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Mickey – In no way was anything meant as a put down. I was honestly impressed by your ability to stay positive in light of your situation. I have not always done so well – and you have reminded me that it is possible to do that. I see you as one who did not become helpless despite big challenges. That is a huge strength. Thanks for sharing it. Sorry if I came across as wrong. I find your story an inspiration!
Mickey – My mom was a dietitian and so I grew up with the rule about food pyramids. I think, although the pyramid has changed some, it is still the best advise.
Any of the diets that eliminate carbs really ignor the way our digestive tracks developed. We, as humans, have spent most of our earthly existance as hunter-gathers – where we ate mostly carbs. Occasionally we had a high fat-high protein feast when the guys brought home a deer, bear or lion for din-din. So while Atkins works – it can be dangerous for some types of illness. It really spells trouble for some diabetics.
I think in America we say carbs and think simple carbs like candy or white bread. But the whole grains are excellent nutrient sources – and guess what hunger-gathers ate as a staple???? That is what our gut was made to process and our cells were made to thrive on. I think it is easy to forget that our diet needs to fit the way our body was designed. Cathy
” title=”Wink” />Mickey – One of the strategies we teach to folks who want to be happier is to compare our situation with someone who has it worse. So, you do have a nack for knowing how to stay positive!
I had some issues when I was first diagnosed because it was scary to be ill and to live alone with closest family in another state. And my coworkers do not work on the same site I do, for the most part. I felt so isolated and scared. It got the best of me for a few months – esp when I was going hypo and starting a second masters degree (online so no human contact there, either). Since my thyroid hormones have started to normalize, I find it easier to get out of these fear based thoughts. I really like your point – it is treatable and I think there is always a chance to come out as stronger-spirited people if we can use it as a lesson. In true resilience – I would say if we can use it to find a way to serve society – like others with Graves – then we have come full cycle.
I am planning to volunteer in some capasity for NGDF and need to get in touch with Peter. If I can take my own experience with Graves and my medical background to help others – it is win/win because I, too, benefit from the positive.
Your optimism is a light for all of us!!!
Mickey – There is some good research that says optimists fair better with a variety of ailments than pessimists – and that this is partially genetically wired. Perhaps you have read about something called "learned helplessness" that was discovered when they shocked dogs in a lab at random times (the dogs could not escape the shock). Later they put the dogs in cages where they could escape the shock – but they did not even try because they had become helpless. The interesting thing to me is that 1 in 10 of the dogs never got helpless and continued to try to move away from the shock even when that was impossible – that is an optimistic dog!!!
” title=”Very Happy” /> Recently we have found men having second heart attacks are more than twice as likely to survive a second heart attack. I teach a course to nurses about the health aspects of optimism – there are many studies that are similar from breast cancer to the common cold.
Even though optimism is somewhat genetic, pessimists can learn optimism building exercises and become more optimistic. Somewhat like a weight set-point where someone with a large genetic risk for obesity can control this with diet/exercise – but it is always more work for them than it is for the skinny minney family down the street.
It could be you are an optimist – what do you think????
:” title=”Question” />Mickey – I agree with Bobbi 100%.
In my case, the hypoT triggered high cholesterol so I am really being careful about that, too. Also – I have to watch calcium for osteoporosis. However – a good balanced diet really fits for all of it.
The holidays are hard on nutrition and exercise! I guess we all just need to choose wisely. Cathy
” title=”Wink” />Dear Belou – I chuckled to myself a bit when I read your post. Not laughing at you. I practiced as a nurse-midwife in Montrose CO for years – and your story sounds like so many of my patients over the years. I got many calls from the surrounding ski towns during those years with symptoms that people thought would get better with stress mgt holidays – when the altitude and stress of travel actually brought on more symptoms and lead to a diagnosis. Many illnesses seem to declare themselves during times like that – so, as Bobbi said – there is no point is feeling bad about it.
I can identify with your situation. My job can be stressful and yet has wonderful benefits. When I drew my line in the sand about putting health first – well, I did not get any standing ovations!!!
In fact, quite the opposite. Still – I am being true to myself and honering that – people will get use to the fact that I give more than most would even on slower speed. If they can find someone who wants to do 70 hour work weeks for what educators make – go for it!!! When I do work more than 40 it is for something I find meaningful – like helping the nursing students be successful. I also do life coaching – and one thing that might help you and your sister is to look at some of the knowledge we have gained about happiness at work. I recommend the book "Good Business" by Csikszentmihalyi or the book "First Break all the Rules" by Clifton (I think). A lot of times it is about refocusing what we do have – I know in my case, I can easily overbalance my workload and leave out my social support system. Any boss would love to have us work 80 hours for 40 hours worth of pay – so they are not usually the ones who will help us rebalance. One step at a time, I look for ways to rebalance. Graves was yet another wake up call that I still need to work on that!
You are correct on psoriasis. Yes, the mix of genes and environment are interesting. I have also had some discussion with folks here that there may be a Graves personality. I was called "driven" so many times in my career. I was in overdrive so much that I blew the engine out!
Let us know how it is going!MadameX – I can identify. I have a mild sleep disorder from all my years of on-call. My body just has a harder time falling asleep because I taught it to resist the urge for 20+ years. So, it is not a surprize that my most pronounced, early Graves symptom was insomnia. It was aweful – up sometimes every 45 minutes – which is about once a sleep cycle. I was going through ambien like m&m’s but could not stay asleep. I did go on an antidepressant (thinking this to be work-stress-anxiety) that is also used for sleep. I still take 1/2 dose of that and usually a very small (1/3rd of the lowest dose) of ambien. I sleep great doing that. Talked to my PCP about going off and she said to wait until my thyroid levels had been stable for awhile.
There is some recent research that says 8 hours sleep a night (consistently) makes us as happy as a 50K a year raise! Seriously. I know with being prone to irritability when hyper and depression when hypo – it is probably a good thing to be able to sleep like a baby.
Of course – a relaxing read, bath, exercise (earlier in the evening), etc are all very valuable. Sleep is important to our well being because we produce less cortizol or stress hormone while sleeping. Cortisol has a wonderful purpose of helping us deal with stress short term – we run fast and punch hard. Too much cortisol can lead to health problems. Also – our brains need the full night’s sleep to cycle through everything correctly. Good luck – or sweet dreams! Cathy
Hi all – I have been thinking about Graves and the holidays a lot the last few weeks. I have a job that is busiest between Thanksgiving and Christmas – as our nursing students graduate on Monday. I am the only full time faculty here and so the whole big community celebration is largely my responsibility. My family live in another state – so trying to get Christmas boxes in the mail before I leave, too. And finishing up grades.
I honestly feel pretty human again these days – though still fighting the Thanksgiving cough/cold – which seems to tip off my eyes a bit the last few days. But energy is not too bad compared to the last year. However, I do notice a difference in my ability to have fun with the small things during the holidays. I think I have too much on my plate and I am still healing. What a lesson that is in holiday stress!!!
At any rate – I think I am over the hump with things – I am looking forward to a nice gradution on Monday – then a trip to my daughter/granddaughter’s for 2.5 weeks. I look forward to some hours of total "I am board, what now?" I haven’t been on much as signing in was just another chore. Hope to be around more now. Cathy
” title=”Razz” />Ski and Malia – I think it really helps me to think of every cell. I can imagine my immune and stress system are not normal – hence colds, etc. I know my GI track is now acting more hyper than when I was hyper – and I suddenly don’t have to worry about ever needing stool softners – but sure have an imodium stash. Then I think about how I lost more bone in my hip during my hyper year! Wow – bone cells, too. And my tired eyes. The list goes on. We need to take care of ourselves so we can heal, for sure.
Glad you found us, Malia! Cathy
