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in reply to: After Thyroidectomy #1170305
The first step would be to check your thyroid levels, i.e. a blood test/thyroid panel. A partial thyroidectomy leaves thyroid tissue. Our disease is autoimmune, and if the antibody levels go up, then the thyroid cells remaining can be over-producing thyroid hormone. If your thyroid levels have been checked, and they have been shown to be within normal limits, then the problems are caused by something else.
The eczema on the lower legs. I have had a diagnosis of pretibial myxedema at one point, and then, later, eczema . Who knows, maybe I’ve experienced both? The cure for whatever it is, for me, is to constantly moisturize, with very good moisturizers — industrial grade moisturizers, if you will. After a shower or bath, while the skin is still wet, I apply to moisturizers. One might do, but…. Occasionally, I need to apply a topical steroid ointment, but not often. If I consistently moisturize I seem to be able to hold it at bay. Another technique, but to be used ONLY with moisturizer (and not the steroid cream) is after an evening bath/shower apply moisturizer to the wet skin (this is, apparently key, according to my dermatologist) and then wrap the leg is plastic wrap, and go to bed. The plastic wrap adds an extra oomph to the penetration of the moisturizer into the skin.
You could very well have dry eyes — those don’t necessarily stop plaguing us after successfully getting our thyroid levels under control. If you are waking up with sore, dry eyes, apply a night formula of the artificial tears: it has the consistency of petroleum jelly. And, if your eyes are dry during the day, do use the artificial tears. It will help, and it will help protect your corneas from scratches.
Hi, Shirley:
I can be of no help at all about the dry eye problems, except for extending the internet equivalent of hugs. I am so sorry that you are having so much trouble with this wretched disease. And I do hope that you feel better, soon.
in reply to: How long before I feel better? #1170201One other point to add to Kimberlys — our “healing” from being hyperthyroid really begins when we are at controlled normal levels of hormone. Depending upon how long you went undiagnosed with hyperthyroidism, that healing period can take some time. So, even when you achieve that magic “normal” thyroid reading level, you may not feel the normal that you remember right away. Try to be patient. We do get well again. But it does take a bit of time.
in reply to: How long can you be on meds? #1170211Just another factoid to consider: As we age, side effect issues with drugs increase. Our livers and kidneys become less efficient at processing out the toxic by-products of drug metabolization. I was in my 50s when I was diagnosed with Graves, so that reality entered into my evaluation of which treatment option to pursue, long term.
in reply to: TED and my wedding #1170168Just to let you know I was one of the people who got a moderate case of TED, and had it eventually subside to the point where it is not obvious that anything was ever wrong. The disease is totally unpredictable, so take deep breaths and try not to panic. Your wedding should be as happy a time as possible, and I do wish you and your fiance happiness together.
in reply to: TED and my wedding #1170167Just to let you know I was one of the people who got a moderate case of TED, and had it eventually subside to the point where it is not obvious that anything was ever wrong. The disease is totally unpredictable, so take deep breaths and try not to panic. Your wedding should be as happy a time as possible, and I do wish you and your fiance happiness together.
in reply to: remission!!! #1170206What good news! and I hope it persists.
in reply to: Using skin laser proceedures #1170195A friend of mine has a form of lupus that affects the skin, and as a result, she is to avoid sunlight, which apparently makes the skin condition worse. That may be why the laser procedure comes with a statement that it is contraindicated in cases of lupus. As to whether it would be a problem with autoimmune thyroid disease, the ONLY person who could tell you that would be your dermatologist. An MD, in other words, who is knowledgeable about the treatment.
in reply to: Anyone NOT gain weight after RAI? and VENT #1064904You know — it’s not RAI that’s the culprit on the weight gain. People gain weight on ATDs, when their thyroid levels are brought back to normal. People gain weight after surgery, when their thyroid levels are brought back to normal. I think that because RAI is a more common suggestion from our doctors, that RAI gets the “blame” for weight gain.
So, don’t “freak” out. Become, pro-active, whatever your treatment choice. Eat well nutritionally. And strictly limit non-nutritional sources of calories.
On an aside: I have read recently, and heard from a speaker at a women’s club I’m in, that artificial sugars (regardless of their source) do not help with dieting. One source — from Consumer’s Reports Health — stated baldly that there is NO evidence (!) that substituting calorie free sugars for real sugar leads to sustained weight loss. That sounds counter-intuitive. But both the speaker and the CR report stated that there is a growing body of evidence that the artificial sweeteners, being several times “sweeter” than their “real” counterpart, stimulate appetite, causing people to eat more/bigger portions. The speaker went into an explanation that included the limbic (sp?) center of the brain — which just flew above my head — but the point she emphatically made was that to lose weight, you have to lose the added sugar, whether real or artificial. What she said underscored my recent experiences.
I do not like the artificial sugars, so I’ve never used them. I don’t drink diet sodas, etc. And at least one of the artificial forms makes me sick to my stomach. So, again, I use real sugar or none at all. Last June, I eliminated non-nutritional forms of sugar from my diet. I’ll eat fruit, but I don’t add processed sugar to cereals, coffees, teas, etc. I have steadily, if slowly, lost weight. I’m eating everything I want, including snacks, and I’m losing weight. Just FYI. 14 pounds so far. (As I said: “slowly.”)
in reply to: I’m back… For the third time :-( #1170190We all have to determine our own answer to the question you posed, Laurabee. And I’m pretty sure you’ll get a lot of very different responses based on what others have decided for themselves. But you are the one who has to live with the consequences of the decision, and I think you need to make it based on your own experiences of how well (or not) the drug therapy you’ve tried has actually worked for you. We are all different. Some folks go into a long, long remission. For them, trying the ATDs undoubtedly seems like it was a wonderful choice. For those of us for whom the ATDs did not work as well, eliminating the thyroid may be far and away the better choice.
in reply to: INS. PAYMENT FOR EYE OINTMENT AND DROPS? #1170178The minute something goes over the counter, my drug insurance stops payment. The only way I’ve found — but perhaps someone else has had other experiences — is if there is a prescription medication that is similar , and I can get my doctor to write a prescription for that. Then the insurance typically pays, at some level or other. I know of no general artificial tears products that are Rx. The only way I’ve found to save $$ on them is to buy the ones that come in multi-use containers.
in reply to: 2012 GDATF Educational Offerings – Help Us Plan! #1170150I’m not sure what was happening, but when I clicked on that link, Kimberly, I got a message saying that they were not able to accomodate my access at that time, and to come back later. ????? Just FYI.
in reply to: Bloodwork Ok but still having symptoms? #1170142People without Gravevs disease/hyperthyroidism do get heart palpitations. People without hyperthyroidism do get anxiety diseases. The key issue though is what your blood tests show. If your endo will not show you the blood tests, have your GP request the lab reports, and see if the GP will tell you whether the tests are normal or not. Or, go to another endo, and have that endo request the labs. There is a rather broad range of normal for TSH, and it is possible to remain normal with tweaks to the medication regimen that lower (or raise) the TSH while still keeping it within normal boundaries. Some of us feel better at the hypo end of things than at the hyper end and vice versa. Try to keep an open mind, though. As I said, there can be other reasons for the heart palps/anxiety than too much thyroid. But given our history it makes ultimate sense to check the thyroid issues out thoroughly first.
in reply to: Back to square one… #1170126Emmtee, I would suggest that since you seem to like your endo, you discuss with him/her what the surgeon had to say. Keep in mind that the surgeon was turning down a fee, turning down work. Why would a doctor do that? In my mind, it was because this surgeon thought that surgery was NOT your safest alternative, and did not want to be responsible for an adverse consequence. Surgeons do not typically turn down reasonable work. They tend, overall, to be supremely confidant individuals. I would very seriously reconsider my options if a surgeon told me surgery was not safe for me. This particular surgeon thought that RAI was your safest bet. You did not want to hear that, but it may be the reality that you face. There are very good medical reasons why different patients should choose different treatment options. What is safe for one, may not be safe for another.
As to staying away from other folks after RAI. Unless you have had a massive dose of RAI — the size that thyroid cancer patients (but not us) get — then, yes, you might have to stay away from others for longer than a few days. I did not have to stay away from my husband at all. I just needed to keep a space between us for a couple of days. Small children and small animals require a bit more caution. We cannot hold them up to our neck area for at least a week. But that does not mean we cannot be in the same room with them. I think you have pulled some questionable information off the web about RAI.
I understand how disappointed you are. Once we make a decision about treatment options, having it denied is frustrating. I hope you and your doctor can get you feeling much better, soon.
in reply to: Recently diagnosed: 4 weeks on the meds #1170071Thanks for the information on the soy milk. Iodine content would definitely explain the reason your doctor said to avoid it right now.
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