[catstuart7]

in reply to: first steps for eyes #1171532

Wow Bobbi, yes if I were to use them as often as that it might help. I guess I had become resigned to being uncomfortable all the time. I will try more frequently and see what happens!

[catstuart7]

in reply to: first steps for eyes #1171530

Thanks Bobbi I would be in big trouble without the drops! I do use the preservative free drops but they just evaporate so quickly. I also use an oily ointment at night to prevent corneal erosion. There’s just nothing that is enough for my eyes to return to normal

Thanks Tammy, yes nervous…scared might describe might state of mind about it all. And no apology needed for rambling, everybody needs to ramble sometimes. I also find my thoughts less organized than they used to be I often wonder if the Graves is involved.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Severe Stress due to Selfish Mother – Not good for Graves #1171544

The one silver lining, and granted a dark silver lining at that, of this illness is that it forces us to reevaluate how we are living. I am most certainly reevaluating many aspects of my life because of Graves. Darcy, I don’t know how much therapy and work you’ve done around the issue with your mother but now is the time. Now is the time to say what was previously normal and painful is now unacceptable. If the stress makes your disease worse, how much worse is okay? How much do you owe your mother? Strength and peace to you.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: How long has this been going on? #1171513

Interesting Harpy, so desperately needing sunglasses and ice water is a sign? I like the idea of claiming I’m just more womanly though

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Maintaining employment while dealing with Graves Dz #1171452

Hi Tammy, it seems critical that you have insurance. I don’t know the details of when Obamacare kicks in but one change is that insurers do have to take people with preexisting conditions. What if you just insured yourself and not your children? I know that would be a shame but you are in a serious health situation. I guess everything depends on where you live too. About disability there are lawyers who will take on your case for free if you agree to certain terms – might be worth looking into.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Long term Methamazole use? #1171477

Alexis, I’m a little scared too but something my endo said made me feel a little better and might help you too. I am going to be starting PTU shortly which is even more dangerous for the liver. She said to watch out for symptoms and call the office immediately if they happen – basically that there are things to watch out for and most likely you are okay if you just stop the med. Sore throat, abdominal pain, nausea was what she told me to watch. Unfortunately I already have a sore throat now! Still a few more days before I start the med though. Long winded way of saying we aren’t flying blind – our bodies are likely to be able to tell us if we are getting into trouble.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: How long has this been going on? #1171511

I like your sig genuineruby. Just dancing right now… It’s encouraging to see that you feel things are really better on the other side of treatment. I’ve read so many discouraging stories nice to hear it can get better. So you believe Graves affected you in preschool, wow that is early! I know that my mother had a flare of Graves before became pregnant with me so I was likely affected by those conditions and I was a pretty anxious kid. I do feel lucky for the most part that I haven’t had the angry kind of Graves, mostly anxiety and brain fog.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Diagnosed Tuesday… Where to go from here… #1171499

I had to wait a long time for the endo too. I was really quite shocked that they would make someone with a serious illness wait over a month but apparently that’s “normal” in our health system. In the meantime your GP can start you on methimazole or at the very least beta-blocker to help your symptoms. Others might know of a single article that sums it all up but I’ve just been reading and reading and reading everything I can find to try to come up with a complete picture. This site itself has a lot of great information. So start reading! Good luck!

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Maintaining employment while dealing with Graves Dz #1171448

Wow Kimberly, that is really awful. Have you consulted a lawyer at all? I know it sounds money is tight but maybe there’s a way to get a free evaluation of your case. To deny someone with a diagnosed serious illness family/medical leave sounds illegal to me. I’m not a lawyer or anything, but just subjective thoughts. Aren’t they required as well to let you keep your insurance for a while – the COBRA benefit?

[catstuart7]

in reply to: What about thyroidectomy? #1171284

Thank you all for your thoughts about this. I am really torn about what to do because due to my life circumstances I really need the quickest route to return to full function. At the same time I have no support network so if anything goes wrong with surgery I am completely screwed. So this pushes me toward radiation but I keep reading it takes so long to get adjusted afterward. Then there’s medication but I have concerns that may not be viable long-term due to my long history of med reactions. Guess I’ll keep researching and thinking – thanks everybody.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Depression #1171336

Depressed here too. Too depressed in fact to elaborate much…wishing you all well.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Why doctors fluctuate so much in treatment / lab values, etc. #1171186

Thanks Alexis, I will try to keep the faith. As of right now I don’t know whether my new doctor will be good or not. I guess just reading over and over horror stories on the net has not put me in a good frame of mind. I am feeling a little better about it all though today. Oh and I can’t believe that doc sent you home with a paper bag! Good for you for persisting. I suspect I’ve had this trouble for many years at a subclinical level. Looking back there were a few times that it flared when it might have been caught, but it was put down to heart problems and anxiety instead.

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Any input on RAI appreciated please / having it in a few days #1171260

For what it’s worth I know of one person who had RAI and a relatively smooth path to getting the right amount of supplement to feel normal. Her thyroid was not a big issue in her life that I heard of as she aged and other health issues came to the fore. So it is possible for it to work out.

That said you sound concerned about doing RAI and not so happy with your endocrinologist. Is this a decision you feel good about? You can always delay or switch to a different doc and do it later. Remember you are in charge!

[catstuart7]

in reply to: Why doctors fluctuate so much in treatment / lab values, etc. #1171184

Hi Beach, I am new and appreciate your post. I am new to the Graves world also, still waiting for my first appointment with my endocrinologist. As I’ve been reading this board and others, nothing has created more anxiety in me than reading over and over horror stories about about people who have had to go through multiple doctors trying to get effective management of their condition. Doctors who don’t even agree across the board about how to even evaluate needed medicine based on TSH or T3/T4 or which tests are standard. People whose doctors not only didn’t help them but made them sicker with the wrong dosage changes.

Yet Graves is the big leagues. This isn’t something we can just go to the supplement store and try to treat ourselves. For this illness we actually need our doctors and their medicine and to walk from it could literally mean death! For me this sudden absolute need for doctors to know what they are doing is scarier than tachycardia. My whole life I’ve had problems with allergic reactions, side effects, and ineffective medications for whatever problem I might have. Doctors have not found me the easiest patient. My best success always came from natural methods, herbs, diet changes and the like. All the sudden Graves comes along and now I have no choice but to depend on the modern medical establishment. All I can do is hope and pray that the endocrinologist I’ve been referred to is a good one, but if they are not? Will I have the presence and clarity of mind to stand up for myself and go forth and seek another one while feeling as bad as I do right now?

Please forgive the ranting…I’m not in a very good place right now.

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