[Gabe]

in reply to: My total thyroidectomy journal #1178806

Hi Amy. Thanks for all the detail. It’s very helpful to those of us contemplating the same surgery. Get some rest and keep posting! Very anxious to see how you are feeling after the ‘surgical’ stuff wears off and you are in the process of regulating your dosage…
Best wishes,,
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Well, here goes! #1173615

Wow AzGravesGuy. What a roller coaster. Exactly why I’m jumping right to TT. I say that with such confidence but still delaying so I’m not impulsively making a life-altering decision. But then everything about Graves is life-altering! I commend your positive outlook and wish you the best!
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Made decision for surgery #1178451

Amy. I’m stalking your posts (haha) watching your journey since I’m planning a TT in a few months. Good luck with everything and keep us posted..
Best wishes,
Karen

@connie. Welcome to this forum. And welcome to the world of managing your Graves’ disease. We’re all different and have a variety of experiences, challenges, and successes to share. May I suggest you start a separate post with your questions about RAI so those that have gone thru it can help you. You have come to the right place. I felt so much better from all the help this forum and the wonderful posters have shared.
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Thyroid disease and diabetes links. #1178672

Thanks all for the continuing education. Another thing to keep in mind on this journey. Added to the discussion list for my doctors!
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Intra-ocular eye pressure…from Graves? #1178578

Thanks Kimberly. I will seek out another ophthalmologist. Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Menapausal insomniac… #1178391

Laura. I don’t have any side effects from Xanex, unlike other drugs or sleeping pills. No drugged, groggy side effects. I do frequently wake up with dry mouth or eyes but attribute that more to the lack of humidity since even before Graves I had those symptoms. Good luck.
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Made decision for surgery #1178435

Congrats Amy! Decisions are hard to firm up with Grave’s. I will be following your progress since I’m hopefully just a few months behind you with my surgery.

Best wishes,

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Menapausal insomniac… #1178388

I’m menopausal and find that none of the RX sleeping pills work for me. I also have the opposite reaction to things that are meant to make you sleepy…I’m wide awake instead. I do find that a Xanex (tranquilizer) right before bed is the only way I am sleeping with the combo of Graves and menopause. Don’t like taking these type of meds and worry about dependency, but as my doc says…I’m not that type of addictive personality and its more important to get sleep than to worry about something that’s not likely to happen.
For the first time in years I’m sleeping for a solid 5 hours, thanks to Xanex.

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Diagnosed this week, finding only negative info #1178413

Welcome kkavitch! I’m new too and found this forum to be the best place to weed through all the confusion and fear. Real people with real experiences. This has been very helpful to me and I hope to you also.
Learn everything you can and make sure your endo is open to YOU helping manage your disease and help you make the decision that works for you (meds, RAI, or surgery)
For me it appears to be surgery and I’m anxious/excited for the consult in June. But for you it very well could be something different.
What I will suggest is patience (which is my biggest struggle) and finding ways to manage the stress of this particular diagnosis.

Regards,
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Heart palpitations #1178331

Yep…if you are Graves or hyper this is a definite symptom. The thyroid regulates your heart and if too many hormones are flooding your system then it could increase our heart rate. I was shocked how high mine got before I was put on the beta blocker.
Check at other times throughout the day…it’s probably high more frequently than you recognize. One reason you may notice it after eating is because your body begins to metabolize the food you ate and it’s natural for your heart rate to increase (slightly) during normal digestion.
Make sure your doctor knows this. I bought an inexpensive blood pressure machine at pharmacy to check mine. I was also shocked how high my blood pressure was considering its never been high in my entire 50+ years.
Best,
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Me again #1177302

Thanks for sharing your experience Susan. I’m strongly leaning toward TT so I’m following you closely… Sounds like your surgeon was great. Hopefully you are feeling better also. I know the body takes a while to recover and adjust to synthroid and that everyone is different. I wish you the best…keep the updates coming please!
Aren’t

[Gabe]

in reply to: how to not obsess about GD and TED – any advice? #1178260

Hi Carrie, I’m in the crying club also! It’s crazy….I can’t literally cry over spilt milk and all this time I thought it was just a silly saying! At this moment I can look back and laugh but some days/hours there’s just nothing funny about this life.
So I read lots of good books and every now and then watch stupid reality TV or go for long walks with my dog. And sometimes I just full on cry and get it all out..
As many in this thread say…I just need to make a decision. I think I’ve found that for me (TT) so I can get off this roller coast and move on…
I wish you the best,
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Anyone else experience all this, or am i just a baby? #1177791

Hi MollyP, while Harpy has a right to his/her opinions they are biased and factually mis-leading. Keep reading the experiences of others and you will find your way.

Harpy, it’s been interesting as a new person on this forum to read posts of people such as yourself who seem to have an agenda. While you have a right to be on this forum, you are NOT a patient and have no idea what it is like to LIVE with the disease and the decisions…regardless of the direct experiences with your long term partner.

I value all opinions and suggestions and experiences on this forum…from actual patients.

Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: Dose increased yesterday/feeling worse today (?) #1178271

Hi Flora. I’m a newbie also. Very similar to you… The original dosage did nothing so it was doubled. And a beta blocker was added. Turns out the dosage was too much and now it’s been adjusted backward. So it definitely is a process. I’m still not feeling ‘normal’ and have reduced to part-time hours and working from home. For me, it’s not muscle aches…but it is lack of energy, eye swelling, extreme rage and anxiety and irritability. But I’m going thru menopause so not sure the exact cause!
For me I’m not sure the meds will ever work nor do I want to be on these kind of meds for any length of time so I’ve scheduled a surgical consult for June. Who knows, things could turn around and I would just cancel appointment but have doubts and want to be done with this…..so bad.
Karen

[Gabe]

in reply to: I’m confused by my recent labs.. #1178205

Thanks Kimberly. Great suggestions. I’m blessed with great insurance so I do get my labs before my visits and almost as often as I need/want them. I’m calling tomorrow to ask about splitting pills vs full days off/on.
Much appreciation!
Karen

[Author]

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