where my levels were heading hyper again…and each time coincided with a period of significant stress.

Each time, I worked with my endo to adjust my dose of methimazole, and eventually things settled back down to normal.

Glad to hear that your husband’s surgery was a success. Wishing you both good health — and low levels of stress — in the future!

[flora]

#1178903

Thank you, friends … at times like this when when everything (life itself!) hurts, it’s comforting to know others have been through similar challenges, and to be reminded by them that there is still that light at the end of the tunnel.
Soldiering on,
Flora

[beach45]

#1178904

Flora,

In my experience with Graves disease, extreme stress can bring out symptoms and make things worse.

I’ve had some family trauma and other health problems myself in a course of a few years as also being considered “slightly hyperthyroid” for years prior. I believe that the cumulative stress is what put me over the edge and made my symptoms worse. I was on antithyroid Methimazole for 2 years and never could get regulated even with the slightest dosage increase or decrease. So a year ago I had RAI.

You have been through a lot and it is good to hear that your husband’s surgery was successful!

I can relate as I won’t go into all that I’ve been through; yet it started with moving almost 10 years ago and my first husband dying shortly after we moved and downsizing and then just a series of other problems up until Graves diagnosis in 2010.

I find having an autoimmune disease that I have to take extra special care of myself now. I am still struggling a little one year post RAI yet I can say that things are much better than when my Graves symptoms were in full swing or when the doctors could not get me balanced while I was on Methimazole for 2 years. I had terrible joint pain on Methimazole; I also find when my levels are not completely balanced, I have more joint and muscle pain. I am also still learning ways to better deal with stress as I think with any health problem, stress can exacerbate symptoms. I try to eat right, exercise, pray, I used to get acupuncture weekly which greatly relaxed me, and take time for me. I have a wonderful therapist too who has helped me greatly with ideas to help me deal with stress.

I’m still learning three years later and it is important to take time for you as this disease in itself is very stressful as what I have learned.

Yet there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Best of luck to both of you and please keep us posted!

Beach

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