[amosmcd]

in reply to: Help, desperately please if anyone can.. #1176440

There are definitely huge mood swings with Graves! I have been so irritable and sometimes mean to my boys (21 and 25, the oldest is disabled and they both live with me) and spend half my time apologizing for my behavior. It’s hard when you go from a good day to a bad day, from a good week to a bad week, or even a good hour to a bad hour!

I’ve explained about Graves’, I’m also going through Menopause, so they have tried to be understanding but my oldest, who is autistic, has a harder time with it. He understands to a point, but then still expects me to be “normal” most of the time.

I hope your partner’s family can understand, once you present the facts to them about Graves’. I’m happy for you that your partner is willing to listen to you and I hope it works out for you with him.

Take care,
Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Can’t get into new endo til mid-March–now what??! #1176411

Thanks for the clarification, Kimberly. I’ll call my primary on Monday and and see if she can get me in sooner.

My endo called me at 8:30am this morning with my thyroid lab results:

TSH: 1.4
FT3: 2.4
FT4: 0.69

So they are normal–that is a huge surprise! He is not sure what’s causing the anxiety, but thinks the monthly ups and downs from hypo to hyper are not doing my body any favors and the anxiety and palpitations could be a residual effect from being hyper. He wants to see me in a month to go over another set of labs. In the meantime, he’s cutting my PTU back to 50mg twice a day, and wants me to start on a beta blocker (Atenolol) to see if that will ease the anxiety and palpitations. He did wonder about psych effects with the anxiety (because I’m on an anti-depressant and Klonopin) but I told him I’m very stable, no depression, and I only take 0.5mg of Klonopin at bedtime for leg spasms for my back. I had been on Flexeril for that and the psychiatrist who manages my meds didn’t want me on that. That was over 10 years ago. I only see the pyschiatrist every 6 months for med management. So the endo didn’t make an issue of it. I normally have no problems with anxiety, have never had a panic attack, (unless you sort of count that one day last week) so I’m glad he didn’t try to make this a psych issue.

Of course, I’m going to probably go hypo now on the PTU like I did with the MMI, to the point where he had to stop it, but maybe he can regulate the PTU a little better. This is why he wants me to have RAI and I do want to stop these swings, but again, I’m leaning more toward surgery, which he’s against.

Thanks again for all the support. This Graves is certainly a challenging and aggravating disease.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Can’t get into new endo til mid-March–now what??! #1176409

Forgot to say that I will see my current endo if I have to before the appt with the new one. It’s just that I’ll be spinning my wheels, because he is not who I plan continuing with. There’s not much else I can do, but I will call my primary to see if she can do anything to get me into the new endo sooner.

Also when I saw my primary Weds and although they drew some labs they didnt draw the thyroid labs! So went in today before work. My endo will call me tomorrow with the results if they’re ready. I asked the lab tech to check with the endo to see if they can be run stat. Hopefully he said yes.

Isn’t it funny, I guess it’s only been 4 month since my diagnosis (although bad hyper symptoms for about 4 month before that) and I feel like I’ve been dealing with the endo and meds and symptoms for a lot longer. I need to learn patience. Hard to do when feeling hyper.

Thanks for everyone’s input and advice. This forum has such a great bunch of helpful and supportive folks.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Can’t get into new endo til mid-March–now what??! #1176402

Hi, Kimberly,
Do you mean help with labs or help getting into the new endo sooner? I saw an ophthalmologist this past Fall about the eye swelling, but he had never seen a pt with TED. So I’d have to find one that does. My insurance just started charging a $50 co-pay every time I see a specialist, so Graves will be pricey for me this year! 😮

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: PTU effectiveness vs Methimazole #1176427

Called my endo’s office about the labs. Doc himself called back– the primary care doc’s office drew other labs but not the thyroid ones! ARGH!! So rushing in before work and he will call me with results tomorrow. ARGH!

All for now,
Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: PTU effectiveness vs Methimazole #1176424

Hi, Shirley!

I work at a hospital and we are not allowed to access our own medical records. We used to be able to, but for the past couple of years it’s a big no-no.

I will call my endo’s office and ask them to step in and rush the thyroid labs. They usually get results in a few days. The lab has always told me that one (or two) of the thyroid tests takes a day longer than the others. I think it depends on what place runs the tests. My primary care doc and the endo are on the same computer system and large medical group (in different buildings) so can easily share info between each other.

I’m not on a beta blocker, although I have one. My blood pressure has been on the low side, so I’d be afraid to take it unless my endo tells me to. I’m not as hyper-feeling as I was before getting diagnosed, but the anxiety is a lot worse.

I don’t have it nearly as bad as some folks on this forum, but I’m not feeling good right now, so would really like to feel normal again. I just posted a new post about my new endo appt. So other worries with that, too. Glad i’m going to work today and can be distracted by that. Thanks for your advice, Shirley. I really appreciate it. We still need to get together soon!

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Memory Tips and Tricks… #1176366

Thanks for explaining it so well, Gatorgirly! Better than I would have. 😆

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Memory Tips and Tricks… #1176359

For those with smartphones (I have an iPhone 4) , using the reminder feature/app has been a godsend for me. It’s so nice to not forget everything. Well, I do forget, but the phone reminds me! I use it for appt reminders, for remembering to give my cat his meds, pay bills, call people, etc. If you’ve got this on your phone–use it I feel much less stupid than I did when I forgot so much–and much less pressure on myself. And I think those of us with Graves can be very hard on ourselves.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Paralyzed by anxiety #1176224

Bobbi, that’s kind of like I felt on Methimazole, slow, sedated & foggy, but it worked well. I don’t feel like that on PTU. Lots of energy, but I don’t think it’s working very well. I didn’t feel this anxious when I was hyper! In any case, I see my primary care doc tomorrow for other things, but my endo said I can get my labs drawn there (a month early.) I’m also going to get the name of a thyroid surgeon and another endo from my primary care doc.

In treadmill news, I exchanged the first one and opened the second one’s box in the store. Lo and behold, right on top was a bag with the arts missing from the first one. And it had more small parts than I thought were missing! My brother’s going to help me assemble it after my doctor appt. I may get to use it soon. It’s only been a month since I bought the first one! lol

I’ll be glad when I get thyroid and treadmill issues done!

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Paralyzed by anxiety #1176221

Thanks, Kimberly! It was a great movie and a relaxing evening.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Paralyzed by anxiety #1176219

Okay, the store will let me return the treadmill. I’ve decided to try just exchanging it for a new one. They will let me open it in the store before taking it home to make sure it has all the parts.

Normally, I have no trouble being assertive and handling this sort of thing. I guess I’m just overwhelmed with a bunch of stuff lately that has me feeling tentative and anxious. Hopefully things will improve now that the holidays are past. I’ll return the treadmill Sunday, and I always have my Wii until I get the new treadmill assembled. This time I’ll ask my brother to help.

This evening I’m going with my oldest son to see Les Miserables. We’ve both loved the story since he was a little boy. Fun!

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Starting PTU today or tomorrow #1175866

Okay, thanks, Shirley. Enjoy your time in CA!
Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Paralyzed by anxiety #1176218

Thanks to everyone for the support! I felt much better the next day. I called customer service and the broken cover is covered under the warranty. However they don’t have any in stock right now plus it’ll take at least 4-6 weeks to get the missing parts, so I’m going to the store to ask to return it. Not sure if I’ll buy another one or not. Still anxious over what to do. I’m seeing my primary care doc next Weds and will ask her to draw my labs. I wake up each morning very anxious, which is not normal for me. I’ve just felt weird on the PTU. Like my brain is not normally functioning, cognitively.

I normally can talk myself out of anxious moments, but am having more trouble lately. I feel better knowing I’ll see my doc soon.

Thanks again for all of the advice. I’m so glad I have this group to turn to for caring support.

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Flying #1176265

Have you seen a doc about your sinus infection? You may need antibiotics. A Neti Pot/sinus rinse can also really help with sinus pressure and pain. Flying while your sinuses are gunked up can definitely make things worse. I am prone to sinus infections and have Graves and recently flew on an airplane without problems, but I wasn’t sick. Also had sinus problems long before Graves was diagnosed.

I hope you’re feeling better soon!

Amy

[amosmcd]

in reply to: Paralyzed by anxiety #1176214

I’m feeling a little better now. Went for a long walk, got my chicken stock bubbling on the stove. So I feel like I got something done. Still very anxious over the treadmill. I dream about it, I’ve been so upset about it. My son said he’ll pay for the broken cover, but I’m anxious (ha) to have it up and running because rain is forecast soon. I got off my walking schedule while I was in California. I feel like I’m gaining too much weight on the PTU and don’t want to.

It has not helped that after 14 months, my period started 5 days ago. My FSH lab test result says “Menopausal.” I’m 55, right at the age when my Mom hit menopause. So now I have another year at least til I’m done with this. ARGH.

Amy

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