[jclark3]

#1059709

I had my thyroid ablated last month and because I’m “young and healthy” my endocrinologist said that I should just “ride it out” with the Atenolol (no Methimazole) until my thyroid hormone levels drop.

This is harder than I thought it would be. I’ve recently noticed that a lot of how my day will go depends on whether I get a seat on the bus in the morning. I’ve run 3 sub-4 hour marathons and now I barely have energy to stand on the bus. Just standing on the journey on the way to work takes all of the energy out of my arms and legs. I’m not going to ask for a seat because to everyone else I look fit and healthy and they can’t see the trembling in my hands after I’ve been holding onto the pole. It is not unusual for me to spend a few minutes crying and shaking in the bathroom after I get into work these days.

I try to keep my outlook positive and my emotions in check but it doesn’t seem to work out. This morning after standing on the bus on my way to work the woman in front of me let the door go in my face twice. Instead of just thinking “how rude” as would be usual for me I let rip. I shouted “Oiii, it would have been nice if you could have held the door!!!!” Of course this was in the lobby of the building and eyes were rolled. She apologized but I just stormed off.

I’ve also lost it a number of times with my fiancee. On Valentine’s day I had a busy day at work and then rushed out to get his present and by the time I got back I was so strung out that I just burst into tears and thus ruined Valentine’s day. I’ve been hyperthyroid since we’ve been engaged and I really feel as though Graves’ is robbing me of one the supposedly happiest times of my life.

I don’t know what to do. Trying to “hold it in” clearly isn’t working. I’ve already reduced my schedule a lot since the RAI. I can’t go into work later as I get tired in the late afternoon and have problems working much past 6:30pm. I guess I could try going into work very early to miss the crowds but that would mean missing out on yet more sleep as Graves’ seems to have moved my circadian clock so that I now have trouble going to sleep before 1am (I’ve always been an 11pm on the dot person). Working from home is not an option right now.

Maybe the people on this forum have come up with some good coping strategies? If so I would love to hear them so I don’t keep making myself look like a crazy person.

[vanillasky]

#1176943

I wish I could tell you how to cope, I am pretty much dealing with just feeling lousy about 98 percent of the time. All I keep doing is praying ( I have a strong belief in God) and I have obtained some self-help books that help me know myself and realize that a lot of it is attitude.

I guess what I am trying to say is to Believe that you will over-come this and get better.

Don’t ever feel bad about yourself for outbursts at rude people. I have it all the time. I swear like a trucker! LOL! And I suppose it’s not very lady-like, it is just downright vulgar, but you know what? I don’t care! LOL!

We have to become selfish in my opinion. This is OUR time now to take care of ourselves and pamper ourselves. This disease isn’t just a case of acne we go to the dermatologist for. This disease is a lot like luggage. It seems to be there forever and goes with us no matter where we go.

I ask God a lot “why me?” but then I just read a story in the newspaper this morning about a 16 month old child that died. Now, that makes me feel very guilty about myself. I am still alive although I have Graves’ and menopause and am going through Hell with hot flashes, palpitations, and sweating. They make me tired. So tired sometimes I can’t get out of bed. I feel like a pin cushion. Doctors want labs once every 4 weeks. It sucks!

I cry a lot too. I think it’s a cleansing of the soul. If it makes you feel better (it helps me) CRY!

None of this helps very much but just want you to know you are not alone and we are all here. Rant and rave. I do. And the people here never let me down with their great words and encouragement.

Karen

[Kimberly]

#1176944

Hello – RAI takes anywhere from 6-18 weeks to fully do its work, so hopefully, better days for you are just around the corner. If you continue to feel symptomatic, though, giving the ATDs a try would be an option…we’ve had a couple of post-RAI members here who chose that option until their levels started to even out.

We have one member here who hasn’t posted in a while, but I remember she told me that she put up a sign in her home that said, “It’s not YOU, it’s your THYROID.” That was a good reminder for her that the issues she was experiencing were *not* due to any sort of personal weakness, but rather a medical issue that would eventually resolve.

You might also google “Sleep Hygiene” to see if you can get some tips that might help you get some sleep a little earlier in the evening. Obviously, the ultimate cure for inability to sleep will be to get your hyperthyroidism resolved, but in the meantime, perhaps there are some nighttime rituals that might help improve the quality/duration of your sleep time.

Please hang in there – and feel free to vent on this forum if you need to!

P.S. I have a t-shirt that says, “I Have Graves’ Disease – What’s Your Excuse?” Maybe if you wore that on the bus, people would clear out a space for you.

[jaqeinquotation]

#1176945

Gosh I need to get a shirt like that made. As a matter of fact…I’m going to get a few of them done up in different colors.

Hang in there jclark3…I’m praying for us all!

[catstuart7]

#1176946

JClark, that sounds really rough – please contact your endocrinologist and insist on labs and some sort of help. You could still be too hyper and need ATD’s or becoming hypo and starting to need replacement. Either way you shouldn’t have to suffer just because you are “young and healthy” as your endo said. You might find reading AZGravesGuy’s thread helpful – if you use the search function should find it, it is very long and is his chronicle of RAI and post-RAI experiences.

[jclark3]

#1176947

Hi All,

Thank you all for the kind words and useful information. It’s a great help to know that (unfortunately) other people are going through similar things. I’ll definitely read about AZGravesGuy’s experiences.

I love that Kimberly has a Graves’ T-shirt. I was actually thinking along similar lines after my outburst on Tuesday, maybe something like “Graves’ rage: approach with caution”.

I watched GMA this morning before leaving for work and they showed a snippet of Robin Robert’s interview with Barbara Walters and Robin (that woman has been through so much, and come through it so well) was saying that when things get bad with her she repeats the mantra “left foot, right foot, breathe”. I think I’m going to try that when I feel myself getting hot and bothered. Maybe if I catch it early enough I can stop myself from getting caught up in the spiral of hormones and having an outburst.

I hope that everyone has a good weekend and thanks again.

Jo

[Kimberly]

#1176948

Hi Jo – Thanks for checking in…hopefully, you will see things continue to improve. LOVE the advice from Robin Roberts…what a great comeback story!

[Robboford]

#1176949

Hi all,
Love the words on your T-Shirt Kimberly. I hope you don’t mind, but I have typed them up and taped it to the front of my Desk. A great talking point so far!
Cheers
Debbie

[Author]

Posts