[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Just need to vent…in other words, at my wit’s end… #1179908

Hi Becky.
Sorry you’re going through this and please don’t hesitate to vent…… we here all understand. I myself have written my share of “I can’t take it anymore” posts.

I’m fortunate that I have a very supportive and understanding husband but as for the rest of my family and friends, no, they don’t get it. We look “normal” so they don’t understand what a struggle it is to just get through a day and they don’t understand why I don’t want to participate in any extra activities or social events.

It will get better. it has to. Finding the sweet spot is the challenge you have right now but once you do this will all be a distant memory and you WILL get your life back. I know… I was diagnosed 6 years ago, found the sweet spot, and even went into remission for a couple of years. Had I not had a truckload of stress this past year I might still be in remission.

Hang around here … we all understand what you’re feeling.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Hyperthyroid Symptom Question #1179886

Actually I think I have a touch of “something”…. maybe a bug going around. I have been excessively tired for the most part for the past three days and the stomach has been a little off, not to mention I have colitis, and the dizzy was probably just another one of my anxiety things.

I’m not going to worry about it – I kind of feel like I am now in “limbo”and waiting mode and after the TT I will start with a clean slate. I’m hoping the anxiety and the colitis will calm down within a few weeks after surgery. New start.

Sue
P.S. Yes, Boomer, it could have been the applesauce I had at lunch… maybe a sugar thing. Not sure that would cause the stomach issue but then again, EVERYTHING causes a stomach issue for me. Crab-walking may become my new signature move.

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Had My Consult – Bring on the Surgery! #1179853

LOL You know me too well, Boomer. I WAS trying to figure out a way to share the video but I think the file is just too large. You may be off the hook from having to look down my throat.

May your days be filled with opportunities to have tubes shoved up your nose.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Had My Consult – Bring on the Surgery! #1179850

LaurelM wrote:

Yay! I’m sure it must feel good to have that done with.

I have a consult tomorrow and a 2nd opinion next Thursday. I’m feeling really ready for progress.

Laurel

How’d the consult go, Laurel? Did you get a camera up your nose, too?
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Had My Consult – Bring on the Surgery! #1179849

snelsen wrote:

I took Lugol’s solution. For all the reasons stated in the research you provided. Tastes like crap. I found orange juice cut it the best.
Shirley

I was eating my lunch dessert (applesauce) while reading your post, looked down, and wondered if I could drop the drops in applesauce. I imagine if I get it in me it doesn’t much matter how I do it, right?

Thanks for the orange juice tip…… if the drops are as bad as they warned me they are, I may have to make a fruit concoction.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Had My Consult – Bring on the Surgery! #1179846

OK, since I haven’t seen much on this forum about the pre-op vocal cord examination I did some Googling to make sure my doctor knows what she’s doing. (I’m sure she’d love to know I’m second guessing her but, hey, it’s MY body!) I found lots of info, but to sum it up:

Prior to thyroid surgery it is important to establish that the vocal cords are functioning and moving normally and that the primary thyroid problem, or previous thyroid surgery has not affected the vocal cord function and mobility.

I also decided to check on the drops I’ll be taking for a week before surgery. Sounds unpleasant but probably a good idea:

Lugol’s solution contains 100 mg/mL of potassium iodide and 50 mg/mL of iodine. Given orally, the product: 1) reduces thyroid vascularity—hence its use to reduce blood loss during thyroid surgery; 2) temporarily inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion—hence its use in treating thyrotoxic crisis and in reducing the risk of thyroid storm post thyroid surgery; and 3) blocks thyroidal uptake of radioactive isotopes, thereby reducing the risk of thyroid cancer—hence its use in a radiation emergency or therapeutic/diagnostic exposure of radioactive iodine.

I’m going to read some more about the procedure for another day or two and then I’m going to STOP reading for at least 3 weeks. I can’t afford to get myself all worked up and nervous this early….. I’ll try to contain all that for the week before.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Had My Consult – Bring on the Surgery! #1179842

I know I will be intubated during the procedure and am fine with that (well, not fine, but I know it’s necessary)…. the part I was referring to is the tube that went up my nose and down my throat TODAY during the consult!!!

She put a camera down there to look at my vocal cords…. standard procedure for her before she’ll agree to surgery. Unbenounced to me, my husband videod the whole thing on his phone so when we left I was able to see the monitor that showed the camera traveling down my throat, I got to see my vocal cords opening and closing, and then I saw the camera and tube leaving me. It wasn’t fun but I’m glad she’s that thorough and now that it’s over it’s cool seeing down my throat and watching my vocal cords say “eeeeeeeeeeeee”.

She promised that all other uncomfortable procedures would be done after I’m knocked out. I’m down with that!

Like I said, had I known the surgeon was going to check my vocal cords today during the consult I may have chickened out from going so I guess I’m glad I DIDN’T know.

Is that a regular part of a consult?
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Methimzole & Propanolol for 7 weeks, no improvement #1179829

Boomer wrote:

I’ve prattled on so much- I’ll close now:

Boomer

Prattled????

Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Disadvantages of not having a thyroid? #1179835

Thanks, Raspberry. I never really bothered to learn what T3 and T4 are and how they work …. I just check their levels on my monthly blood sheets. Guess I better get educated before I take the plunge. After all, we are our own best doctors.

Thanks, Kimberly, for the perfect information. I read your first sentence and was ready to ask what the UNHAPPY ones said, but there you were, posting my answers before I asked.

Hi Karen. Yes, I’m expecting to ask a lot of questions but to get only a very few answers, but I’m still going to ask. From what my referring endo tells me, this group of thyroid surgeons have done thousands and thousands of TT’s and supposedly have had no parathyroid issues. Not sure if I buy that, but it’s nice to hear.

Boomer, Boomer, Boomer….. you never let us down, even when you yourself aren’t feeling great. You’re priceless. I think numbers 8 and 9 are my favorites, and I am making a mental note to definitely do #10 if I opt for surgery. I will try to make it my last words before the anesthesia.

I’ll let you know how the consult goes.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Methimzole & Propanolol for 7 weeks, no improvement #1179822

Wish I had an answer for you or at least something more encouraging, but I’m STILL trying to get my levels right and I’ve been at it since February. We started me on Methimazole 5 mg., then raise it to 7.5, then raised it to 10 mg, and now we’re trying 12.5. I go for bloodwork tomorrow to see if we’re there yet, but this has been four increases and we still can’t seem to catch up to it.

We WILL get there, but when? No clue. Patience is the key I guess.
Sue

P.S. Had to laugh at my “patience” comment — I’m going to a surgeon consult tomorrow to talk about having mine removed because I’m sick of being patient!

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Dear Thyroid… #1179718

Again, right there with you. No longer furious and disgusted, just annoyed and impatient….. I want it OUT.

I just got a call from a surgeon’s office and have an appointment for consult next Thursday.

I went to the link provided by Kimberly and his name does NOT show up, however he is in the same office with a doctor that does. Should I be worried?
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Dear Thyroid… #1179713

In the same boat, Laurel. I contacted a surgeon’s office yesterday about a consult to have my thryoid removed but his next opening is July 15th and his next surgical opening isn’t until end of September. I asked if one of his associates is a little less busy and one of their secretaries is supposed to call me back today to set up an appointment.

Even though my levels are pretty much normal right now, I don’t want to live with that could over my head of if and when (moreso when) it goes out of whack again. I too, am now into some pretty heavy therapy schedules and medications and once I get this anxiety under control I don’t want any organ in my body playing with it again. I need some consistency and my thyroid hasn’t provided that in the last 6 years.

Will be interested to hear about your appointment, and hope to get one myself soon.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Blood sugar levels unstable? #1179565

MaryI wrote:

Hi Sue,
I also report having had the sweats and extreme fatigue about an hour after eating. It passes after awhile, but is very uncomfortable and almost debilitating.
Even an apple would do me in. I asked the doc and he just shrugged. Eventually it got better, and in time it happened occasionally, esp after a high carb meal. I also wonder about the blood sugar spiking.
I still get the sweats after eating, and my face gets really red, but am not as tired. I guess that it is a metabolic thing. I hope it gets better for you soon.
I never knew that those 2 small glands could wreak such havoc on our bodies and minds!

Not only do they wreak havoc but they make us start unlearning all the things we thought were good for us. I used to have a half sandwich and bowl of frozen fruit for lunch. I was always starving by the time I got back to the office and was shaky and tired and nervous within an hour. I stopped eating the fruit and that problem has resolved. Geez, what should I eat for dessert. . . a drumstick?!?!?!

I hate when the doctors shrug – or when they say “no, that’s not possibly caused by the Graves.” Wanna make a bet? Get on a forum and read!

Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Blood sugar levels unstable? #1179563

Stymie wrote:

Sue,

My pcp gave me a tester the last time I went in to see him. He thought I might me hypoglycemic since I was getting very shakey around 2:00 everyday.

I began testing myself and it seems my blood sugar is off in the mornings. Not so much during the day. But I also get anxiety attacks. I think they are correlated. If I have an anxiety attack in the morning as I’m waking up, my blood sugar is higher.

I have yet to talk to my endo about this. I think I’m due to see her at the end of June and I will let you know what I find out.

Maybe you could talk to your pcp about getting a tester and you could actively see what going on when you get a panic attack.?

Diane

Hi Diane…. thanks for sharing.

I, too, have panic attacks, and even though they were well under control for a while there they are now back with a vengeance and they began again when my thyroid came out of remission. What a nice bonus, huh?

I, too, am trying to figure out how much of my panic and anxiety are from nerves, how much is from my thyroid, and how much is from my diet. Not an easy puzzle to figure out when they all set each other off. I used to use a blood sugar meter and check myself several times a day and found I am a reactive hypoglycemic. I just have to be careful to make sure I have fat and protein with my sugar and carbs. But now even that’s not working so great so I was trying to figure out if the thyroid being out of whack was messing with my glycemic index or if I have to cut back on carbs even more.

Never ending challenge, but we’ll get this!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Blood sugar levels unstable? #1179561

Ann1960graves wrote:

Yes!!!! I had a blood test today. I eat then 15 minutes later I am starving again. I begin to sweat and shake more and generally feel horrible. Strange, I had some Carl’s jr onion rings out of desperation about 2 hours ago and I am feeling pretty good. I will report back once the blood tests come back. This is one of my bad symptoms.

Sorry to hear you’re having issues with it, too, but glad to hear I’m not alone. Mine is more like an hour after I eat, I start to feel the clenching of anxiety in my stomach and then I get light-headed and walk like I may fall over. I just realized that the two times it happened were about an hour after eating carbs.

Sue

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