Hi Terrilyn,
I don’t think you’ve made a mistake – I think you can handle this. It’s a big change from what you’ve been doing, so there will be a period of time while you get used to this new reality.
Have your thyroid hormone levels been stable in the normal range for all this time? If so, I really wonder why you’re not feeling better. You may want to find a physical therapist in order to check your muscle strength and perhaps get a regimen to improve it, that can do a lot to bring you back to feeling well and also bring back your overall stamina.
I’ve worked full time throughout my disease and healing — I was diagnosed in early 1998 and went through 2 RAI treatments. I think I achieved normal levels in 2003-ish, and I did feel remarkably better when I reached that point, but I was able to work in the meantime. I know that different people recover in different ways, and we are all affected differently by hyperthyroidism, so the best thing you can do for yourself at this point is (1) ensure that you’re at normal, stable thyroid hormone levels (and that they are right FOR YOU), and (2) get a full physical examination to determine whether there’s something else going on that you can take care of separately.
