[Ski]

#1075290

Welcome, May!

I’m so glad you’re feeling better! Remember, it’s going to take a while, but from now on you should be able to mark at least some kind of small improvement each and every day, so look for it, appreciate it, and yet, continue to take good care of yourself. Go easy. Your body has been through an assault, and just the massive shifts in thyroid hormone levels (even though you’re moving from an unhealthy situation to a healthier one) are stressful on your body. It’s something that takes a while, but you really sound as if you’ve got the right attitude, and you’re taking it well, one step at a time.

And you found one of the best sources of information available too (pat pat ~ ouch, my arm!).

We’re glad to have you. Feel free to ask any questions that come up!

[RNwithGD]

#1019960

Hello my fellow Graves Groupies……….thank you for allowing me to join you all!!
(like we would be following this disease around begging for it to give us some attention!!)
My name is May and I was diagnosed with Graves a few months ago. But I have had most of these symptoms since the birth of my son
six and a half years ago.(if not longer) They came on one at a time, or shall I say I visited my primary physician seeking treatment for one symptom at a time. Since i was going through a nasty divorce at the time, the symptoms could easily be blamed on stress. Depression, weight loss, anxiety attacks, insomnia, the jitters, paranoia. Yes, i do believe I have had almost all of the symptoms listed under Hyperthyroidism.
My diagnoses probably would still be undetected had my primary physician not ordered preop labs to check my thyroid levels. I was scheduled to have surgery at the end of June for herniated disc in my neck (all the lifting at work), he called and cancelled it the night before. He tells me I am extremely hyperthyroid and should see an Endocrinologist right away. Thank god for him. To make a long story short, I finally see him and he puts me on atenolol and methimazole. I start to feel better after two days of medication. Wow, I didnt know I felt so bad. We spend 6 weeks adjusting the meds. until he feels I am stable enough to have surgery. I have my surgery and 6 weeks later I have my thyroid scan and uptake test to prepare for RAI treatment. My uptake was 97%… wow. I had my RAI tx a week ago Friday.(the good news about having such a high percentage of uptake is the dosage of the RAI is lower. the more your thyroid uptakes, the smaller the dose. yeah me!I am starting to feel better already. Only taking Atenolol for increases heartrate (120-130s resting) gulp. I am anxious to see how my lab results will turn out next month. Heck, lets just put all the physical symptoms aside….. I cannot wait to be just a little bit in control of my emotions. good grief. For a period of time I thought I was losing my mind……….oh wait, maybe that is real. hmmmmmmm ” title=”Very Happy” />

[RNwithGD]

#1075291

Thank You for the welcome!!
I wanted to join your group to be able to "chat" with others in the same situation.
Its kind of exhausting having to explain what is going on with me! They dont really understand anyhow! I have had these symptoms for so long, it is actually a relief to have some answers!!
One of my biggest issues in exhaustion……..i am a maniac with this "hyper" thyroid. but i am typically exhausted by lunchtime!! hymph
Some days I could sleep all day. (after being up all night from the insomnia!) So, i am really looking forward to going back to any kind of sleep cycle. ha.
Anyone else??
Ive read all the information regarding RAI but I am wondering how long it has taken some of you to return to earth.
I appreciated any shared stories and experiences! Thanx again for the warm welcome!! I am grateful to have found all of you. ” title=”Razz” />

[Bobbi]

#1075292

Hi, RNwithGD, and welcome to our board:

I began getting a good night’s sleep about the time I went hypothyroid. That took about a month, perhaps a month and a half. We are all different on that score. But, since I love to sleep, I think I tolerated the (short) hypo phase much better than others who have posted to this board. ” title=”Smile” /> Being able to sleep the whole night through was a distinct luxury, after all the time I spent hyperthyroid.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[cathycnm]

#1075293

May and Bobbi – Of note on sleep is a recent study by psychologists that found a good nights sleep improved happiness more than a 50K a year raise!!!! Enjoy that cheep happiness.

Sleep was one of my first symptoms of Graves – up as many as 7 times a night. I though it was job stress and went to my PCP requesting an antidepressant I had taken one other time for sleep issues. (I have a sleep disorder from 15 years of on-call as a nurse midwife – so my environment primed me for having this be so BIG with Graves). I slept like a baby (12 hours/night) and put on 15 pounds – but was happier. I did wean my dose down and lost weight. I kept it as a point where I still got my sleep. Love to be happier! ” title=”Very Happy” />

[snyder95]

#1075294

Wow – a full night’s sleep…that would be amazing. I was diagnosed in Sept. and had RAI in October. It’s been 6 weeks and I still feel like crap. I have not yet started synthroids and have to say I am looking forward to it in some respects. I am emotionally all over the place, have no energy (which is major for me as I am a devoted gym rat in the mornings), ache all overand have a "resting" heartrate of 110. I am tired of felling this way and know that I have to be somewhat patient but am so frustrated. I just want to get back to normal!

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