[hyperm]

in reply to: Finger joint pain-severe #1070701

Hey W,

There are several things Cat could do for dexterity. You can get small aids such as those pencil grippers which go over the pencil to increase the grasp. Also if Cat is worried about writing in her exams you can get working splints which can help support her wrist and joints. Taking regular breaks – to prevent things like repetitive strain injury. I know that I can’t give specific advice as I don’t know peoples diagnosis but here is what I would advise patients with RA/ Stroke/joint pain. Respect the pain so don’t do anything which is causing pain. When you are following exercises ensure that what you are doing is comfortable. The beginning of a treatment is relaxing the hand and encouraging circulation. Perhaps a bowl of luke warm water to loosen the joints and warm the hand. Then if you are applying a hand massage use some hand lotion to prevent friction over the joints.Practicing simple exercises can increase muscle and joint movement i.e opposition. We also use thera putty which is similar to play do.. you roll it out with one hand (back and forward) until its like a long sausage then start at one end pinching it with your index finger and thumb. you can repeat this with each finger pinching with them and your thumb. Repeat with the second hand.

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001801-d0 … 01811.html
http://www.safecomputingtips.com/repeti … tment.html

If you google hand exercises there is a lot of information on there below is a link something similar to what we hand out to patients as homework;
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/PatientEd/ … ds-fin.pdf

For people with RA, parrafin baths seem to have a nice effect and ease pain. If your joints are starting to deviate etc.. now is the time to start looking at splinting which can help considerably.
HTH

M xxx

[hyperm]

in reply to: Help me sleep PLEASE!! #1070653

Hey,
Like many others on here I have been there. 4 years ago when the GD kicked off I would lie awake with my heart thudding away in my ears and I couldn’t get to sleep even though I was exhausted.

Recently after the TS I was awake most of the night. My GP had prescribed a high dose of diazepam to try and keep me calm etc. I was extremely aggitated, even they didn’t send me over to sleep. Normally if I had to take even a mild dose (2mg) I would be zonked. Unfortunately it is part of the condition and it takes a while for the meds to kick in and slow your body down. My endo had a great way of putting it that my thyroid was making my body think it was running a marathon. With regards to the insommnia he highlighted the feeling you get when you come home from a great night out – you are really over excited etc and it takes a while for you to come down from that to fall into sleep. However, my thyroid was keeping me on high all the time.

Ski’s advice is great. Even trying a relaxation CD – one that you feel comfortable with. I must admit that most of the time (until my levels were starting to come down) I just got up and pottered about – or watched a DVD to take my mind off the fact I couldn’t sleep. I also drank Ovaltine which when things were starting to improve really did make me sleepy. `I found the more I tried to lie and go into a sleep and relax the more awake I became – I think it was mainly due to raging levels though.

Like Emily said you really need your sleep when you have kids. Hopefully it will settle soon as I can appreciate how you are feeling mentally as well as physically. If it does start to become unbearable then there is no shame in asking your GP for something short term.

HTH

M xx

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in reply to: 22nd of July – date for op very nervous! #1070709

Emily we are so alike. I had hyperemesis with all my pregnancies. With My eldest I was hospitilised twice for dehydration. I don’t know how I gained weight as I only managed snacks and had the worse food aversions ever! ” title=”Very Happy” />

Yes I would be happy to go through child birth again – 46 hours of it than go in for this op! ” title=”Smile” />

Oh well I am calmer today and am trying to put it to the back of my mind until July comes along.

M x

[hyperm]

in reply to: 22nd of July – date for op very nervous! #1070706

Hey thanks for your support. Emily you are so right! I don’t want it to come around but in the other hand would like it be over with lol! Is that a female way of thinking?

Mammabear thats so cute what your kids say! If only that was the way you got kids. You know infact at the moment I would rather go through childbirth than go for this op and thats saying something!

M xx

[hyperm]

in reply to: Finger joint pain-severe #1070699

Hi,

I have some experience of OT hand therapy and I would advise you to go to your GP to get it checked out. A simple blood test can identify RA and then they can have a look at x-rays etc…. In the meantime google joint protection techniques/ hand therapy etc… which should give you some advice on how to protect your joints from "locking" and gentle exercises which can help ease the tension and stiffness. If there is a diagnosis of RA/ OA then there is little they can do for you with regards to early morning stiffness (EMS) however anti-inflammatory meds/pain meds taken in the morning should help once they are given time to help. My mum has to lie in bed for 20 mins until she can get up and start to move about.

Do you have a partner who can perform some gentle hand massage? Until you have been seen by you GP then it would be advisable to be very gentle perhaps even just rubbing your hand up and down.

The most important thing is to get it diagnosed. It could be a flare up of RA and it may be a one off situation but its best to get it checked out. In the meantime joint protection techniques are the way to go.

HTH

x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Newly diagnosed and not much information……..I’m scared #1070727

Hey,

Firstly, welcome. Sorry you have had such a hard time, however, you will gets lots of support on here so hang in there and we will help you.

In the meantime try to take it easy – not easy when you have kids I know, as do many others on here but you soon realise that cleaning the floor etc.. is not as important as you thought it was! ” title=”Wink” />

Hopefully the meds will start to get into your system and you will feel the benefit soon.

In the meantime take lots of care.

M xx

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in reply to: Gluten Free Diet???? #1070762

Hi,

In a nut shell YES! I was tested on 3 seperate occassions for celiacs disease (turned out to be IBS) that was before I was diagnosed with GD. My tests were negative but now they believe that if they had done a TFT it would probably have came back as border line. Our family friend has GD and Celiacs and was told that there is a strong link. She is on a gluten free diet and actually manages very well.

If you were asking me personally as a mum I would request a blood test for celiacs before you put her on a gluten free diet. Both my boys have a cows milk intolerance and have to have soya milk or nutramagen formula and that was diagnosed with a blood test after presenting with symptoms. Not everyone with GD or TD go on to develop secondary conditions.

HTH
M x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Endo says NO to RAI???Confused? #1070830

Hi,

I too have had a TS and afterwards I made the decision to have the op after much persuasion. My endo said that as I wanted more children then RAI wasn’t for me. Also because of the TS and the chance of it happening again post partum because I want more kids then a full thyroidectomy is my only option. Yet many people on here have had RAI and went onto have more children. I am not sure if he didn’t think it was an option because of my m/c’s.

Has your endo mentioned the possibility of another TS? Would you ot consider having the operation? I know personally, that I couldn’t face the possibility of another TS – it has been too traumatic and the recovery has been too slow. ” title=”Sad” /> I go for my pre-assessment on Fri for the op!

I hope you find the right treatment option.

M x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Newly Diagnosed W/Graves & Endo. Visit #1070883

Diane,

After reading your post I hear warning bells ringing! Something is wrong with regards to your endo. He doesn’t appear to be, firstly, following any protocol and secondly providing you with any clinical advice. I am being serious when I say that you should speak to someone who is either responsible for him or the Exec of the hospital. Why he would ask what your educational background is I don’t know ” title=”Confused” /> I think that you will receive the same advice over and over – ensure you are referred to a new endo. I used to work with an endo surgeon and he would pace through the wards saying "CT scan, CT scan" all the staff were thinking – yes perhaps you need one. It turned out he was very unwell mentally ” title=”Sad” />

This endo’s job is to monitor bloods. I know that over in the UK they don’t really monitor hypothyroidism and my sis who had the op years ago = doesn’t see an endo apart from a 2 year visit. However, you have just been diagnosed and they need to check how you are responding to treatment. Also – nobody wants a scar around their neck – but thats the point , most people have no choice or feel so ill that surgery is the only option. ” title=”Sad” />

I’m sorry to hear you have had a bad experience – we have all had them one way or another, I now have a fab endo
Hope you start to feel better soon.
m xx

[hyperm]

in reply to: Weight gain during Graves disease #1070983

Hey

How are you? You could be gaining muscle which as I am sure you know is heavier. A friend of mine was at Weight watchers and going to the gym for heavy work outs. She was going down a dress size but creeping up on the scales. ” title=”Wink” />

Its easy to say – I know but try not to stress too much. I am someone who was always of a slim build and I gained alot of weight a year after being diagnosed. After my TS I lost 21lbs in weeks but some of it went back on because of the high dose of meds and feeling so tired I wasn’t moving about the house. I have been very careful what I have been eating and this time, unlike 2-3 years ago the weight is coming off steadily.

hang in there and hope you start to feel well soon.
xxx

[hyperm]

in reply to: PTU #1070914

Hi,

I have problems with weight gain/ fluid retention on PTU. I was on a very strict diet and was still gaining weight. It can fluctuate on a weekly basis for me.

The main issue though is that you get your thyroid levels into balance.

m x

[hyperm]

in reply to: is there a light at the end of the tunnel. #1071032

Hey W,

You are absolutely right- small achievements! Its a shame that you are in a similar situation but I think once I have my op then I will hire a treadmill and start some gentle exercise. Poor Cat, have you thought about RAI or an other route? It must be hard on her and you as after all you are unwell yourself and the caregiver – it doesn’t matter if you aren’t able to be very active as a mum your mind is always on the job eh?

Thanks again for your words of comfort. I hope the biopsy goes ok.

M xx

[hyperm]

in reply to: RAI Double Pneumonia and sons’ boot camp graduation #1070955

Hey Rhonda,

Just wanting to send a quick message to say I am thinking of you and will keep you in my prayers.

xxx

[hyperm]

in reply to: is there a light at the end of the tunnel. #1071030

Hi,

Thanks for your reply! Firstly, how is Cat and how are you? It helps to know others out there appreciate how hard it can be with illness and having a young family.

I appreciate what you are saying regarding PND, but I am positive its not that as I had an episode of depression around 8 years ago which lasted for about 18 months. I have been screened with my HV, GP and my endo. They are all in agreeance that its thyroid related. My endo stated at my last visit that my bloods were so bad and that yes I was going off my head with levels like that. He said that he could have testified in court that I wasn’t responsible for my actions while my bloods were like that if I had to do anything illegal . I am a very impatient person when it comes to myself as I used to be able to cope with so much, was at the gym 5 nights a week for a 2 hour work out etc… There is no point in looking back but that doesn’t change the inner me. I have to try and remember how ill I have been with and after the TS. My bloods are still not in range which is so frustrating

I suppose its an accumulation of GD, trying to be a good mum and wife, my hubby’s work situation and whatever life decides to throw at me on a daily basis. I met a family friend today who has had a terrible life – 2 of her sons commited suicide and her SIL too. It made me count my blessings, all be it hard to stay positive at the moment.

We took the kids for lunch today – HUGE EFFORT anxiety wise. I had to succombe to taking diazepam (haven’t taken it in around a month) just to get over the front door. My eldest was asking to go and I don’t want to always be saying no. I have flashbacks of the events leading up to and at the time of TS and I think it is PTSD> The bizzarre thing is I need OT to get my confidence back and as a clinician I can see all the signs etc.. but its funny how when it comes to yourself it doesn’t matter whether you are a brain surgeon – it just all comes to a standstill.

Oh well onwards and upwards!

M xxx

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in reply to: is there a light at the end of the tunnel. #1071027

Hi,

Thanks Rhonda and Emily. My hubby is supportive and understanding – I think its just it gets too much sometimes and with the little one playing up its hard. Thats life I suppose!

Thanks so much for all your kind words and prayers.

M xxx

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