[Anonymous December 15, 1996 at 9:11 am Post count: 93172]

#1166692

Here’s to all the men who put up with us! I know it’s hard on you. I can’t
blame you for being frustrated and even angry. My boyfriend is probably ready
to wring my neck, but lucky for me, he hasn’t given in to the temptation yet.

Anonymous

December 15, 1996 at 11:07 am

Post count: 93172

#1166693

Hey Cincy! Thanks for taking such a great interest into your wife’s well being. You gotta be a good guy.

My wife is real good at ignoring my “pms” like times. You gotta know that it is the graves’ talking. What she would tell you I think is that it is about standing in another person’s reality. We all live in our own little reality about how life is occuring for us, for your wife, it is influenced by the disease. Deep subjsect I am talking about, do you get a glimmer?

Bruce

May have to do another long post on this subject, watch out everyone

Anonymous

December 15, 1996 at 1:48 pm

Post count: 93172

#1057696

I’ve been catching up on the BB,reading the latest posts.I’d like some
input on the mood swing side of this GD disease. I’m not a GD sufferer,
but I do consider myself a victim of this disease. My better half(?)has
had GD for about 6 months or so, and this was one of the first syptoms
we noticed,along with rapid heart beat. She had the RAI about 4 weeks
ago and we’re waiting for that to kick in.
Anyway back to the mood swings,I know you all have a lot of problems
because of GD, I want no pity for myself. I consider myself a patient
man with a good sense of humor but I’m tiring of walking on eggshells.
I’m used to dealing with PMS but this is getting last all month long.
How do you all or your spouses deal with the “short fuse” days?Does it
ever get back to like it was before GD? Any advice would be appreciated.

Anonymous

January 28, 1997 at 11:54 am

Post count: 93172

#1166694

My wife was just diagnosed hyperthyroid; doc suspects Graves’ but doing
iodine uptake this week so I expect we’ll know more soon. Two questions:
her T4 was over 25, which the doc said was really high but he didn’t
elaborate. Does anyone know if this is still normal for hyperthyroid or
is exceptionally high?
Second: she exhibits most of the “classic” symptoms we’ve read about so
far including mood swings. I don’t think I can put this delicately, but
she can really fly off the handle which had us pretty concerned.
Hopefully this will be resolved or diminished with treatment, but I’m
reluctant to bring this particular topic up with her and the doctor.
Any similar experiences?
Thanks, this BB and links have already been a great resource.

Anonymous

January 28, 1997 at 12:34 pm

Post count: 93172

#1166695

Dear Jon,

Your wife is not the only one with mood swings. I feel like I’m going to kill someone, especially my husband, but not my daughter.

Anonymous

January 28, 1997 at 3:41 pm

Post count: 93172

#1166696

I am really moody. My fiance would like to kill me sometimes; I can get get so angry over nothing. Also, sometimes, I can just get so mad about nothing that I have to put my son in another room while I calm down, because I get afraid I will fly off the handle and do something stupid.

Anonymous

January 28, 1997 at 4:00 pm

Post count: 93172

#1166697

Robin,

Do you have Graves? I was diagnosed about 1 month ago and I had the radioactive iodine on January 20, 1996. I have felt no side effects. Am I suppose to after the treatment? The doctor told me I would feel pain in my neck, is this so?

I need to talk with someone about this disease.

Please respond.

Anonymous

January 28, 1997 at 4:05 pm

Post count: 93172

#1166698

Robin,

Can I have your Email Address?

Anonymous

January 28, 1997 at 4:07 pm

Post count: 93172

#1166699

Mood swings seem to go right along with Graves’. I had such terrible mood
swings that my family would watch me when I walked into the room, and wait
to see the expression on my face. If I looked “ok” then they would talk to
me….if not, I could clear out a room faster than a tornado in spring time!
I am considerably better now, and we can laugh at the whole situation. God
bless family! …Carolyn

Anonymous

January 28, 1997 at 8:36 pm

Post count: 93172

#1166700

Dear jon,
Yes, that it high number you reported. Of course she flies at times. And it is okay for you to diplomatically state that there is an increase in behavior that is atypical for her…it might be part of what helps you figure out when thyroid level increased.
I can tell you, it is very nice to have a husband who went to doc with me. The doc was just as interested in husband’s answers as mine.
Then when we got home and I couldn’t remember everything doc said, my husband did. It won’t hurt her to know that you know that this disease causes , shall we say, a drop in patience…
Best wishes to you. Jeannette

Anonymous

January 29, 1997 at 3:29 am

Post count: 93172

#1166701

Hi Jon,

Welcome to the BB. Mood swings are normal. I’ve had Graves Disease for about a year now and my family can tell you, my boyfriend in particular, that I can fly off the handle about things that aren’t even things that should be upsetting. I’ll start screaming and crying about the littlest things. I try very hard to get myself under control, but sometimes I can’t seem to help it. When my levels were relatively normal, I never got so psycho. Now that I’m hyper again, I’ve become a walking timb bomb. It’s very frustrating, I know. My advice is to be understanding. I know that’s difficult, but I think that’s all you can really do. I really have to take my hat off to all those significant others that put of with all of us. I don’t know how they do it! I hope this helps.

Caroline

Anonymous

January 29, 1997 at 6:31 am

Post count: 93172

#1166702

Ah, yes, the dreaded mood swing. There’s a magnet on my refrigerator door that says “Mom’s mood” with a dangly part that can be reversed from “good” to “bad”. It was constantly changing, although I think it mostly said “bad” while I was undiagnosed and hyperthyroid. It was my family’s version of the “early warning system”.

One thing I definitely noticed about by own mood swings. If I get overly tired (which was VERY easy to do hyperthyroid) I have less control over my moods. Since this disease plays havoc with sleep patterns in many of us, and we’re not getting the appropriate amount of deep sleep that we need, we have to be careful to stay as rested as possible. It might help you to understand better if you think back to a time when you couldn’t get sleep for two or three days on end — were you cranky? Is your wife trying to do everything she used to do? Maybe she’s putting herself under stress that could be eliminated. I could not keep up with all of my daily tasks, and it was a bit hard, at first, to say to the family that I simply could not do something (like cook dinner, or clean up the dishes, or……)but I was a lot less disposed to the mood swings when I kept an eagle eye on my energy levels and didn’t do things if I wasn’t able. I developed a list of places that would deliver dinner for those days when I simply couldn’t cope with the cooking and cleanup. Also, my husband and son began chipping in more to help. I REALLY appreciated that, let me tell you. It’s bad enough to feel awful all the time, without feeling guilt that you cannot do what you normally do, or “think” you have to do, to take care of your family.

This is a treatable disease. Your wife will get better over time (and it DOES take time). But right now, she’s SICK. And any little thing that the family can do to help her stay rested and unstressed will help a lot. You sound like a caring fellow, and THAT will go a long way to help her through this, too.

Anonymous

December 3, 1998 at 12:23 am

Post count: 93172

#1166703

I found out that I had Grave’s three months ago and am on
Tapazole. This month has been really weird. I have gained 4lbs
am losing my hair, even though I’m on the pill my menstral cycle is
bizzare as well as my moods. Today I was so irritable I wanted to scratch somebody’s eyes out. Not really but that is how I felt. Does it get better? I can’t stand the roller coaster ride. Is radiation better?

Anonymous

December 3, 1998 at 12:32 am

Post count: 93172

#1166704

I went through the same thing: mood swings along with anxiety and panic attacks. This was all during the time when they were getting the ATD dosage right. Once we found a dose that would keep my levels in the normal range (or near normal) I started feeling back to my old self but it takes a while. I was told that it may take 3-6 months to feel normal even after the blood levels are normal. I know that this is probably not comforting but I can say that I feel normal again. The bottomline is that it does get better but unfortunately it takes time. Be patient and whenever you find yourself getting down or irritable or feeling weird just remember that you have a treatable thyroid disease and that you will not have to suffer forever.
I hope that helps,
george.

Anonymous

December 3, 1998 at 11:33 am

Post count: 93172

#1166705

I had radiation one yr ago, 1/3 of my hair fell out (came back), and I still had trouble getting my to a “normal” state. I recently went off birth control pills. My levels were screwy once again. Now I seem to have terrible anxiety, depression, and sadness problems right before my period. My endo said my TSH levels are normal.

I didn’t know antithyroid drugs were an option. It all sucks to me. Sorry…not so positive huh? It’s been just over 1 yr and I still don’t feel right.

Hope you do better.

Janet

[Anonymous December 15, 1996 at 11:07 am Post count: 93172]

#1166693

Hey Cincy! Thanks for taking such a great interest into your wife’s well being. You gotta be a good guy.

My wife is real good at ignoring my “pms” like times. You gotta know that it is the graves’ talking. What she would tell you I think is that it is about standing in another person’s reality. We all live in our own little reality about how life is occuring for us, for your wife, it is influenced by the disease. Deep subjsect I am talking about, do you get a glimmer?

Bruce

May have to do another long post on this subject, watch out everyone

[Anonymous December 15, 1996 at 1:48 pm Post count: 93172]

#1057696

I’ve been catching up on the BB,reading the latest posts.I’d like some
input on the mood swing side of this GD disease. I’m not a GD sufferer,
but I do consider myself a victim of this disease. My better half(?)has
had GD for about 6 months or so, and this was one of the first syptoms
we noticed,along with rapid heart beat. She had the RAI about 4 weeks
ago and we’re waiting for that to kick in.
Anyway back to the mood swings,I know you all have a lot of problems
because of GD, I want no pity for myself. I consider myself a patient
man with a good sense of humor but I’m tiring of walking on eggshells.
I’m used to dealing with PMS but this is getting last all month long.
How do you all or your spouses deal with the “short fuse” days?Does it
ever get back to like it was before GD? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Anonymous January 28, 1997 at 11:54 am Post count: 93172]

#1166694

My wife was just diagnosed hyperthyroid; doc suspects Graves’ but doing
iodine uptake this week so I expect we’ll know more soon. Two questions:
her T4 was over 25, which the doc said was really high but he didn’t
elaborate. Does anyone know if this is still normal for hyperthyroid or
is exceptionally high?
Second: she exhibits most of the “classic” symptoms we’ve read about so
far including mood swings. I don’t think I can put this delicately, but
she can really fly off the handle which had us pretty concerned.
Hopefully this will be resolved or diminished with treatment, but I’m
reluctant to bring this particular topic up with her and the doctor.
Any similar experiences?
Thanks, this BB and links have already been a great resource.

[Anonymous January 28, 1997 at 12:34 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166695

Dear Jon,

Your wife is not the only one with mood swings. I feel like I’m going to kill someone, especially my husband, but not my daughter.

[Anonymous January 28, 1997 at 3:41 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166696

I am really moody. My fiance would like to kill me sometimes; I can get get so angry over nothing. Also, sometimes, I can just get so mad about nothing that I have to put my son in another room while I calm down, because I get afraid I will fly off the handle and do something stupid.

[Anonymous January 28, 1997 at 4:00 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166697

Robin,

Do you have Graves? I was diagnosed about 1 month ago and I had the radioactive iodine on January 20, 1996. I have felt no side effects. Am I suppose to after the treatment? The doctor told me I would feel pain in my neck, is this so?

I need to talk with someone about this disease.

Please respond.

[Anonymous January 28, 1997 at 4:05 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166698

Robin,

Can I have your Email Address?

[Anonymous January 28, 1997 at 4:07 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166699

Mood swings seem to go right along with Graves’. I had such terrible mood
swings that my family would watch me when I walked into the room, and wait
to see the expression on my face. If I looked “ok” then they would talk to
me….if not, I could clear out a room faster than a tornado in spring time!
I am considerably better now, and we can laugh at the whole situation. God
bless family! …Carolyn

[Anonymous January 28, 1997 at 8:36 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166700

Dear jon,
Yes, that it high number you reported. Of course she flies at times. And it is okay for you to diplomatically state that there is an increase in behavior that is atypical for her…it might be part of what helps you figure out when thyroid level increased.
I can tell you, it is very nice to have a husband who went to doc with me. The doc was just as interested in husband’s answers as mine.
Then when we got home and I couldn’t remember everything doc said, my husband did. It won’t hurt her to know that you know that this disease causes , shall we say, a drop in patience…
Best wishes to you. Jeannette

[Anonymous January 29, 1997 at 3:29 am Post count: 93172]

#1166701

Hi Jon,

Welcome to the BB. Mood swings are normal. I’ve had Graves Disease for about a year now and my family can tell you, my boyfriend in particular, that I can fly off the handle about things that aren’t even things that should be upsetting. I’ll start screaming and crying about the littlest things. I try very hard to get myself under control, but sometimes I can’t seem to help it. When my levels were relatively normal, I never got so psycho. Now that I’m hyper again, I’ve become a walking timb bomb. It’s very frustrating, I know. My advice is to be understanding. I know that’s difficult, but I think that’s all you can really do. I really have to take my hat off to all those significant others that put of with all of us. I don’t know how they do it! I hope this helps.

Caroline

[Anonymous January 29, 1997 at 6:31 am Post count: 93172]

#1166702

Ah, yes, the dreaded mood swing. There’s a magnet on my refrigerator door that says “Mom’s mood” with a dangly part that can be reversed from “good” to “bad”. It was constantly changing, although I think it mostly said “bad” while I was undiagnosed and hyperthyroid. It was my family’s version of the “early warning system”.

One thing I definitely noticed about by own mood swings. If I get overly tired (which was VERY easy to do hyperthyroid) I have less control over my moods. Since this disease plays havoc with sleep patterns in many of us, and we’re not getting the appropriate amount of deep sleep that we need, we have to be careful to stay as rested as possible. It might help you to understand better if you think back to a time when you couldn’t get sleep for two or three days on end — were you cranky? Is your wife trying to do everything she used to do? Maybe she’s putting herself under stress that could be eliminated. I could not keep up with all of my daily tasks, and it was a bit hard, at first, to say to the family that I simply could not do something (like cook dinner, or clean up the dishes, or……)but I was a lot less disposed to the mood swings when I kept an eagle eye on my energy levels and didn’t do things if I wasn’t able. I developed a list of places that would deliver dinner for those days when I simply couldn’t cope with the cooking and cleanup. Also, my husband and son began chipping in more to help. I REALLY appreciated that, let me tell you. It’s bad enough to feel awful all the time, without feeling guilt that you cannot do what you normally do, or “think” you have to do, to take care of your family.

This is a treatable disease. Your wife will get better over time (and it DOES take time). But right now, she’s SICK. And any little thing that the family can do to help her stay rested and unstressed will help a lot. You sound like a caring fellow, and THAT will go a long way to help her through this, too.

[Anonymous December 3, 1998 at 12:23 am Post count: 93172]

#1166703

I found out that I had Grave’s three months ago and am on
Tapazole. This month has been really weird. I have gained 4lbs
am losing my hair, even though I’m on the pill my menstral cycle is
bizzare as well as my moods. Today I was so irritable I wanted to scratch somebody’s eyes out. Not really but that is how I felt. Does it get better? I can’t stand the roller coaster ride. Is radiation better?

[Anonymous December 3, 1998 at 12:32 am Post count: 93172]

#1166704

I went through the same thing: mood swings along with anxiety and panic attacks. This was all during the time when they were getting the ATD dosage right. Once we found a dose that would keep my levels in the normal range (or near normal) I started feeling back to my old self but it takes a while. I was told that it may take 3-6 months to feel normal even after the blood levels are normal. I know that this is probably not comforting but I can say that I feel normal again. The bottomline is that it does get better but unfortunately it takes time. Be patient and whenever you find yourself getting down or irritable or feeling weird just remember that you have a treatable thyroid disease and that you will not have to suffer forever.
I hope that helps,
george.

[Anonymous December 3, 1998 at 11:33 am Post count: 93172]

#1166705

I had radiation one yr ago, 1/3 of my hair fell out (came back), and I still had trouble getting my to a “normal” state. I recently went off birth control pills. My levels were screwy once again. Now I seem to have terrible anxiety, depression, and sadness problems right before my period. My endo said my TSH levels are normal.

I didn’t know antithyroid drugs were an option. It all sucks to me. Sorry…not so positive huh? It’s been just over 1 yr and I still don’t feel right.

Hope you do better.

Janet

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