[Antony]

in reply to: I’m curious how many of you diagnosed with graves have also had tonsillectomy? #1184999

I had my tonsillectomy when I was 5; I’ve been symptomatic ( Graves) since I was 15 but not diagnosed until I was 43.

[Antony]

in reply to: Does anyone have any kind of excuse from work because of this disease? #1183919

I, too, have poor attendence due to complications from Grave’s. At times, my job can be a blessing because it forces me to concentrate on something other than the shaking and near fight-or-flight nervousness. Is this a storm? It’s so bad i occasionally stammer when i begin speaking, my handwriting goes looks like a 5 year old’s. I can’t eat or sleep. I’ve been through RAI but it’s a roller coaster. Levels look good but I, too experience muscle weakness thats just awful. At 53 i feel like an idiot asking others for help.
Let me know if you find any answers. My email is scottishgent.ta@gmail.com. i don’t mi d anyo e emailing me with their thoughts.

[Antony]

in reply to: anxiety #1175587

Its impossible for me to tell if this is different from another person’s anxiety disorder or not, since I’m not them but I sense you’re right…I just never had these experiences before Graves. I have to say its a sort of sensory overload more than anything.
I’ll get the results of labs next week and see where I’m at; I have a new doctor who told me that the “normal” thyroid levels have changed, so I’m very curious.

[Antony]

in reply to: anxiety #1175585

Thanks…my mind hasn’t shut down since I was 17 (along with getting grey hair) so I’m never lacking things to think about, lol. I’m generally more “together” when I’m working because (I think) it requires so much concentration. I’ve used art, theater, academics, writing…you name it, to maintain a state of peace.
I know certain things trigger anxiety for me in the last few years and find ways to cope or work around those stresses I can’t avoid. It’s awful when it catches me by suprise…either because of the intensity or it happening for no reason.
I’m back on klonapin but would rather find the cause, if that’s possible.

[Antony]

in reply to: need help today #1063583

Marta,
Although my my own life still has external situations beyond my control (or perhaps because of it), I try to come up with ways to lessen my symptoms where I can. One big anxiety trigger for me is the fear of getting lost when driving; my wife bought me a gps last year and it’s helped a lot.
I love crosswords, but found that my mind continues to work on the puzzle long after I walk away from it, so I don’t do them in the evenings (I still struggle with insomnia).
This disease can be overwhelming at times and I feel like I constantly make excuses for how I feel or behave, so every little thing I can do to manage my life helps.
If it sounds like I have my act together, I don’t, lol. But being here just now is probably where I needed to be ” title=”Wink” />
Tony

[Antony]

in reply to: the long haul #1066221

Thanks, Mama Bear:) As far as the meds (klonapin) goes, it was helping me…both with sleep (2mg at night) and being allowed 1mg if I had a storm at home. I’m not sure what my wife read in opposition to the medication, but I’ve never exceeded the dose, if that was her concern. I’m just now beginning to understand the emotion behind how she laid into me about it though…it turns out that my (bipolar) step-daughter told her that I was "obviously on something" and fell off the lawn tractor one day! Talking to your spouse, even over things that should be obvious, is very important, especially when strange family dynamics are involved. I was stunned when my wife finally told me about this incident and she apologized for buying into the drama Carrie invents. Good Lord…this is hard enough to deal with without the added silliness. I guess it also says something about needing to be aware of one’s surroundings instead of just "getting by".

Tony

[Antony]

in reply to: Low Light and Balance #1066187

Thanks ” title=”Very Happy” /> I looked up that condition as well as others that are autoimmune diseases. The strange part is that I haven’t had an episode like that since my endo put me back on the synthroid dose I’d been on beforehand. I was so messed up that my tremors actually looked more like seizures; my wife took me to the E.R., but CAT scans, etc came back fine (T4 was through the roof). As I said, no recurrance since then.
Tony

[Antony]

in reply to: Low Light and Balance #1066185

Ski…What is the name of the other autoimmune disease you mentioned? As I said, I never had another incident of this "tilting" experience, but I’d like to know what you were referring to.
Thanks

[Antony]

in reply to: the long haul #1066218

No answers…just hurry up and wait another 4 weeks. The nurse told me that T4 is high but okay, TSH is still in the basement. She suggested that my bloodwork may not have caught up to my symptoms yet…is this possible?

[Antony]

in reply to: the long haul #1066214

Kimberly wrote:Hi Antony – Good for you for paring down some of those extra commitments. I think that anything we can do for ourselves to keep stress levels in check is helpful.

Have you had your thyroid levels checked recently to make sure you are still in the "normal" range? Or is there any chance that your pharmacy has changed manufacturers for your replacement hormone? (The active ingredient is the same for all manufacturers, but your body’s absorption of the hormone can vary if you start using a different manufacturer.) Perhaps this is just a temporary blip, but such a major change in how you feel 10 months post-RAI is worth discussing with your endo.

Best of luck!

Kimberly,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I spoke to my endo over the phone and went for labs (free T4 and TSH only) March 4th. I don’t know the results yet, but T4 had still been on the high side and TSH has remained .005. My request for the labs came because of some sudden body hair loss within the week prior, I think my thyroid is swelling, tremors are getting worse and my muscle strength is waning…and I’m definitely edgier & hyper.
We’re down to .05mg of name-brand synthroid just because another doctor had me cut my previous .1mg tabs in half when I was in the hospital with an infection (my cat bit me). Within 2 weeks, my wife found me walking outside in my sleep…I’d been wandering around for 3 hours (and I had not taken my usual 10mg. Ambien for a week). Now, as I said, I’m strictly on my current name-brand dose of synthroid.
If the levels look good, I’ll keep my scheduled appt. with the endo in 6 weeks; if something looks off, he’ll adjust the dose. I’m also set to have an ultrasound in 6 weeks, but am wondering if this shouldn’t be looked at now as well. I just keep thinking that something is wrong.
Also, I stopped taking klonapin (2mg) 6 weeks ago and am not sleeping well at all; ambien alone never did work well. I can’t wait until this settles and I can give up some of the meds (I stopped the Klonapin because my wife read something she didn’t like about it and gave me so much grief that I reluctantly stopped.

[Antony]

in reply to: the long haul #1066212

Thanks for the input…I really do appreciate it. MB, I agree that this disease has a lesson of patience to teach; I just need to extend that to myself. I can relate to doing for others (yes, I have scads of animals, a granddaughter, being there for patients of complex surgeries because of a group I’m involved with, etc), but have had to back away from Board positions on charities because I just have days when one extra thing on my plate is too much. I’ll take your advice and try to extend that level of patience to myself ” title=”Wink” /> Wow, that sounds easy but it isn’t, lol.

[Author]

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