[onlyhope77]

#1018482

I’m sitting here weeping in front of my computer. Last August I first wrote to you all about my 27 yr old daughter who was diagnosed with Graves Disease and had the unusual psychotic issues that not too many people have with this illness. She became paranoid, always scared, thought the government was bugging EVERYONE’S house to watch her – heard many voices all the time…thought she was contaminating everything she touched…she got so bad we had to have her hospitalized – because she wanted to take her own life! I quit my job to stay with her and my grandbaby girl while my son in law worked. We began seeing a psychiatrist who slowly weaned her off the two meds she was put on (except of course her thyroid meds). She slowly began to get better and within a few months she was ‘herself’ again. Still on tapazole but no more abilify or zoloft. We all began having great hope that she was getting better and for months she was totally her old self. Just these past few weeks the ‘thoughts’ or ‘voices’ returned along with all the other stuff. We saw it pretty quickly this time and went straight to her endocrinologist who upped her meds and now is telling us to see a shrink again. I have to call to find a new one since the last doctor moved many hours away! We live where there are hardly any specialists – and most folks are quick to say she is mentally ill and its not the Graves…we found a lot of research to say it is the Graves…even the shrink said her pituitary gland was not ‘speaking’ to her thyroid…so right now I am feeling so low – my faith is still intact but I’m very sad, tired and a bit discouraged…has anyone out there come across these symptoms?? And can you offer any help? We can’t come to the conference’s so please don’t suggest – many of us are out of work and just living paycheck to paycheck…

Please send any suggestions or advice… would be much appreciated!
Blessings!
Onlyhope77

[LaurelM]

#1065170

Hi,

I’m sorry I have no advice for how to help your daughter. I just wanted to let you know that your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Remember to care for yourself so that you can continue to care for your daughter and grandchild. Hopefully there are others who can help lift some of the burden off your shoulders. Usually people won’t know how to help unless they are told what is needed.

Laurel

[snelsen]

#1065171

Hi, I know your plate is very full. Mental illness, regardless of the cause, is draining and stressful for all involved,including your daughter, and the whole family.
I think if I were in your position, I would do the following, perhaps you already have:
1. Contact the psychiatrist who was seeing your daughter. Ask him for a referral. Probably another doc has taken his place.Be sure to tell him, when you talk to him, the symptoms your daughter is experiencing right now. When you call the doc (who has moved) leave the message that your call is urgent, that your daughter was an established patient with him before he moved. If you have not already done it, request the complete record of your daughter’s file. Since she is an adult, you will need her cooperation for this. I don’t know where he husband fits in the picture, but the same suggestions I ah making here can be done by her husband. Is he willing to do that?

I am in no position to be a diagnostician or a doc, but I feel strongly that she has a separate underlying mental condition that is not related to Graves’, and it is critical to have a psychiatrist following her care, and this is a long haul situation.
I sure hope that you can proceed with this asap, in the best interest in getting help for your daughetr and her little family. Please write again.
Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1065172

Hello – I’m sorry to hear that you are having continued issues. As a first step, I would make sure that your daughter has her thyroid levels checked to see if that might be at the root of her recent difficulties.

This is a tricky situation, as many of the symptoms of Graves’ (particularly when hyperthyroid) can mimic anxiety or other psychiatric disorders, including nervousness, heart palpitations, anxiety, irritability, diminished concentration, and tremors. However, when you talk about “voices”, I have not heard about that in association with Graves’. (Although, of course, I learn new things about this disease every day.) It sounds like your daughter would benefit from a team of doctors who are familiar with the cognitive issues that go along with Graves’ *and* with other psychiatric disorders. While it is certainly possible that your daughter’s issues might be totally due to her Graves’, there may be other factors involved as well. And if you can get your daughter a correct diagnosis, hopefully, this will allow her to finally get appropriate treatment.

In the meantime, I would not hesitate to call 911 if things get to a point where you believe your daughter may pose a danger to herself or others. Obviously, you want to get your daughter the help that she needs – but you also need to protect yourself and your family as well.

Best of luck to you and your family.

[onlyhope77]

#1065173

Thanks for the wonderful responses! you guys are all a blessing!

We did find a new psychiatrist and he was a total blessing to us! He gave her a full evaluation and put her on meds. The most important thing he said was to get her sleep…she’s had insomnia too and hasn’t slept in weeks. I know this can make one delusional as well. He’s trying to figure out the underlying causes of all this.

We carry on day to day…not easy but for the grace of God we press forward!
Blessings!
Onlyhope77

[Kimberly]

#1065174

Hello – It sounds like your daughter is finally in good hands. Hopefully, she will find some relief soon.

By the way, please check your "in box", which is under the "user control panel" when you are logged in. I sent you 2 private messages with contact info for Nancy Patterson. Nancy is the founder of the GDF and has a background in psychiatric/mental health nursing. She would be happy to be of assistance, but she is unable to access the boards right now.

Best of luck!

[cynthia]

#1065175

hope you and your daughter are doing bettter while reading your post wondered what your daughter did to improve sleep???? I am struggling with very little sleep and would appriciate any info thanks cb

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