[Raspberry]

#1060276

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone else here is overwhelmed by their papers. Anything that has lots of small bits that must be sorted and organized, like the mail, is much harder for me than it used to be. Is this a GD thing?

[barbra]

#1181724

Hi Raspberry,

I don’t have this thing with the mail, but stringing two thoughts together to think something through seems to be almost impossible. I have one thought and then immediately jump to another one, totally unrelated, which is very annoying and makes completing a task difficult. Short term memory also seems to have suffered.
I do have a stack of papers that need my attention, but that’s not me being overwhelmed, just lazy. I think.

Sometimes it seems that GD stands for Gone Daft.

Hugs.
Barbra.

[Raspberry]

#1181725

barbra wrote:

Sometimes it seems that GD stands for Gone Daft.

Love it!

[Kimberly]

#1181726

I think it does get harder to organize post-Graves’, so setting up established systems and developing ingrained habits are really important. For example, put keys in the exact same place every time you come home. Put all incoming mail in the same box, and have designated times once or twice a week to sort it and to take care of any bills. The very second a “to do” item pops in your head, have a central place to write it down. When my own systems fall apart due to travel, stress, illness, etc., everything falls into chaos!

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1181727

I’m not sure it’s a GD thing – I’ve always been a very organized person (to the point of being anal) and still am… no problems there. Of course, I haven’t gone hypo yet, either, so God only knows what will happen if I fall into that range.

I was just reading one of your posts from November 4 and it really hit home with me:

My biggest piece of advice for anyone starting out is: don’t wait to be well. If you feel well enough, even if still somewhat sick or off, to do the important things in your life go ahead and do those things. Waiting to get back to full and normal health can backfire – not saying I’ve given up because I certainly haven’t, but I put my life on hold for way too long waiting for a state of “normal” that never arrives. Now I know that sounds awfully discouraging so please also read the many stories of people here who feel that they really did get restored. I think recovery is complicated by many factors including genetic makeup, treatment method, and external events beyond our control so it is unique for each person.

I’ve been trying really hard lately to talk myself into something similar: sieze the day, don’t worry about “what if’s”, don’t let history cause you to hinder your future, etc. but the unpredictability of this rollercoaster makes that SO difficult to live by! I can be feeling fabulous, wonderful, healthy, both mentally and physically, and within 5 minutes – BAM – be wishing that I were home lying on my couch and wishing the world would go away. Most of it is physical but the emotional part kicks in too, causing me to feel defeated, depressed and weepy. So I often end up cancelling any plans I may have had and just head home to give in, and either a few hours later or definitely by the next day I feel much better.

Every time this happens to me I swear I’m coming down with something. I feel general malaise, skin feels warm to the touch (but only to me) feel like I have a fever (but I never do) and I just want to quit what I’m doing and lie down. A few times I have even taken work home with me assuming I’d be calling in sick the next day but low and behold, I wake up fine.

So how do you deal with commitments and plans that involve other people? I find myself hesitant to agree to meet with anyone because I never know when I’m going to have to let them down by cancelling. I’ve tried to push my way through this and just keep going anyway – sometimes it works, most times it doesn’t.

Anyone else? (I know, it will get better, right? Darned patience thing!)
Sue

[Raspberry]

#1181728

Barbra, just wanted to add I have the jumpy thoughts too sometimes when I’m a little on the hyper side but not otherwise – once I’m hypo the thoughts slow way down.

Kimberly, I like that idea of having these systems in place and creating strong habits – I really don’t and I guess it’s time because yep it’s all sliding into chaos over here.

Sue, now this is interesting that you don’t have this problem – you’ve been diagnosed with GD for a few years if I remember right? That’s what confuses me so much, I’ll want to say a symptom I have is caused by the GD but it can’t be because then everyone would have it!

For your plan/people problem, I find that keeping my sleep/activity/eating very consistent keeps my available energy very consistent as long as I’m not adjusting to changing thyroid levels. BUT there’s very little flex to this – if unexpected demands happen then energy/focus plummets. I have distant memories of being more resilient than that before GD. Glad you liked my give up and get on with your life philosophy

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1181729

I hope I’m not jinxing myself by saying this but, no, haven’t had the organizational or overwhelmed issue. Thank GOD – my job is to keep me and all my execs organized and if that starts slipping we’re all in big trouble! Yes, I’ve had Graves for 7 or 8 years now but have always been hyper, even while on ATD’s and even now after my TT. Haven’t gone hypo at all yet so who knows, maybe I will experience this when I get out of hyper range.

I agree… if I get plenty of sleep, don’t eat much sugar or carbs, and don’t do anything overly stressful or strenuous, I can be more predictable, but even though I’ve only changed my Levothyroxine by 6 mcg. a day (4 weeks ago) I KNOW I am feeling the affects. How ridiculous is THAT!?!?!

Hang in there – this has got to get better for all of us . . . we deserve it, damn it.
Sue

[Kimberly]

#1181730

@SueAndHerZoo – When I lived in another city many years ago, I had a good friend with lupus. She used to joke with people, “I don’t make plans – I make suggestions.” Everyone in our group understood that she had good days and bad days…and we took it in stride if she wasn’t able to follow through on a particular day.

[SueAndHerZoo]

#1181731

Kimberly wrote:

@SueAndHerZoo – When I lived in another city many years ago, I had a good friend with lupus. She used to joke with people, “I don’t make plans – I make suggestions.” Everyone in our group understood that she had good days and bad days…and we took it in stride if she wasn’t able to follow through on a particular day.

OMG – I love that – I think I’m going to steal it! And I think calling it a “suggestion” rather than a plan will take some of the pressure off of me to feel good that day because worrying about that in itself can make you feel crappy.

Thanks!
Sue

[amosmcd]

#1181732

I have always been disorganized, so having GD has done nothing to make it worse or better. My cognitive and memory skills seem to have gone down the tubes, but my GD diagnosis coincided with menopause, so my brain is screwed one way or another! 😮

I think I’m in the same boat as a lot of women my age (56) so I try not to get too frustrated.

I did hire a professional organizer once and while she helped me with my huge paper piles, the strong tendency to be disorganized never changed, so it was pretty much a waste of money. I’m trying to just accept I will never have a tidy house.

Amy

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