[emmtee]

#1170464

Hi! I was just diagnosed in October and I want to offer some reassurance that things do get better. It may help to know that you can attribute your depression to your GD. When I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (they didn’t label it GD until my thyroid uptake and scan showed enlargement and no nodules) my PCP insisted that I get in to see my endo immediately and even called the endo to arrange it, but the scheduling nurse didn’t get the message and said I couldn’t get in for 2 months. From the way my PCP was talking (I guess my test results were pretty bad) I was convinced I might die before the endo could see me. I spent an entire afternoon crying, but the next day I called everyone I could think of until I got it straightened out.

Regarding reasons why surgery wasn’t suggested to you: There may not be any surgeons in your area who do thyroidectomies on Graves’ patients. I was offered all three options (RAI, surgery, or drugs,) but after I chose surgery, I learned that my endo doesn’t actually know of any surgeons here who would do the surgery. I did actually meet with a surgeon, and he explained that the surgery is harder when the thyroid is enlarged.

One note about the methimazole: When I chose surgery, my endo immediately put me on methimazole because it’s dangerous to have surgery when you’re still hyper. Your thyroid hormones need to be in the normal range before surgery can be scheduled. On my way out the door, I asked what would happen if I changed my mind and decided on RAI. My endo told me that I would have to go off the methimazole for a while before RAI could be scheduled. So definitely take your beta blocker, but if you are in a big hurry to have RAI, you might want to check with your endo before starting on the methimazole.

[PolishTym]

#1170465

snelsen wrote:

Excellent post, Bobbi.

Even though I am an RN, and was working in an academic hospital at the time, I had NO IDEA what Graves’ was. All I remembered from my student days studying the endocrine system, was diabetes and some of the more common endocrine diseases.
And that is the position our friends and families are in. They don’t have a clue. So, you are doing a super job of doing research, reaching out, learning every day.

At this point, I don’t want to overload you, but here is a suggestion for your visit to ANY doctor. Ask at the desk for their form that gives them permission to send lab results, and copies of your visit, to your home address, so you can have your own personal medical file. This is extremely useful.
Shirley

That is great advice at the end. I wish I had done it at the beginning, and now I am still getting around to it.

I’ll add the comment about your student days. At general practitioner check-ins I was surprised for awhile that the nurses didn’t know about the thyroid meds I was on, but it made me realize the disease was lesser known than I imagined. But it was a nurse who noticed my tremors and made note of it, and I wish the doctor had the same degree of concern as the nurse. Nurses really are the first level of review, and I wished my doctor had acted on her concern. So it seems even professional medical advice is hit-and-miss. I was told it was probably a hereditary tremor by my doctor.

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