[Mickey65]

in reply to: Going Crazy!! #1074527

Your endo should have gotten you on beta blockers to help with your heart rate and tremors. Once I started taking those, I felt a sense of calmness I didn’t feel before I started them.

My endo also STRONGLY suggested RAI on me, but at least gave me the chance and time to research the other options.

1. Surgery – was too invasive and didn’t want a vocal chord accidentally knicked!

2. Pills for 2-3 years – a possibility of liver damage and also them not working and ending up with RAI or surgery anyway!

I chose RAI and had it done a month ago now. My hands have stopped shaking, my heart rate is lower, and I already feel better – altho I’m still healing and I have some time to go before I got on my thyroid replacement pills.

I feel really good about my decision to do RAI. I had NO ill side effects from it, and it just seemed an easy treatment, and plus according to my endo – the safest way also.

[Mickey65]

in reply to: I’d like to start a support group in Alameda County, Calif. #1074608

Hey Brenda –

So is the Target gone now across from Kragen?

The Rasputin’s Record store over there was my favorite haunt!

I used to go on a 4 mile walk every day around that area. That’s one of the things I miss the most about living out there.

Texas is okay – a big change from the Bay Area, but at least I finally was able to buy a house – something I would have never been able to do out there! I was living in those little apartments back there behind Kragen for 13 years!

[Mickey65]

in reply to: Muscle Loss in Legs & More #1074816

I had the RAI almost 4 weeks ago tomorrow. I saw my endo yesterday for my 3 week check-up, and she said NO strenuous exercise still. Walking was okay – but nothing else. I guess raking leaves is out of the question!

When she says walking, what kind of walking? Taking the dog for a walk, type of walk? I’ve got a hyper cocker spaniel who pulls me as he walks, so I have to move to keep up with him.

Is that type of walking out of the question? Anyone?

[Mickey65]

in reply to: decongestants #1074717

I tried that Zican once, but I didn’t like shooting stuff up my nose.

I took a benedryl last night and feel a lot better this morning – altho the cold has moved into my chest! But at least I can go to work today.

My endo said to always check the packages for different cold medicines. I had bought Dayquil, but didn’t take any of it until I saw her, and lo and behold, I looked on the package when I got home and it said on there to not take if you have thyroid disease!

[Mickey65]

in reply to: I’d like to start a support group in Alameda County, Calif. #1074601

Wow, what a small world!

I used to live in San Lorenzo, CA. I moved to Texas 3 years ago from there. I used to live on Albion, right behind the Grand Auto on Lewelling & Hesperian. I miss it!

[Mickey65]

in reply to: Muscle Loss in Legs & More #1074812

Ski wrote:Just one quick hint and a thought to share.

First the hint: when you can’t open jars, get out your playtex dishwashing glove and try again (with the rubber side ~ I have one with a "scrubber palm" that wouldn’t be effective) ~ it’s magical, the grip it gives you!! ” title=”Very Happy” />

.

I bought a jar opener over the weekend. One of those black rubbed handled things with a rounded top to fit over a lid. I got everything opened with that thing! $4 well spent!

[Mickey65]

in reply to: decongestants #1074715

I had an appt with my endo today, and with my bad cold I have, I asked her what cold medicines to use and she told me Clariton, and Benedryl. So I bought some of that today.

I’ll be taking the bendryl before bedtime tonight and getting some good ZZzzzzzzz’s! ” title=”Wink” />

[Mickey65]

in reply to: decongestants #1074712

When I had a sinus infection a few years back, I took antibiotics – those 3 big horse pills – one a day for 3 days. Knocked it right out!

[Mickey65]

in reply to: Normal At Last! There IS hope! #1074672

I can’t wait until I’m there! I had the RAI 3 weeks ago. I have some healing time ahead of me – but thanks for the encouragement and hope! ” title=”Wink” />

[Mickey65]

in reply to: finding it hard to cope #1074684

Yikes…^

Well, I don’t believe in God, but after noticing my hands were shaking all the time for a few months, and noticing I had lost some weight (about 20 lbs), I went to the doctor in Nov 2008 and got blood work done and found out about my Graves.

I had the RAI 3 weeks ago, and my shaking has almost stopped. Some days I shake – but for the most part, I’d say it was about 70% gone now.

Also my heart rate is down in the high 80’s to mid 70’s too – when it was in the 90’s before the RAI.

I’m just telling you, once you get treatment, slowly you will start to feel better. The quicker you get help, the quicker things will change for you.

Maybe praying is a comfort for some, but medical treatment is your best option to get healthy again – physically and mentally. ” title=”Wink” />

[Mickey65]

in reply to: decongestants #1074710

I have a really bad cold right now and my head feels like a stuffed pillow!

I haven’t taken anything besides cough syrup for my bad cough I have, and was wondering if Dayquil was at least okay to take?

I have an appointment with my endo tomorrow (a check-up after my RAI – 3 weeks ago).

[Mickey65]

in reply to: Muscle Loss in Legs & More #1074806

I have weak muscles in my legs and arms/hands.

I have a hard time opening up plastic lids on soda bottles and cranberry juice bottles. I have to use my mouth to get the soda caps off, but with the bigger plastic twist-off caps, I’m still trying to figure it out. I have some cranberry juice in the fridge I can’t drink right now, because I can’t open it! ” title=”Neutral” />

[Mickey65]

in reply to: EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS! #1074776

Wow, amazing. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones who hasn’t felt (yet) those intense feelings of paranoia and everything else described in that paragraph you quoted.

[Mickey65]

in reply to: Questions I Have #1074824

elf wrote:As for Why GD happened, I’ve almost resigned to figure out. No history in my family, neither. Was diagnosed after a stressful event 3 years ago, but looking back, my symptoms and behavior were slightly pointing to Graves, since my youth. I might have had pre-disposition all my life, because I never could handle stressess, they caused much more distress in me than in *normal* people. Basically a bunch of stresses pre-cipitated clinical Graves.

Elf – I think I’m on the same wavelength as you with my GD. There is NO history in my family of GD that I know of. I work as a dispatcher for a trucking company – which is very stressful, and I also bought my first house this year. I think those two things combined brought it all on for me.

I hope my eyes feel better too. I have the same symptoms like you do.

[Mickey65]

in reply to: meds or RAI #1074832

I had the RAI done about 3 weeks ago, and it didn’t cause me to have any ill effects. That feeling of a bowtie around my neck is pretty much gone now.

I still itch like crazy on my legs and lower back, and my eyes feel puffy and dry, but on Jan 7th, I have an appt with my endo for a check-up, so I’ll be going over everything with her.

It’s up to you to decide which route to take for your Graves –

1. Pills – which you take for a few years and they may not work for you at all, and you’ll end up having to do RAI or surgery anyway. Also there is a risk of liver problems from the pills.

2. RAI – taking one radioactive iodine pill. I took that, and so far I feel a little bit better when it comes to my neck. My endo said it was the safest way to treat Graves

3. Surgery – very evasive and there can be a risk of having your vocal chords nicked or cut during the surgery.

Just carefully go over all the choices and do the one you feel okay about – deep in you heart. I went with RAI, since that was the one I felt okay with.

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