[lmr1023]

in reply to: Beta Blocker #1069962

Hi Jake: thanks for replying, just taking it all in stride right now, I am a type of person that is always curious about the ‘why this and that happens’ and need to organize the processes in my mind! and with GD this is difficult to do ” title=”Smile” /> I had the echo yesterday and though I still need final confirmation from the cardiologist, the results are showing impaired LV relaxation which can explain why I am hypertensive – not sure if this is serious or something that is ‘normal’ for my age. I am sure I will find out in the next day or so what the next steps need to be and hopefully it is something I can live with and no need for any other intervention. Will keep you posted. Lisa

[lmr1023]

in reply to: Autoimmune Disorders #1073368

I have had autoimmune progesterone dermitis (APID) for 5 years and just developed Grave’s disease. APID causes one to break out in horrible hives/welts, causes angioedema especially in the feet and occurs around a woman’s monthly cycle, the breakouts can last up to 10 days! about 6 months ago the hives all of sudden stopped and a few months later I have Graves’ disease. why I went from one auto-immune disease to another is a mystery! I can’t say I rather have one disease over another but the hives were horrible, days of just huge red welts that were hot, itchy and just plain uncomfortable. the only treatment I had was a regimen of antihistimines to help the symptoms and the only documented treatment to complete remission was a course of taxomifene and eventually ophrectomy. thankfully it seems to have gone into remission on its own (or I have stopped ovulating) though I still take a daily dose of antihistimine just in case! When I started the symptoms for Grave’s disease I thought I was just going into peri-menopause but there could be a connection between to the two. who knows!

[lmr1023]

in reply to: Swelling #1072195

Thanks! I think on my next visit in a couple of weeks I will ask the doc about a diuretic – definitely painful at times esp since I have arthritis in one ankle due to an old injury so the pressure just makes it throb. no fun getting older!

[lmr1023]

in reply to: side effects #1072788

Hi Dianne: When I told him I was taking the antihistimine and the itchiness stopped, he really did say ‘nice try but stop taking it.’ I just took his word for it – he is supposed to be one of the best Endocrinologists at Columbia so I didn’t question it. I stopped the methamizole for a week and started PTU at 100mg 2x/day about 10 days ago and I will follow up with him in a couple of weeks for blood work. so far I don’t seem to have any side effects but don’t seem to be improving either. I am really having a problem with leg and feet swelling though. I was on vacation last week and just being away from home and work really brought my stress level down, though I still have symptoms it was a pleasure to not worry about getting to work etc. I am fairly new too all this and trying to keep it all together especially at work since my boss is micromanaging me now that she knows I am not feeling well.

[lmr1023]

in reply to: Do you/did you tell employers about your GD? #1072290

I had to tell my employer about having GD – one day while at work I was experiencing bad tremors and feeling overwhelmed, not a major meltdown but enough to have me cry at my desk. my boss pulled me aside to ask what was wrong. So I told her and now she refers to that day often especially if there is something she cannot locate she says ‘it must have happened when you had your complete meltdown" – for me it is a negative effect and I feel like she is watching me closely. I have been working here for 8 years with hardly any sick time and now it is if I am contagious. I hate it and now I just tell everyone I am fine and keep to myself.

[lmr1023]

in reply to: Emotions- Woman #1074547

I am reading everyone’s responses and getting nervous! last cycle (a couple of weeks ago) I had a complete meltdown at work feeling overwhelmed and sat at my desk sobbing-this was a few days before I had an actual diagnosis. Now my next cycle is due in about 2 weeks – while I am on vacation on a cruise-I am hoping my emotional levels do not get out of hand – it is awkward enough to breakdown amongst colleagues but on vacation with strangers – I hope I don’t want to jump ship! I am currently off methimazole because of a reaction to it and I have to wait until next week to see what the doctor wants to do. I want to be on vacation not only feeling good but coming back rejuvenated but I am not so sure now! I don’t even know if the doctor is going to give me anything before I actually leave for the trip. Oh well, I will put my family on PMS alert while away and make sure there is a daily dose of some sort of cocktail!

[lmr1023]

in reply to: side effects #1072784

Hi Pixie: I spoke with my doctor and he does not want me to take the methimazole with the antihistimine – he said to stop it all together and follow up with him next week. He said it was a good try but he doesn’t want me to do it. So we shall see what happens.

[lmr1023]

in reply to: side effects #1072782

thanks Pixie for confirming that the antihistimine helps – I am going to call my doctor as well to let him know – I can’t imagine going another week without taking the methimazole and given the options I will deal with the itchiness!

[lmr1023]

in reply to: side effects #1072780

Thanks Ski! I didn’t think about disability options. My boss does know I have Graves disease and is aware of the overall effect it can have -she is actually hypothyroid so I know she can understand everything it is just that I run the program at our institution which is nationally known and when she is aware I am not functioning up to par it has an effect on ‘her’. Thankfully I am set up so I can work from home when needed though not often, I do want to be careful since having a secure job in the NYC area is priceless right now and I don’t want to give administration or anyone else a reason to eliminate my position. Different world we live in nowadays. I am trying to take it all one day at a time. I do have vacation scheduled for the end of the month so I am hoping some R&R will also do me good.

[lmr1023]

in reply to: side effects #1072778

I may try it with the antihistimine – I take Allegra for other allergies and yesterday after the itching was so bad I took one and it helped the symptom quickly. I can already feel the difference today having not taken the methimazole last night and this morning. I work in a very fast paced environment and having this disease has been difficult. My boss has already pulled me aside that my performance is down. So I am buying time at the moment and having side effects etc is just a thorn in the side!

[lmr1023]

in reply to: newly diagnosed #1072818

Thank you so much for replying and I will definitely check out other postings for information.

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