[kaicee118]

in reply to: Now My Eyes! #1068360

Thanks everyone, for your advice and for attempting to "talk me down!" ” title=”Smile” /> I took all the stuff that went along with the Graves relatively well, but I’ve had a terror of something happening to my eyes. For the past few years I’ve had a sort of double vision that, if I focused hard, I could bring together again. This vertical business doesn’t come together no matter how hard I focus, so it’s freaking me out a little. Also, on some days it causes tension headaches, which I’m not used to having.

I know, Ski, that stress is bad news for everything. Most times I’m okay, but when I wrote out my problems for this thread, I got kind of wound up!

I have good doctors, and I have good relationships with all of them. My optic nerve isn’t threatened, either, so it’s sort of a wait and see (or not see!) game, as you said. Also, I have the added adventure of the periodic testing for the optic form of myasthenia gravis, because my ptosis is quite significant.

Best of luck to all you guys who are also having eye problems.

Thanks again.

[kaicee118]

in reply to: Phew I made! I am now thyroid free and home! #1069463

Glad you’re doing well – give yourself lots and lots and lots of time to recover, both physically and emotionally. I’ve had a few different surgeries and always feel somewhat "weird" emotionally afterward. Your body doesn’t like that someone’s cut into it and taken something away! Be kind to yourself – your body was sick for a long time and will take a long time to heal. I tell myself that every day! I can’t believe my surgery was almost 3 months back…

Good healing to you!

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: personal question #1069668

I actually went to my surgery in May on the first day of my period – except for feeling really yucky, tired, crampy, etc, it made no difference at all…no one seemed to care!

Good luck with your surgery, come back soon and tell us how you did:-)

[kaicee118]

in reply to: So nervous – how will I cope? #1070066

M – you will have some difficulty swallowing right after – your throat will be very sore. They had me eat what they called a "soft, cold" meal for lunch, and then I ate a regular supper (this was in the hospital). It hurt some, but it was very manageable. I had no problems with bleeding – I was out of the hospital in less than 24 hours.

It’s now been 8 weeks since my surgery, and I’m doing well. My eyes are still bothering me, but my body is feeling stronger every day. I know it will be the same for you. Be kind to yourself. Almost forgot to mention – my anxiety levels have also improved since my surgery! Yours will too, once that gland is gone.

Take care,

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: im so tired of my mom saying… #1070520

I also have a mother who thinks that since she has driven herself into the ground with her anxiety, that’s what everyone else should do! Why talk about anything…no one can do anything to help you anyway (her philosophy, not mine!) But hang in there. I’m 46 and, although it still bothers me, it gets easier to deal with as you get older. Concentrate as much as you can now on getting well.

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: 22nd of July – date for op very nervous! #1070704

Hyperm – I know it’s nervewracking, but look at it like you’re taking a big step to get well. Any surgery is difficult, but really, as surgeries go, this one wasn’t so bad (mine was May 6th). I know it’s scary – actually after my first consult with the surgeon, I wanted to back out, too. I thought, "This is too extreme, I can’t do it." But it really isn’t extreme – your thyroid is sick, it’s not functioning the way it should, and it’s making your whole body sick.

You’ll get more used to the idea. ” title=”Smile” /> If you have any questions, just ask.

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: Thyroid Surgery #1070845

I also had surgery (4 weeks ago), and mostly opted for that because I had eye issues as well. So far so good, although I do have days when I feel abnormally exhausted.

That’s interesting what you said, Scubarn, about cancer – I never thought about that for a second until I went for my post-op appointment and the surgeon said, "So here’s the pathology report." Luckily there was no cancer – but the pathology of the thyroid was consistent with Graves. I asked about that, and the surgeon said, "As soon as I open someone, I can tell a Graves thyroid from a non-Graves thyroid." I asked him if it was the size and he said no – just the way the tissue looks. I found that interesting.

But anyway, the surgery itself is not bad at all. I’m glad I did it. I just don’t know when my eyes are going to get back to normal.

Best of luck,
Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: Gluten Free Diet???? #1070765

Hi – could you tell me what TFT means? I have a friend with Celiac who has always told me it’s related to Graves. However, I was tested for Celiac with an actual biopsy of tissue during a colonoscopy (like you, hyperm, I have been diagnosed with IBS for years) and they said it was negative. Would TFT be any different than having a tissue biopsy done? Thanks in advance.

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: Need assistance #1070850

Roxanne – I am also interested in hearing the outcome of your tests. As someone who just had a thyroidectomy, and to whom weird medical things have been known to happen, I have a high level of curiosity about this. I hope all turns out well for you.

BTW, was it a total thyroidectomy you had four years ago?

Thanks,

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: Two Different Eyes #1070918

Hi Lisa – I don’t know a whole lot about it, but I just know that my eyelids have been droopy nearly since the onset of my Graves. My most recent eye orbit CT scan shows signs of some mild proptosis (bulging) but my eyes really don’t look like that – they look hooded, or half closed. Some days are worse than others. I also have light sensitivity and wear prescription sunglasses.

I just had my thyroid removed, and I know that Graves eye disease runs a separate course than Graves itself, but I’m hoping that my eyes eventually resolve. Today is a pretty bad day – in fact, this morning my right eye was droopier than my left, whereas 95% of the time the left is droopier.

Good luck to you – I hope you have a good ophthalmologist ” title=”Smile” />

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: Babies and GD #1071039

Keep in mind that your baby’s behaviour might not have anything to do with Graves. Have you talked to his pediatrician about what he’s doing? If it seems like it’s more than a "stage", you should mention it to the doctor. Best of luck.

[kaicee118]

in reply to: My lack of understanding myself #1070935

Julie – I certainly know how you feel. Sometimes I am/was devastatingly tired at work and would continually fall behind. Also, my thoughts were always fuzzy and I couldn’t order things in my head. Although tapazole "normalized" my thyroid numbers, these other symptoms didn’t seem to get much better. I just had my thyroid removed 3 weeks ago.

While it’s great that you’re active with your dog and the gym, I’m wondering if maybe you’re trying to do too much? I had to cut out a lot of things I was used to doing, because I had to rest. I know everybody’s different, but that was what (somewhat) worked for me. Light activity, much rest, and trying to reduce stress as much as possible. Be nice to yourself as much as possible! I wasn’t very used to doing that, but I learned to.

Best of luck. Hope you feel better soon.

[kaicee118]

in reply to: What’s your input on conference speakers? #1071124

I am very interested in the stress/anxiety issue – not only in their relation to Graves Disease, but in terms of autoimmune disease in general. I’m interested in why my body developed an autoimmune illness, why it’s so prevalent for women, and if my lack of "coping skills" predisposed me to developing such a disorder.

[kaicee118]

in reply to: surgeon consultation – very nervous! #1071118

Hi – I am currently 13 days post-op and today is my first day back to work. I am surprised that I actually feel good!! I have had no trouble adjusting to Synthroid. I’m feeling sort of normal!!! Truly, I did not expect to feel well this soon…

I had two problems regarding surgery: first, I had an allergic skin reaction to the stuff they painted on my skin so the steri-strips would stick and I could shower in the days following surgery. My neck is just now starting to not look so red and not feel so itchy. Second, my calcium was low after surgery, due to what the surgeon said is a lack of blood flow to the parathyroids during the procedure. The first few days after surgery I had the tingly feeling around my lips and fingers, etc, and that was weird…I’m still on the calcium supplements, which I hope will be discontinued when I see the surgeon again on Thursday.

I’m in no position to predict what anyone else’s experience will be, and it’s still rather early for a long-term prediction for myself. But I can say, so far, so good…I have no regrets…and I’m glad it’s over!! And I’m happy to be off Tapazole – I never felt right when I was on it. My thyroid came into normal range, and I wasn’t allergic to it or anything; I just never felt good while taking it.

Best of luck to you – feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Karen

[kaicee118]

in reply to: sed rate? #1071508

It’s short for sedimentation rate – and just to let you know, mine has been high since I’ve had Graves – I’m not sure if this is typical for GD.

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