[Darcy43]

in reply to: Severe Stress due to Selfish Mother – Not good for Graves #1171542

Alexus You are blessed.

Thanks for your words of encouragement. My mom is just a shrew and has been miserable her entire life. I wish I could stay positive, she has suffered through cancer 3 times due to her negativity and she is bitter. All her kids have been there for her, but she is just one of those folks who doesn’t feel better until she makes you suffer. I had to move 2000 miles away just for some peace of mind to get away from her. I had to come back because she fell ill and only wanted my help. She like to try to abuse me. I am not a victim and I hold my own, but she knows I will never disrespect her (i.e. curse her out and tell her to mind her business) so she pushes and pushes. I extend my hand and she spits in it EVERYTIME. Just tired of it but you cannot chose your mom and you have to honor them. I am grateful she gave me life (with the help of my daddy and GOD), but I have given my pound of flesh for that several times over. Enough is enough.

I am just trying to find the healthy balance and I pray ALOT.

Yes my boyfriend is a Godsend. My mom is super jealous. I was divorced and wants me miserable. I said nope and after 7 years found the love of my life. Then I get Graves…

I will suck it up. Glad I could vent on this board. She is incorrigible…

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Maintaining employment while dealing with Graves Dz #1171455

Kimberly was right with the cost. Some attorney say if they lose you do not pay (fees) but you will be responsible for “costs” – letters, postage, copies, etc.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Maintaining employment while dealing with Graves Dz #1171454

Kimberly is spot on.

If you were receiving treatment and they were aware of it and your performance suffered but you were getting treatment for a medical condition, you may have a case regarding wrongful termination. Definitely seek the advice of an experience lawyer and even if it doesn’t fall under the ADA, wrongful termination is illegal…even if it is an AT Will state. You have 180 to file a Complaint before the statute of limitation run out. I would file that Complaint and see what happens. It cannot hurt. As long as the Complaint is filed timely, this will buy you some time to get a lawyer. You can actually get a form off the internet, state your name, jurisdiction, damages, etc. and file the complaint to initiate the lawsuit just so you will not miss the deadline and then hire an attorney ($200 usually). Again, not giving legal advise, just proceedural. I hope you saved each and every email, paper trail, etc. because you are in for a fight nonetheless.

Some attorney may take your case on a pro bono (free) basis. They have a certain amount of hours to keep regarding pro bona cases per year.

Good luck (I work in a law firm – certified paralegal 24 years and I do products liablity, personal injury, tort litigation and family law – all defense, but hope it helps).

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Depression #1171343

Thank you NCPatches…I hope you start to feel better. We are not alone.

Hang in there and we will just have to buy stock in Kleenex lol.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Allergic Reactions to I-131 #1171507

Hi

There are a ton of posts regarding RAI on this site. Try searching under that topic first to see if it helps.

Good luck.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Stress & Graves’ #1171496

I am so sorry to hear about what you are going through. Extreme stress indeed. Listed below are some helpful links that connects stress with Graves and also some how to counteract stress the best way. Everyone is different and I hope you can find some way to push through these stressful times. You are handling several deaths (a loved one, a marriage) and it can be brutal. I have been there. You are in my prayers.

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Graves_brochure.pdf

http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/584094_2

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9560867

And this book is truly helpful.

http://books.google.com/books?id=WlzrXFvbOSgC&pg=PA48&dq=stress+and+graves+disease&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5_WaT9j1M8KuiALq8JmtDg&ved=0CFAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=stress%20and%20graves%20disease&f=false

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Numbness in limbs #1171432

I just saw on Medicinenet.com this regarding methimazole:

SIDE EFFECTS: Methimazole is generally well-tolerated with side effects occurring in 3 out of every 100 patients. The most common side effects are related to the skin and include rash, itching, hives, abnormal hair loss, and skin pigmentation. Other common side effects are swelling, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, loss of taste, joint or muscle aches, numbness and headache.

Numbness…bingo. That makes sense to me. I know everyone has different side effects. I never experienced a rash, but I had the itching for a quick bit. I have the abnormal hair loss (you have seen my post – hate this thin stuff, but it is slowly growing back thank goodness) and I do not have the loss of taste (I wish, have gained 10 pounds thanks to a now much slower metabolism due to meds).

I will see if an adjustment can be made (again) with my dosage.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Numbness in limbs #1171431

thanks for the responses. I think it is connected. Before I was diagnosed, I never had numbness or circulatory problems. Who knows. I will see my doctor next week and see what she says.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: The thyroid and gluten #1061153

I think going gluten free would not hurt. Everyone is different but I would rather try something that may help and not hurt than to just sit back and leave everything into my physician’s hand while a lot of the times, they are guessing and testing on us to see if this works, ok, it doesn’t, lower the dosage, ok, increase the dosage, and so on and so on. I would never do anything intentionally to place myself in harm’s way but I have to try. I will continue to take it one step at a time, but I am also going to continue to research and use my meds, as well as alternative methods.

We shall see. Congrats to those who are getting better and who are having success with or without changes in lifestyles, etc.

This disease is a bear.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: grave affecting pms? #1171399

Harpy your partner is one lucky duck!!

I am buying steak and orange juice this afternoon in preparation.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Is it bad to drink coffee #1171384

Thanks I bought some more herbal teas and drink them in the afternoon. Like a cigarette smoker I guess I have that urge with the smell of coffee and sipping it all day, so using tea as a substitute is a good thing indeed. I hope it helps. Thanks for all the great advice.

Adrenal I totally understand where you are coming from with the mood swings. That was a great anology about trying to put the disease asleep. I love it. I wish you all the best in recovery.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Depression #1171338

Thanks for the post and the link on depression.

On a side note: I wish that we could not *see* how many folks lurked on this page but did not reply. I was at my breaking point that night and it felt even more depressing to see that some folks read and looked at this but offered no support. I know, maybe they didn’t know what to say. It just made me feel a bit saddened. Those who did post I am truly thankful, as I am sure the one who started this post is happy for responses too.

There are may symptoms or topics that many do not have so I can understand not commenting, but I do know that most have either suffered from depression or know someone who has. We have all been affected by suicidal tendencies.

Cannot wait until my meds really kick in and kick out my sensitivity chip. I won’t care so much then LOL. thanks for “lurking” if you are reading this and will not post a reply.

this board is helping me. In so many ways.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: grave affecting pms? #1171396

I posted about having bad cycles once my hormones were stabilizing (according to my endo). Research, as well as this physician who specializes in endochronology studies support this fact. Unfortunately it *might* intensify all the other elements that comes with menses, namely PMS, irritability, etc. I never have PMS but I get severe cramps. When my hypER was at it’s worst (prior to taking the Methi) I had shorter period and not as much pain. Now that I am normalizing, my periods are longer and I have severe cramps. My doctor told me this means I am getting better. The thyroid is connected to the reproductive organs, etc. and they all react off the pituatary gland in the brain so it makes sense, but it is so unfair. I now drink herbal tea (since coffee is a no no – makes my cramps worse) and I take a mild pain reliever. That helps me along with a heating pad at night. I am hoping in a few months my cycles will calm down.

If it isn’t one thing it is another. Again, everyone is different.

Good luck and I hope this helps. (P.S. the herb Red Rasberry, along with Don Quai helps with my cramps/hormone levels) And yes, I still take my medicine. It doesn ‘t bother it and it doesn’t affect my liver (the herbs)

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Is it bad to drink coffee #1171380

That is great advice regarding Tylenol. I too have cut out shellfish (not all seafood, just those high in iodine), scallops, and red meat (just due to the high fat content). I reduced my dairy intake but it is hard to give up cheese entirely. I watch out for the soy products too (my protein shakes have them, so I switched). I will take Motrin instead, but it is scary because that isn’t good for the kidneys so it is rumoured. Dang. I will slowly wean myself off my coffee (the head aches are brutal). I have switched to green tea with honey when I have that crave and I do half coffee and half decaf for my weaning period.

This graves sucks but I am making the most out of it. Trying to stay positive. Last weekend was brutal…felt darn near suicidal. Taking a trip with my wonderful boyfriend who I feel I have been abusing (poor guy what a trooper). Thank you all for replying.

[Darcy43]

in reply to: Depression #1171335

I m praying for you. We talk so much about our levels, the stress and the meds, but a lot of us shy away from the severe depression. I am going to call my endo tomorrow and see if she can prescribe me something to help. I am also going to reach out to a help line. I need to speak to someone tonight. I keep crying and I just feel really tired. That is not a good sign. I went through this before but with the Graves. It is much worse with Graves I guess. Thanks for your encouragement and your post. Yes, i will continue to pray for you, please pray for me.

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