[Bobbi]

#1074200

Forgetfulness goes away, typically, when we manage to get our thyroid levels under control. That requires taking the meds as prescribed, and going back when needed for blood work to evaluate how things are going. So, managing the forgetfulness is important. I bought one of those daily pill containers, and put all medications I must take in it. That covers a week, and eliminates the problem of "Did I take my dose today?"" There may be other ways for you to arrange things so that you do not forget. Whatever works.

And, using those eye drops is important for protecting the corneas of our eyes. I managed to scratch my cornea once, and it took FOREVER to heal because my eyes are dry. Keeping well lubricated is essential. So, a suggestion: put the drops somewhere where you will SEE THEM, at the intervals you need to take them. Or, set an alarm (on a watch, on a phone?) to remind you to put the drops in. Over time, you will get into the routine, and it won’t be so difficult.

GPs can treat hyperthyroidism. Having an endo is sometimes the best, but having a GP is GOOD. So, another suggestsion: Don’t fret about "the best" when you have "the good" within reach.

Wishing you the best possible holiday season.

[snelsen]

#1074201

Hi Dolphin/Annie,
I am sending my greeting and support to for the coming year 2011.
But Annie, PLEASE PLEASE read carefully the posts sent to you from Kimberly, Bobbi and myself. You will NEVER get better, stronger, happier, and all the other parts of life that you wish you could have, UNLESS you:
1-TAKE YOUR MEDICATIONS-this is how you will feel better.
2-Follow the suggestions given to you regarding organizing your pills, and if this is too hard for you at this time, have your aunt or someone who knows how to organize your pills, help you with this.
3. There is no doctor who can""fix you, make Graves’s go away." It does sound like you have had some good care.
It also sounds like you are making many of your own problems by not taking your medications, going for labs.

You have gotten a lot of supportive posts, you apparently have an aunt who is trying to help you. Read these posts again. But YOU have to wake up and small the coffee, and participate in your care. You WILL feel better if you take these meds. You will continue to do harm to yourself and feel crappy if you do not take the meds. You will find it is easier to remember things when you are not hyper. Because you take cardiac meds, AND smoke, perhaps some doctor can get you in a stop smoking program. This has gotta happen. There are others on this board who have recently stopped smoking. EVERYONE who used to smoke, know that it is hard work. So, here is a plan.
1. Decrease your smoking. It greatly increases your chance of TED. Believe me, as someone who has been struggling with TED, I can assure you it is hell, and you do not want to do anything that increases your chance of ending up with TED.
2. Take your medications
3. You have as much information as you are going to get regarding orange soda, or any other sweet drink. If it is critical to your state of mind right now, limit the orange soda to one a day. Now that you have this subject asked and answered, put your energy into the area of taking your medications.

Another thing for you to consider about doctors. Imagine that you are a doctor. You have seen a patient with Graves’, and you know exactly how to begin to give back her quality of life back. You prescribe the right medications, and your patient does not take them, or forgets to take them. There is nothing a doctor can do in this situation. Annie, you are really very lucky to have your GP, to have someone recognize your heart problems, and see that you are prescribed the right drugs to help you. But you have to listen to them, and you have to take them. You have said that you have a long history of depression. This is a serious thing, and again, there are ways to help depression. Have you had medication and/or therapy to help you with your depression? When you are depressed, everything looks hopeless and impossible.

You have a lot of support, so this post is intended to be more support, but also give you the knowledge that you have to believe and act on to feel better again. Ya just gotta do it!
Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1074202

Hi Annie – Shirley has given you some great advice for reclaiming your health…and your life! I would add just one thing, which would be to consult with an ophthalmologist — since you are already experiencing some issues with bulging, dryness, and pressure. You definitely want someone on your medical team who is knowledgeable about the eye disease.

[snelsen]

#1074203

Thank you Kimberly!!!
I fell asleep last night remembering that I intended to mention that, plus how important it is to us eye drops and eye lubricant at night.
Annie, when you see an eye doctor, ask for as many samples as they will give you of eye drops. You will learn which one you like the best. It is super duper important to prevent your eyes from becoming dry. I think I said in another post that this can be very very dangerous for your eyes, resulting in a corneal transplant. Keep a little bottle in the bathroom, the kitchen, in your purse, and a couple pockets of coats that you wear…..
Next year will be your happy new year as you grab your power and take care of yourself with the docs…
Shirleh

[dolphin420]

#1074204

hello Everyone, Well it has been awhile since I was last on here and I thought I would update on how I’m doing. I found an endo that I really like and who seem to really care about me. I have taken my meds like I was told to and on the 26th of this month I will be going for the RAI for the 2nd time hopefully this time it will work for me. So wish me luck.

[snelsen]

#1074205

I am so happy for you! What a rough time you have had! YOu will be on your way to feeling like yourself again soon!
P.S. You know everything Graves’ takes longer than we want it! I sure wish it were an "instant gratification" situation, rather than waiting so much. But you are on your way!
Shirley

[dolphin420]

#1074206

Hey just to update I just had the RAI done today and hopefully it will work this time, but what is up with having to eat sour candy that I don’t understand? So I know that the next couple of days is going to be tough just sucks that I cann’t see my nephew but then again theres always next weekend lol alright well I check back and update how I’m doing in a couple days. hopefully I’ll feel better soon.

[snelsen]

#1074208

I have not idea. Probably a patient who had RAI told a nurse at some time that sour candy helped her ??(throat, appetite, whatever…) If you like it, eat it, if you don’t, don’t. Sounds silly to me. I hope people who have had RAI check in with you, but I would be mighty surprised if any of them have heard this little piece of advice before. Do what you want!
The time will go fast, and you will be snuggling your nephew very soon!
Best, Shirley
PS I hate this disease, too. Probably TED has impacted my life more than Graves’, and it still is ruling my life.

[snelsen]

#1074207

I have not idea. Probably a patient who had RAI told a nurse at some time that sour candy helped her ??(throat, appetite, whatever…) If you like it, eat it, if you don’t, don’t. Sounds silly to me. I hope people who have had RAI check in with you, but I would be mighty surprised if any of them have heard this little piece of advice before. Do what you want!
The time will go fast, and you will be snuggling your nephew very soon!
Best, Shirley
PS I hate this disease, too. Probably TED has impacted my life more than Graves’, and it still is ruling my life.

[Kimberly]

#1074209

@dolphin420 – Some docs believe that consuming sour candies after RAI can help prevent the salivary glands from taking up radiation from the treatment. There is some controversy around this, though. The American Thyroid Association says that "the use of lemon drops, vitamin C, or sour stimulation to potentially decrease the exposure of the salivary glands to RAI
is controversial and should be discussed with your physician."

Wishing you all the best! Please check back and keep us posted.

[dolphin420]

#1074210

The only thing is that I don’t like eatting anything sour.

[dolphin420]

#1074211

what is TED?

[Kimberly]

#1074212

Hello – TED stands for Thyroid Eye Disease. It’s also known as Graves’ Eye Disease or Graves’ Ophthalmopathy…but since doctors are finding that this can occur with other autoimmune thyroid conditions, TED is becoming the more popular name.

Symptoms of eye involvement may include a “gritty” sensation in the eyes, dryness, tearing, swelling, double vision, eyelid retraction, and protrusion of the eyeball. It’s common for patients to have some level of eye involvement, but hopefully, you won’t experience the worst of the eye issues.

[Author]

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