[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Well, here goes! #1173692

Hi there – so glad you’re enjoying your recovery! I had no issues with my voice (even in the hospital) but as you said, it may take longer for men.

I think you will find that it is going to become more difficult to judge your levels via your symptoms and you’ll have to go by blood work only for a while. The symptoms we get while on replacement thyroid hormone are different than when we were on thyroid blocker and they can overlap and get confusing. I went to one of my post-op check ups convinced that I was hypo and found I was still very HYPER. Isn’t it great that my blood showed I was hyper but I wasn’t freaking out with anxiety and psychiatric issues?????

As I’ve said to others, a bad day post-op feels so much better than a good day did pre-op. No comparison. I found the hardest part of the post-surgical process was that whenever I tweak my doses I get symptomatic for a few weeks but now that I know to expect it, it doesn’t effect me as badly as it used to. And I think I am overly sensitive to T4 so you may not notice any symptoms when changing dosages…. different for everyone.

My surgeon took off my tape at my first post-op check up (I think it was 10 days) and I was shocked that all she did was reach over and remove it. I didn’t feel a thing so I’m guessing it was pretty close to falling off.

Have a great weekend!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Aye caramba! #1182122

Getting out my pom poms to cheer you on with the rest of the gang!

My endo was not a supporter of a TT, either, but a few months afterwards during a check up he shook my hand and said “You made the right decision – good for you.”

No, surgery may not clear up all your symptoms and you won’t feel consistently and instantly wonderful, but as I tell everyone, “A bad day after surgery is still so much better than a good day was before surgery.” The challenges are different and much smaller.

The endo’s just don’t seem to be able to relate to what we go through with Graves. Mine has told me often that my symptoms can not be due to Graves because the numbers didn’t support it. He also tells me that I shouldn’t feel the difference when I make minor tweaks to my Levothyroxine, but I KNOW I do.

If your gut is strongly telling you to postpone the surgery then listen to your gut, but if it’s just the surgeon that is causing you to doubt your decision, then cast that aside and move forward. I’m betting you won’t regret it.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Graves’ rearing it’s ugly head again #1182063

Sorry you’re having such a rough time, I can TOTALLY relate and understand. I am / was the Queen of Anxiety and it got to the point where leaving the house at all was a major struggle and staying in the house wasn’t much better. My endo had thought that my Graves Disease probably wasn’t serious enough for a surgeon to consider removing my thyroid, but the day he walked into his exam room to find me on the table sobbing, he gave me surgical references. The surgeons absolutely agreed that I was the perfect candidate and my thyroid was removed in July 2013.

Having said that, you don’t necessarily have to become a bald, fat, slug once your thyroid is gone. I’m living proof that it doesn’t have to happen. I am still slightly on the hyper side of things so no, I’m not tired at all but I am able to sleep quite nicely when I choose to. I packed on some pounds when I was pre-and post surgical and am now successfully taking them off at a rate of about a pound a week. And yes, I had some hair loss when I first started Levothyroxine but that has pretty much stopped.

I’m not suggesting you rush into a surgery or an RAI procedure but just know that there are solutions to this and you WILL feel better again. “This too shall pass” and if you ever do opt for surgery, you don’t have to be fat, bald and lazy…. promise.

Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Well, here goes! #1173685

I set my alarm for about 45 minutes before I have to get up. When it goes off I turn it off, reach for my pill and my water, and go back to sleep until the next alarm wakes me. I can eat and drink the minute I get up and don’t really lose any sleep…. I pretty much take the pill in my sleep.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Well, here goes! #1173678

I got very little sleep (if any) my night in the hospital but I made up for it once I got home…. I’m sure you will, too.

Happy healing!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Well, here goes! #1173674

Hurray – congratulations! I was saying right after surgery (and am STILL saying) “I wish I’d done this sooner.” No regrets here, and you won’t have any, either.

Yes, I had that sense of peace, too. I went to a family picnic 10 days after surgery and when someone would ask how I was feeling, my answer was always “Calm.” It was a calm I don’t recall ever feeling before.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t get to keep that level of calm consistently throughout the recovery process but I did find it again once we found my medication sweet spot. CHANGING doses completely wiped out my serenity and turned me into an emotional maniac but it’s temporary so be prepared, just in case that happens to you, too.

Enjoy your recovery and don’t overdo it. You will feel great but if you do too much you will be knocked down for several days. Just pace yourself.

Keep us posted, please!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Well, here goes! #1173670

I remember that feeling well…… I was a happy, dancing lunatic those few days before going in for surgery – people thought I was nuts!

I guess I was one of the lucky ones because I don’t remember struggling with the SSKI taste for longer than a minute or so….. sorry I can’t help with that. Gum, maybe?

Good luck – look forward to hearing how quick and simple your recovery is.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181890

barbra wrote:

Hi Sue,

Thanks for kind of paving the way with the perm and giving me the guts to go ahead and get one too.

It worked out, looks great and I feel like a new person.

Hugs.
Barbra.

Hurray! Doesn’t it feel great to like your hair again? You’re probably doing what I did… wishing I had done it sooner!

Scary, though, wasn’t it? While she is taking the rods out you’re holding your breathe to see if the hair is coming out with them. LOL

Congrats and enjoy.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Well, here goes! #1173664

I know EXACTLY how you feel! I was fairly certain I wanted surgery so I insisted my endo refer me to a surgeon (he was pushing for RAI instead) and after my consult I was absolutely convinced I was making the right decision. And I was SO EXCITED about having it done, I was literally counting the days! People at work kept shaking their heads and looking at me as if I were crazy because when someone would casually say “Hi, how are you?” I’d answer with a song in my voice and say “Great! I’m having surgery in XX days!” LOL

On the way to the hospital that morning my husband was nervous and apprehensive and I was still skipping along eagerly wanting to get there. I don’t think the hospital has ever seen anyone more ready to be cut than I was.

Haven’t regretted it once and wish I had done it sooner, but as you said, the process happened exactly the way it was supposed to and I learned a lot along the journey.

I’m so excited for you – congratulations!
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181884

Oh yes, the anger! My poor husband – I would rip him a new one several times a day for absolutely nothing. And then when that passed I would feel horrible about being that way and get depressed.

I like your attitude, and it’s very possible that the right dose really is just around the corner. The two weeks before my surgery I felt great and was at a really good level on my ATD’s. I remember thinking that if I could feel that good after surgery I’d be very happy…. luckily I feel even better than that now. You will too, one way or the other.
Sue

Raspberry wrote:

Oh yeah, it’s the fact that it affects my mind that makes it hardest to deal with. For me it’s more depression and anger that fluctuate with the levels, though anxiety is in the mix too. It ain’t fun! I’m glad your doctor was finally willing to listen to you – I think unless they have Graves themselves they can’t imagine what it is like.

As for me and surgery, financially and personally it’s just a no-go for me now. Maybe in a year or two. Fortunately I respond very well to methimazole so I can stay on the roller coaster for a while – though not necessarily happier. But hey there’s always that next dosage change around the corner that might be the one!

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181882

I can relate, Raspberry. The non-existence of consistency is what drove me to insist on getting referred to a surgeon. My endo thought I should either keep chasing a remission (even though he admitted that having had one and lost it I might never have one again) or do RAI. He didn’t think my levels were bad enough to justify surgery. The day I showed up crying in frustration over riding an emotional and physical rollercoaster he agreed that perhaps I should consult a surgeon and I never looked back after that, nor have I regretted it.

Had it just been physical symptoms I may have hung in there longer with ATD’s but the anxiety was starting to take over my life. I knew that I wanted CONSISTENCY, whether it would be slightly hypo or slightly hyper, I just wanted something I could get used to and rely on, ya know?

Sorry you’re still chasing the sweet spot. How does your endo feel about possible surgery? Do you have the insurance coverage for surgery?
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181880

Raspberry wrote:

Hi Sue, good to hear your perm went well! I’m thinking of coloring my hair but I’ve been a little leary too of it making it fall out more. Did you every get try out the azulene cream?

If I remember right you had a few periods of remission from Graves – did your anxiety improve at all during those times?

I don’t think coloring your hair would cause additional hair loss… the color products today actually seem to make your hair MORE healthy and conditioned, at least it does mine.

Try Azulene cream? I’ve used nothing else since! There are many days that I even use the eye cream on my face – really great stuff! Thanks for the reminder…. time to order some more.

Yes, when I was in remission from my Graves my anxiety disappeared and I was leading a perfectly “normal” life. It’s nice while it lasts but the problem is, it never did.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: Where are all the TT’ers? #1181878

Hi Barbra – nice to hear from you! I had blood drawn Wednesday and just got back from my endo … it seems I’m still on the hyper side but he gave me the choice of lowering my Levothyroxine or staying where I am for a while. Since I’m feeling pretty good I opted to stay at this dosage and go for stability for a while because whenever I’ve adjusted doses I seem to go through several weeks of “yuck”. But it’s good to know that if I get anxious or feel bouts of hyper symptoms that I am NOT imagining it… always nice to have validation.

Regarding the perm, yes, I DID get it and I DO still have all my hair – hooray!!!!
The perm took perfectly and I haven’t regretted it once. Once it starts to grow out too much I’ll definitely do it again – thanks for asking.
Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: 7 month post-TT update #1181786

SO NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU! I check often to see if you’ve posted and frequently wonder how you’re doing.

Next week will be 5 months since my TT and I think I have finally found a good dosage. I alternate between 100 mcg. and 112 so if you average that out it’s 106 mcg. a day. I’m on 5 weeks of that regimen and I think I like it. I’m sleeping OK at night but have enough energy through the day and evening to be productive. Anxiety is down, but weight is going up.

Good luck with the post-op….. hope improving your voice will be an easy fix.

Sue

[SueAndHerZoo]

in reply to: organization abilities compromised #1181731

Kimberly wrote:

@SueAndHerZoo – When I lived in another city many years ago, I had a good friend with lupus. She used to joke with people, “I don’t make plans – I make suggestions.” Everyone in our group understood that she had good days and bad days…and we took it in stride if she wasn’t able to follow through on a particular day.

OMG – I love that – I think I’m going to steal it! And I think calling it a “suggestion” rather than a plan will take some of the pressure off of me to feel good that day because worrying about that in itself can make you feel crappy.

Thanks!
Sue

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