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in reply to: nightmares? #1072264

Hey I never thought anything of it until you posted but after the thyroid storm I have been having bad dreams and really busy dreams – I wonder if it is down to the adrenaline and the increase in metabolism etc…

Hmm very interesting – although scary for you. Thankfully my dreams are settling now – as are my levels! ” title=”Wink” />

mx

[hyperm]

in reply to: Do you/did you tell employers about your GD? #1072288

Hi,

I am a health professional and hadn’t disclosed anything about my condition until one of my colleagues was complaining of her weight issues due to hypothyroidism. I then said I had GD – at that point I was still very unwell but tried to hide it at work ( my job is supported discharge from hospital so in a way I was in the car most of the time or out at patients houses). As my colleague didn’t have GD or wasn’t symptomatic of hypothyroidism she was unaware of how ill you feel etc… and everyone in the office (shockingly with working with other health professional) except my very experienced boss wasn’t aware of ill it can make you etc… She often thought I looked exhausted but said that my answer when ever asked how I was feeling was "i’m fine!". I am on mat leave at the mo however, my colleague had called not long after I had the thyroid storm and was very " oh dear" about what I was telling her. Anyway a few moments later my boss called and was really concerned and "reassuringly" ( ) told me that she had nursed people with the thyroid storms and they can be fatal! I was like "yeah thanks – I know"

It made no difference that they knew about my condition or even after the thyroid storm etc… Most people don’t appreciate how ill you can feel when symptomatic. So the answer (all be it VERY long) to your question is: do they really need to know and would it may any difference. I am not sure how it works in the states but in the UK you are entitled to time off for appointments etc… so that shouldn’t be an issue.

I suppose it also depends on your colleagues etc… most of mine – worryingly , aren’t very sympathetic and I remember one day saying (out of character) that I was exhausted and one of my assistants who is in her late 50;s was horrible and said "oh you young ones don’t know what tiredness is" It turned out my ferratin had been sitting at 4 for 5 months since my miscarriages and they thought they were going to have to start injecting me with iron if no improvement. I took great pleasure in going into work after those results and rubbing her nose in it! My boss was shocked I was still on my feet! ” title=”Wink” />

If it isn’t impacting upon your work then is it worth the mentioning?

M x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Newly Diagnosed #1072355

Hey,

Its not easy being newly diagnosed, scared with all the literature and trying to raise a family while being symptomatic! We all have been there and you will get there I promise! A day at a time in the first instance then as Ski said you start feel better with the meds and pick up.

Its not easy but you will get there and this board has the best support I have found, in down times so many private messages arrived giving words of comfort and strength,

We are all here for you!

M xx

[hyperm]

in reply to: PREGNANCY, HELP!!! #1072328

Hey firstly congratulations!

Yes my sis had her thyroid out and then fell pregant with twins. My endo pointed out the other day that after a thyroidectomy you can fall pregnant 6 weeks after the op and your chances of m/c etc go down to "the normal" 1 in 4. He highlighted that I would still have to attend a special endo/gyn clinic as they would alter the levels of thyroxine on a regular basis but that all should be fine.

My GD was active during pregnancy with my last little boy and they had to keep a really close eye on me but as cathy highlighted it should me a less worrying time for you now thyroid wise.

Congrats again and hope you are keeping well xxxx

[hyperm]

in reply to: Endo asked about Charlie Horses?? #1072299

Hey just googled the term for you and here it is:

"A charley horse is a popular North American colloquial term for a painful bruise of the quadriceps muscle of the anterior or lateral thigh that commonly results in a muscular hematoma and sometimes several weeks of pain and disability.[1] Such an injury is known in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries (and also in the U.S.) as a dead leg.[2][3] In Australia it is also known as a corked thigh or "corkie".[4] It often occurs in sports when an athlete is struck by an opponent’s knee, in a manner like the kick of a horse, perhaps the reason for its name.
The term "charley horse" is also used to describe simple painful muscle cramps in the leg or foot, especially those that follow strenuous exercise.[5][6][1] These muscle cramps can have many possible causes including hormonal imbalances, dehydration, low levels of potassium or calcium in the blood, side effects of medication, or more seriously, diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and neuropathy.[7] They are also a common complaint during pregnancy.[8]"

HTH m x

[hyperm]

in reply to: What are ‘Normal’ levels? #1072401

yeah I would agree with Ski as my T3 levels are 3.8 where as the normal range my endo said was 0.4 to 2.8 – thats in the UK there must be different systems I gather????? However, when your bloods are done there will be a normal range indicated in brackets to guide your endo.

HTH

[hyperm]

in reply to: First follow up appointment today #1072410

Fantastic !

What a huge difference in those results!

Glad to hear you are feeling better – giving us all hope!

xx

[hyperm]

in reply to: phew…thought the website had been shut down! #1072414

I know just so glad its back on track!

Not sure about a legend- more a "look you are not as crazy as her" situation ! Oh well !

Yes feeling much better and able to do things with the kids etc.. never thought I would get there but you all knew I would – could n’t have done it without all the help on here!

m x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Newly diagnosed with GD #1072795

Welcome!

I think you will find so much support on here – they are all amazing. Sorry to hear you had such a hard time before but glad you are on the mend. Yeah I think we all have had those symptoms and like you thought it was all in the head!

My endo said today that my levels were so off the scale the last 2 months that if I had comitted murder I would have gotten away with it – well at least I think that is funny?????

Anyhow, its great to have another member and hope to hear how you are getting on with the meds etc…

xx

[hyperm]

in reply to: Surgery on April 9th #1072471

Hey,

I will also be praying for you. I am hoping to set a date for my surgery and can only imagine how you feel.

Deep breaths!

Prayers and hugs

m x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Trying to gain weight but no luck #1072485

Hey,

My weight goes up and down depending on how controlled my levels are. My sis however, had the op around 7 years ago (was hyper) and now is on the highest possible doze of thyroxine and yet they still can’t get her controlled but instead of gaining weight she is so thin its worrying. ” title=”Sad” /> A UK size 8 hangs on her and she is round 5ft 8" – its a shame as like you she is very aware of it. At the beginning we (as in her 4 sisters) were so envious that she could eat like a horse and not pile on a pound – now its very worrying when we see her in short sleeved tops etc as she looks as though she is starving herself.

Unfortunately the docs can’t offer any more advice and basically she was told to bulk up on carbs and starchy foods.

Not much help I’m afraid but you are not alone.

x

[hyperm]

in reply to: article in UK paper regarding USA health insurance #1072625

Hey have tried to find out why you can’t read the article – will ask my techno savvvy hubby today to see if he can help.

m x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Rapidly enlarged thyroid / thyroid bleed? #1072506

Hey,

Glad the endo is going to see you both. It can take a while for the swelling to go down and as my GP pointed out you can have a goiter and your levels are all ok or you can be very ill and have no sign of goiter. Before I had the thyroid storm I had very little swelling now as I am starting to respond to the meds the swelling increased for a while there.

I spoke with my BIL earlier and he mentioned that sometimes nodules on the thyroid can tear and fill with blood "having a bleed" but the body re-absorbes that over time so its not necessarily something to worry about. I imagine there will be warning signs of haemorrhaging and I think you are wise to be aware of them- however, I am sure as you and your daughter read more into this disease and experiences on here you will perhaps ( I hope) become more confident although as a mother no doubt will not stop worrying.

Its a shame for your daughter to be going through this and at such a crucial time in her academic pressures. It may be worthwhile having her GP submit a letter to the exam board for consideration when marking her papers as this condition has a huge impact on mood, concentration, stamina etc…

I hope you both feel more reassured soon

M x

[hyperm]

in reply to: Beer and PTU #1072497

Hey
never been a big drinker but when I was first diagnosed 4 years ago and on high meds they never mentioned staying away from alcohol. I did find however if I had a half glass of wine (which is my limit usually ) at that stage where the thyroid wasn’t very controlled then I had tachycardia. It may be worthwhile having it confirmed though.

Everything in moderation is my motto but I guess you don’t want to have any problems with the meds ” title=”Wink” />

HTH

[hyperm]

in reply to: Rapidly enlarged thyroid / thyroid bleed? #1072504

Hi there,

I’m not too sure about the term "bleed either". I gather from the meds she is on you are based in the UK? Goiters (swelling in the thyroid) is common and it can swell more so at one end than the other there is also the possibilty of nodules on the thyroid. When I was first diagnosed 4 years ago I did have a slight goiter, however this time with the flare up post partum I have a large goiter which i can feel pulsate at times and as though something is pushing on my trachea. My sister had a very large goiter and at one side it was like a massive golf ball. My friend recently (who has no thyroidism) had to have half her thyroid removed because she had 3 large cysts. Hopefully with the meds the swelling should start to go down – however as advised before if you are concerned there is no harm in calling back and explain that you are concerned and what does this mean etc… endo’s are normally very helpful.

I hope she is feeling better soon – it can take a while to kick in. Also I am by no mean a qualified specialist but a word of warning to perhaps ask your endo about is the "blocking treatment" she is on – a combination of carbimazole and thyroxine. I was on this for over a year and felt ill etc.. the first endo wasn’t really interested as my bloods came back normal for a period – however I changed endo’s and he wasn’t happy that I was on blocking treatment and said that is was for post menopausal women and men but for menstruating women its not the appropriate treatment. I know they tried it with me initially as they couldn’t get it controlled but now after being with my endo for a long period of time I trust him and he was right about the blocking treatment. My BIL in Japan called weekly asking my hubby to request I was taken off it.

Sorry not much help but hope you get some good advice and support on here – your daughter too! ” title=”Wink” />

m x

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