[npatterson]

in reply to: Eye plugs????? #1073096

Dear Cathy,

This will be one more vote for punctal plugs. I have had mine done for more than twenty years. Back in the olden days, they cauterized them, but they made a huge, positive difference. Today’s procedre is kinder and gentler. We have a bulletin that talks about them. e-mail me, and I will send it to you. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net".

You have all the empathy from me re: small type. The new website will have enlarging capacity.

[npatterson]

in reply to: Family Education Material #1073151

This is a subject we have been talking about a great deal since the conference in October. How to tell, what to tell, when to tell. We (GDF) have a number of bulletins, which will eventually be available on the web. For the time being, they reside in my computer and file cabinets, in California and in Buffalo. If you will contact me, I will send them to you. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net" . I can send them via e-mail, or postal services.

If any of you have been really successful in telling your family, please let us know how you did it. We are trying to develop something for explaining what is going on to children.

My personal favorite is to have a "family meeting" (without telephone, cell phone or TV) and answer their questions–one at a time–so that everyone hears the same thing. This would imply that you are well-informed, and that’s what we try to do for you here.

[npatterson]

in reply to: Feeling awful #1073716

Dear Hyperm,

My heart aches for you. You have been through so much. I read in another post that you got back in touch with the counselor that knows you. That is great.

Yes, this disease can make us do some truly bizzare things. I have had some "highly energetic" staff meetings. I have had to apologize to many people over the years. Most of them understand, and those who don’t aren’t really a part of my life.

Are you from the UK? Words like "carbimezole" lead me to think that. If so, there are some people over there that you need to be in touch with, as well as us. You can e-mail Janis Hickey, President of the British Thyroid Foundation. j.l.hickey@btf-thyroid.org. That organization is very active all over the country, including people to call and talk with, one-to-one.

Please know that we are "only a click away." Thanks to all who responded to Hyperm. Take care,

[npatterson]

in reply to: insecurity? #1073576

Shellie,

You may get ‘way more repilies to this that you want. I think we all feel (or have felt) like this, and it is certainly exacerbated by being hyper. The feeling that you knowwhat is going on is a good indicator. When you have "been there, done that," you know when you are now being awarded the t-shirt or the cup!

After all this time on anti-thyroid drugs, and you are really still hyper, are you and your doctor considering another treatment? That may be in the future for you. You have to looks at the toll this is taking on your body and bones.

Good luck,

[npatterson]

in reply to: HAIR – Thank you!!! #1074214

Dear Jill,

Thank you so much for reporting back to us. It is so nice to know that we helped. It sounds like things are turning around for you in a good way. Take good care,

[npatterson]

in reply to: Confused and Oh So Tired! #1073562

Dear Lorrainydaz,

You have some serious concerns! IT is probably a combination of all three things: heart, thyroid and anxiety. They are all interacting with each other right now, and spiraling upwards!

You are, in addition to everything else, describing almost panic attacks. They are not always predictable, and then a person is panicky that she may have a panic attack. That, too, becomes a vicious circle. You might need to see someone who really understands the interaction of all that is going on–heart, thyroid hormones and the concommitant severe anxiety. There are medications that will help, but they need to be carefully selected bases on their possible interactions with each other.

YOur endocrinologist and cardiologist need to be talking to each other on a regular basis. How long has it been since your saw your Endo. Give him or her faqcts: My heart races X times a day, for X number of minutes or hours, at a rate of X beats a minute. I am sleeping X number of hours at night, etc.

Good luck, and please keep in touch.

[npatterson]

in reply to: I am paying a visit to a vocational counselor #1074178

Dear MadamX

By this time you will have had your appointment. I am interested in how much help you got. I have worked with Vocational Rehab in the past. I know that if one becomes a VR client, they will do a lot in the way of re-training and other assistance. They want to make a "good close", meaning that everyone was satisfied.

The problems with memory will continue as long as your lab values are unstable. You are not doomed to live with all the memory dysfunction forever. A few sinmple suggestions: Get either a daily planner or a Blackberry=type hand held. I can’t see the small print on those, so still prefer a daily planner. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN IN THERE. No more sticky notes! No more abbreviations–you may forget what they stand for. Make notes to remind yourself that something is coming up (like your mother’s birthday in two weeks) That will give you time to take care of it, and not be surprised when it arrives either on the daily calendar or when you turn the page! Some of the trickier things for memory are just as hard as remembering it in the first place–like grocery lists. Maybe put them in alphabetical order, or group your list by type (produce, meat, canned goods). Using something familiar is easier to plug in to. Saying things out loud helps as well–although there is the risk of being found out "talking to yourself"

Any new job is a challenge. You WILL learn procedures, you WILL learn names (especially if everyonhe wears nametags), and you WILL survive. Han in there!

[npatterson]

in reply to: Support Group in Bay Area? #1073840

Dear Nici and Pizzacatto,

Please send me yhour contact information. e want to start support groups, and I need to know how to contact people that are interested in lelading, helping or participating. Let me know who your doctors are, and I can contact them about being sponsors, as well. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net"

[npatterson]

in reply to: I’m new to the board #1074167

Dear lissispatrick,

I appears that you are one of those who had the eye portion of Graves’ arrive at a different time that the thyroid portion. Although they often arrive at the same time, it is not at all unusual for them to occur at different times. Either one can happen first, and I have heard from people who have a twenty-year separation in their symptoms.

That’s one reason that we try to remind you that once you have Graves’, even though it has been treated, you still have Graves’.

They are probably talking to you about steroids or radiation at this point. I can send you some information on the radiation treatment. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.com"

Sorry this sort of got dropped off the map, and it took so long to answer it.

[npatterson]

in reply to: Pls Recommend an Opthalmologist from SFO, CA #1073708

Sorry, I don’t know what "SFO" stands for! I got the CA part.

We are linked to the American Society of Ophthalmic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASOPRS). Their web site is "asoprs.org". You can find extremely well qulaified doctors there. There are lots in California. If what you need is a neuro-ophthalmologist, you might ask them who refers to them. The good doctors always refer to good doctors.

[npatterson]

in reply to: Thanks to All #1073974

Thank you for letting us know that we helped. It’s a job for everybody–this becomes a type of extended family–and we all like to know that we are appreciated.
Add my congratulations to the I QUIT. It is hard to say the least.
Remember what your hyper symptoms felt like, so that if they begin to return, you can call the doctor early. Heart palpitations, muscle weakness, anxity that is unexplained, severe insomnia, weight loss, diarrhea are a few to keep in mind.
Please stay around for the others that need your input.

[npatterson]

in reply to: New and Confused #1073948

Dear Rhonda,

You absolutely get this weeks’ prize for the most stuff going on in one life–all at the same time!
FNP’s can be wonderful. They check for many things, and you got diagnosed (with yet something else in your life).
You are not going crazy, but that is what I hear on the phone most of the time. Your brain is flooded with thyroid hormone, and the adrenaline puts you in "high alert" all the time. Our brains cannot function properly with all that adrenaline, and we get fuzzy, forgetful and frightened. Not to mention rude, brusque, and won’t listen. Just ask any spouse, or any Graves’ patient for that matter, We have all been there, and return to that state from time to time.
You bring up a good question about information on how to share this with our children. I know several excellent mental health folks, and I will run this by them. I know they will have some suggestions.
Take care of yourself,

[npatterson]

in reply to: NGDF membership? #1073852

If any of you will send me your mailing address, I will mail you information — including application form, bulletin list, and sample newsletters. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net"

[npatterson]

in reply to: Support Group in Bay Area? #1073838

Send me information on how to contact you, and I will see what we can do. Thnere are a couple of people there that were support grou0p leaders years ago. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net" is the best way to reach me.

[npatterson]

in reply to: Dry eyes…driving me NUTS!!! #1073868

A second doctor to look for is a neuro-ophthalmologist. They are usually the ones that see a lot of Graves’ patients. There are several procedures that can help with dry eyes, and many of us aere "experts" at taping our eyes closed at ngiht. We have some literature available on dry eyes. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net" will get an e-mail to me, and I can send you a couple of things. I can’t do it with the personal message function.

[Author]

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