[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Allergy to Iodine #1063905

OMG! You guys are awesome! This is why I brag on this site! I am even doing my Capstone final on the relationship between Chronic Illness and Online Support Groups- I wish everyone had something like this.

I am still waiting for the free clinic to hopefully find an Endo for me. So it was something in the CT scan that caused my severe reaction, but it wasn’t the iodine? hmmm, either way that is great to know.

I am also not sure what happened or what triggered what with the radioactive iodine. I just remember taking the pill, going back to my room to start my week of solitude, and within an hour or so (if that) I was sick as a dog! But, it is good to know that it could have been something else associated with the treatment. My fear is that my reaction to whatever the problem was minimized to me associating the oblation to chemo or something, and that wasn’t the case at all. I was ill and alone, and if the procedure won’t be done in a medical setting then I don;t want to take the chance of something happening to me again.

As anyone finds out anything else, please continue to let me know.

Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Allergy to Iodine #1063900

Hi,

Usually now when I go to the ER or something they skip the CT scan, because they doctor always says it isn’t as good without the contrast. But, it is almost as though they are trying to make me feel guilty- whatever! The new problem is actually thyroid issues in scanning and so forth. I have had a physician tell me that because of my shown allergy to iodine his only recommendation was removal of my thyroid, and not to try the oblation again. Then he moved out of state… I guess I could try to get my records from there again for my current physician. My new doctor is trying to get me in with an Endo but I haven’t heard anything back. I told her about my reaction to the Amitriptyline, and she said to take 25mg instead of 50mg. I told her I did and it was still the same effect. She told me to try to cut it in half (they are already the size of birth control pills). She wouldn’t give me anything else. I am trying to stay positive..Thanks for everything guys!

Buttamama28

Butta is my son; when he was born he was yellowish so his dad started calling him butta!

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Allergy to Iodine #1063897

Thanks everyone,

I will look it up and see. My fear is having a not so good reaction if they try to redo my uptake and scan. I had the oblation done in 2004, got really sick; vomiting, headaches, severe abdominal pain, and itching. Not to my surprise- it only worked for about 3 mths. I didn’t know at the time that I had a bad reaction to iodine, until I had to have a cat scan for other reasons- with a nightmare reaction. My legs, feet, and hands felt as though they were engulfed in flames; they had finished the procedure anyhow. I was still burning, throwing up, and having shortness of breath. By the next morning everything that was burning during the scan was swollen to cartoon sizes; for weeks my skin peeled off like I had been set on fire literally! I keep explaining to doctors who want to repeat the procedure that I am scared to death, especially since they don’t do the procedure at the hospital- I am even more mortified at the fact that they ignore my pleas, and assume that I just like being sick and don’t want to try it again.

Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Amitriptyline #1063979

Thanks Ellen,

Do I get that online, or would I have to get that from the physician. I go to a free clinic, so my meds only come in a little plastic bag with handwritten labeling. Nothing like the information sheet that would come at Walmart or Walgreens.

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: New to the board, New to Graves– #1063987

Hi,

I agree with Bobbi, be very careful what you read. Also, if what a doctor is telling you doesn’t well with you- then please get a second opinion.

I actually was diagnosed with Graves’ while I was pregnant with my first child. Miscarriages happen, but you don’t have to have any other health issues for that to happen. But, it does happen; I had two miscarriages, but it was before my diagnosis, and once they got things on the right path- it increased my chances of having healthy, normal children (I have two boys: 6 and 2). So you may want to get your Graves’ undercontrol, before embarking on such a physically stressful journey as pregnancy.

God bless, good luck to you.
Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Loss of peripheral vision with GD/TED? #1063991

Hello,

I definitely know where you’re coming from. I have to turn my head completely to see from left to right. When ever a doctor pulls out the pencil, I always give them the "Look at me? Are you kidding…really, you want me to do that?" look. I hate when people stand on the side of me now, because I truly can’t figure out what they are doing unless I turn my whole head.

It is really hard to get an eye doctor, that know what is going on. Unless they specifically tell me they deal with people suffering from Graves’ disease, I don’t even waste my time.

Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: antianxiety drugs #1064049

Hi Kimberly,

As of right now I am at a free clinic, and I only have one physician. She is waiting to do blood work at the end of October to figure out if I am going to stay hypo or not. The only thing about that; I am so intuned and sensitive to my body now, that as my TSH rises- so does my pain. But she is only an Internal Med doctor; most of the doctors at the clinic volunteer. Basically, meaning the majority are like 90 yrs. old, and have retired from mainstream. She wants to schedule another Uptake Scan, which I haven’t heard in years. I got so excited that someone want to do an actual thyroid based test, that I completely forgot about my own issues….I have a severe allergy to iodine! YIKES! So I am in the process of getting the message to her, before the county approves a test that I can’t have- and before she puts all her eggs in that basket.

Some of my pains are residuals. I have neuropathy in my feet, pretibial myxedema in my legs, reoccuring sciatica, and a bad case of the "slippies" in my hip joints. Some of my issues come from prolonged hyperthyroid that wasn’t treated, but the rest I think comes with weight (which is rising no matter how healthy I try to be). Thank God, I am not diabetic or anything, but it is really a fear of mine. I lost my best friend two years ago to diabetes.

Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Applying for Disability+ Trying to Survive= Possible Denial? #1063998

Thanks so much.

I had another blow today. Not completely unexpected though, but my doctor (who I have only seen twice including today) couldn’t in good faith fill out my SSI form; so there goes my case. But it isn’t her fault. I will definitely check into the ACLU, something has got to be better then this guy I have.

Will keep in touch..
Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Endo dropped me :( #1064562

OMG! This is absolutely nuts! I totally agree, you are so much better without him- and he should be reported because he is a jerk, and that if he would give up on your case because he didn’t feel that you were reacting by the book- then just imagine other patients he "couldn’t help".

One thing I have learned about GD is that except for edema and TED, a lot of doctors treat it like fibromyalgia, or some of the other illnesses where some things are there but just not visible. You deserve better and I hope you find it. As for the chest pains- I have been having those for about 2 yrs now and no doctor has given me an answer for why yet. If you get anything, please let us know.

God Bless!
Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: long term undiagnosed graves? #1064273

Hello,

I also agree that it could have been missed; even if the physician won’t admit to it. I had problems around age 8 or so, where I had unexplained pain and swelling in my lower extremities, excessive hunger, mood swings and aggressiveness- and my doctor just said I was a growing child progressing to the "next" stage in life.

I continued to go through this up until my 3rd pregnancy when I was about 24yrs old. That is when I was diagnosed. So from a child, to a teenager, to an adult (through 2 miscarriages), I was finally diagnosed. Now they say it was "probably" what I have been battling all these years.

Geesh!! (Keep Smiling)
Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Recurring eye infections or Styes #1064135

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for the advice. I am following the cleaning list to a the T! lol
Yes, they are horrible and I hope to never have to deal with another one…

Thanks for everything,
Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: antianxiety drugs #1064046

Hi Everyone,

I have never taken Xanax, but at the early stages of my GD I was given Zoloft. I didn’t like the numbing of my emotions, so I decided to figure out other ways of dealing with my depression. I won’t completely knock antianxiety drugs because without them I don’t know where I would be. Even before I was diagnosed I suffered from horrible panic attacks; and I still do. The changes in my looks and overall wellness, made life very depressing for me.

In recent months, my physical pain has become so unbearable that my doctor prescribed Amitriptyline.It was I guess to kill two birds with one stone. Although it seems to be perfect for my pain, I wouldn’t know about my anxiety because it makes me so drowsy that I can’t function. So now I am back to square one trying to find something for both anxiety and pain.

If anyone has any suggestions I could discuss with my physician I would truly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Buttamama28 (Whitni)

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: MRSA #1065904

Hi,
It’s good to be back. Yes I have MRSA in my leg right now and it has been there for almost a month. I have been on three different antibiotics including injections. No I have not been tested but I will look into that.
Thanks,
Buttamama28

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: Futhering Education and Rules of Disability #1070425

Thank you Nancy,
I will definitely give them a call tomorrow…

[Buttamama28]

in reply to: TSH Level #1070427

Hi there,
Do you know what your T3 or T4 is? I don’t know if you can really determine anything with jut the TSH level. But, I do remember when my TSH was at 12.01 I was extremely Hypo; and I was suffering from alot of joint pain, blurred vision, confusion, etc. Are you experiencing any hypo symptoms.

Does your doctor know all of this, I mean if the numbers are decreasing; then I guess we are to assume someone is on the right track. Just stay in touch with your Endo, and be sure to let him know if you start feeling different. No matter how small the change- let them know.

Sorry not much help,
Buttamama

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