[flora]

in reply to: Please Support the GDATF’s 25th Anniversary Fund! #1183907

Hi Everyone –

Just noticed that the 25th Anniversary Fund campaign goal has passed the half-way mark – fantastic! I thought it would be a good time to express my gratitude once again to everyone, especially to the caring facilitators here, for this wonderful forum and all the support it provides – Thank you so much!

Happy New Year to all,

flora

[flora]

in reply to: Terrified of Graves #1184143

Hi PC –

Gee, you sound just like almost all of us did, when each of us got our GD diagnosis – scared, and wondering which way to turn. Well, you found out really quickly what the heck it was, and you found us – so you’re doing great so far!

As others have mentioned, much of this is an agonizing waiting game, as we count the weeks till the meds kick in (for me, it was 10 long weeks before the sun came out, but take heart, because for many/most here, relief came a whole lot sooner). But it’s worth the wait – things will settle. Feel free to “click” on my name, or search for my posts under “flora” to read about my journey so far – I was pretty much a wreck at first, but the great support and encouragement you find here will be a big help to you, just as it has been to me.

So welcome to the Graves Gang, as one of our favourite posters calls us, and keep us posted.

flora

[flora]

in reply to: Thank you (recently diagnosed with Graves’) #1184085

Hi Heather –

I’ll add my “Welcome” to the forum, too! I remember that I felt exactly the same way as you, in Spring 2013, when I happened upon this wonderful site – sooo grateful! You’ll find lots of encouragement, support and many kindred spirits here. Some time to browse around, with a good cup of tea, and sharing experiences with your new Forum Friends will make the “waiting to feel better” time go by – not as fast as we would like – but a lot more bearably.

All the best,
flora

[flora]

in reply to: Things my Forum Friends have taught me … #1183960

Hi Jen – and Welcome!

I was/still am so glad for this site, too! You’ll find lots and lots of encouragement and support here – just search around and settle in with us. And if it’s ever a dose of humour that you need, find “Boomer” that I mentioned (under User List), and enjoy!

All the very best to you,
flora

If you ever catch up with Boomer, ask him to check back in here – we all miss his posts, for sure!

[flora]

in reply to: Things my Forum Friends have taught me … #1183957

And one more thing we learned here, Warriors – and that we all forgot to mention – is the priceless gift of good humour! On those days when I really need a dose of laughter and good cheer to go along with my med, I search out our forum friend Boomer on here. Hoping he’s doing great, and that he’ll drop by again sometime!

flora

[flora]

in reply to: On ATD two years-plus? #1183748

Hi James (and fellow ATD’ers) –

Thanks for checking back in again – just looking through this thread again, it seems like many of us on ATDs are on very similar journeys.

As you saw in my previous post above, my dose has just been reduced from 2.5mg per day (17.5mg per week) down to 2.5mg five days a week (12.5mg per week) – I skip Mondays and Fridays. I am so eager to get to “zero mgs” per day/per week, that I suggested to my doctor reducing the dose to half (to 2.5mg every other day, like you), but he wants to do slow changes with me. I do seem to be very sensitive to dose changes, with corresponding changes in levels and symptoms. It means a longer timeframe to get me to MMI-free, especially where we allow several weeks of “settle time” between labs, but I think he’s probably right. So far, except for a few sleep disturbances and minor jitters now and then, I haven’t noticed much hyper-ness creeping back in. And it’s too soon yet for improvement in my joint/muscle complaint – hopefully, once things are managed to where I don’t keep slipping “too hypo for me”, that will subside.

As long as my journey on Tapazole seems some days, when I think back over the past 2.5 years plus, many things have (almost imperceptibly) improved for me: hardly ever experience the sweats, shakes, constant anxiety, appetite loss, morning dread, that feeling of “disconnection”, or the need to try hard to act cheerful around friends and family any more (some of us Gravesters would be great on the stage, I bet!). So, not quite to my spot yet, but getting there by degrees!

Yes, let’s keep each other posted – helps to know you are all out there, too!

flora

PS: I haven’t tried splitting the tablets into quarters – just going with skipping the two days a week – maybe others will check in and let us know if going with smaller bits every day seems to make a difference … (?)

[flora]

in reply to: On ATD two years-plus? #1183745

Hi Virginia –

Thanks for checking back in on this thread – we seem to have been on a similar ATD pathway. Over the past several months, Doctor and I have slowly been reducing my doses of Tapazole (from 30mg weekly a year ago, to 12.5mg weekly, starting today). I have found that small dose reductions, and allowing several weeks between labs for the dose change to “settle”, has been working best for me. What has been happening is that with each reduction, my TSH first goes down, and then creeps back up on my second blood draw after the reduction. So, we reduce again. Hoping to be Tapazole-free at some point, since I slip a little to the hypo side of things every other draw (still within normal ranges, though). Between slipping a little hypo “for me”, and a known side effect of Tapazole, I hope to get to ditch the joint/muscle pain – my only “complaint” these days:)!

My doctor predicts (and he sees this often in his practice) that I will likely be taken off Tapazole eventually and monitored; then he thinks I’ll likely slip hypo and go on Synthroid – and another search for a Goldilocks dose will begin

A step at a time, with lots of patience in between – and as a wise facilitator here puts it – “Don’t give up”! Thanks again for your post, and all the best to you, too!

flora

[flora]

in reply to: Looking for Feedback – Specialized Threads for Parents, Spouses, Teens, Men #1183984

Hi Kimberly,

Put my vote in the “You Bet!” column – I love going back to the “Off Topic-Just for Fun” thread and re-reading the great stories there! Goes to show that with us Warriors, it’s just not about this Graves thing!
Great idea it is, too, to make help and support just a click away, for Members/Guests in those special categories you’ve identified. They’ll surely appreciate it.

flora

[flora]

in reply to: Another #greaterthangraves story #1183963

Adding my Congratulations, too – amazing achievement! Good of you to check back in here, with such encouraging updates for us all,

flora

[flora]

in reply to: Share your Success Story! #1183863

GREAT POST! Just exactly what those of us still bumping along on the recovery trail, love to hear! Thanks for stopping by, and taking the time to write – and all the very, very best to you and your wife.

flora

[flora]

in reply to: Please Support the GDATF’s 25th Anniversary Fund! #1183903

I’m happy to contribute to your goal, and support this great forum (it’s been a wonderful support to me). Congratulations on 25 years !
flora

[flora]

in reply to: Share your Success Story! #1183861

And PS and a Big Thank You to you, Shirley – you’ve been a pillar here, and were one of the very first to reach out to this frightened new recruit, back in Spring of 2013! Again, my thanks, and all the best,
flora

[flora]

in reply to: Share your Success Story! #1183860

To James and barbra –
Thanks so much for dropping by and taking the time to write such encouraging posts on this thread. I remember reading here that once we reach that normalcy level and get back to life as we knew it, it’s hard to find time to visit the forum – but it’s so appreciated, and is such a boost to those of us still on the recovery trail. Thanks again!
flora
PS: to James – I’m just a couple months into 2.5mg/day as well – hoping I can post my success story here, too, before long – have certainly been learning lots about how it’s done on ATD’s, for sure!

[flora]

in reply to: Post RAI – TSH levels too low #1183722

Hi ccorhn –
Although I’m on a different pathway on this journey of ours (the ATD trail), I just have to tell you how happy I am for your news! All the best for smooth sailing, and thanks for sharing the joy!
– flora

[flora]

in reply to: Frustration #1183851

Hi swhited,
I’m so sorry, too, for the way things are going for you at the moment – we are so lucky to have this forum to turn to, aren’t we? I’m still on ATD, but I know what it feels like to be almost in “suspended animation” from blood draw to blood draw, as the search for the perfect dose continues, and with all those annoying physical and emotional symptoms, too. As hard as it is most days, I try to work in some “action and distraction” (I read that here on the forum, I think) – walk our dog, drop in to the neighbourhood coffee shop especially on rainy days, watch DVD’s of old sitcoms (Frasier, Cheers, Newhart, English comedies), get out into the garden and pretend I know what I’m doing . That tunnel seems pretty long I know, but I’m pinning my hopes on what everybody here says – we’ll get there! Soldiering on, Warriors – one way or another, we’ll all tame the GD beast!
All the best,
flora

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