Aww F#@$, I got Grave's Disease

I was feeling kind of stressed but I figured that was just because of my busy lifestyle, taking care of my mom who has Alzheimer's. But when I woke shaking and weak, I got scared, so I called my brother to come watch my mom while I went to the doctor, who diagnosed my sick thyroid. Now, I got a new medicine to take and no insurance to cover it (along with the whopping bill I'm sure the doctor's going to send me),

I think I'll take a nap. I still got a Valium hangover

You're thinking of the opposite problem.

destroy the thyroid and then give the patient thyroid replacement hormones. :shrug:

I guess I'm too much of a hormo. There's a chance this could lead to a remission. If not, and the medicine doesn't work, then it's either radiation (to destroy some of my thyroid) or surgery (to remove it) after which, it's a lifetime of medicine.

sometimes they have programs for people who can't afford the meds. A friend of mine has ulceratic colitis. She didn't have prescription coverage on her insurance and couldn't afford the meds. The pharmaceutical company that made the meds helped her out.

And what a shitty name to give to a disease.

I think his daddy had it, didn't he?

Also Barb and the dog. Musta been something in the water.

I'm going to invade a small carribean nation

and I hope you can get good cheap meds. :hug:

feeling 99% better already. Just a bit shaky from the excitement and stress of it all

The best thing about it was that I could eat everything in the kitchen and still lose weight -- but I lost waaaaaay too much! Plus, I was always burning up hot. They nuked ( w/ radioactive iodine pill) my thyroid and now I take Synthroid to replace it, and will do so for the rest of my life. I've had no problems since.

If they haven't nuked your thyroid, be sure to have the hormone level monitored because Graves' can go into "thyroid storm" which, I'm sure you already know, is not good.

Best wishes,

Bake

and the encouraging words

Taking care of your mom and Grave's Disease?! Ouch. My aunt has Grave's. It can be managed, but she does take a lot of meds.

Please do whatever you can to take care of yourself.

"Help in on the way"

Give yourself a couple of months to return to the lively, enthusiastic person you are. It'll happen.

that cuke. May I make a suggestion, though? Get a second opinion. I say that because my youngest was diagnosed with Grave's about 6 years ago (at 17!:cry:), so they doctored for that, only to decide it was Hashimoto's. Again, treated her for THAT, and NOW a specialist in Denver has determined she has what is called Marine Lehrers (sp?), which is a combination of both. Now THAT totally sucks. She will be having her thyroid removed and spend the rest of her life on synthroid. My only point is it took them long enough to figure it out so I would hate to see you, or anyone else afflicted with a thyroid disorder, go through 6 years of improper treatment.

Once everything gets regulated, you are going to be just fine :hug:

Unfortunately, I can't afford the 1st opinion. I'll have to see if the medicine works. If they want to give me radiation or surgery, I'll get a 2nd opinion

And thanks for the encouragement. I know it's not the end of the world, but I'm pissed about it anyway

that goes with the disease.

When I found out I had it, I was livid.

I had quit smoking, and was about 5 months into my quit. I was very proud of myself. All of a sudden, I started losing weight, and I had a heart rate that was off the charts. Fortunately, my family doctor realized what it was.

I went to a stupid cardiologist, who put me on the wrong meds and made things worse.

Then, I went to a stupid endocrinologist, who treats the labs, not the person.

First, I was on PTU. It worked for awhile. Then, I went to methimazole. That worked better, but after a year, my thyroid hormones rose again. I went for the radioactive iodine treatment in April of this year. The endo let me go completely hypothyroid before starting me on synthroid. I have never been through so much misery. Plus, I have gained 40 pounds. And I have never been heavy.

The synthroid is starting to work for me. I am feeling better and have some energy again. I am seeing the cardiologist, a new and better doctor, later this month. I may need a pacemaker to get my heart completely normal, and then I will have to start working on losing the weight. Plus, I am smoking again. I am only smoking a few cigarettes a day, but I cannot seem to get past this. I know how stupid it is, too.

It may take me about another year to have a life that I can define as normal. But from what people tell me, it will be worth it. I did not realize how sick I was until things had gotten very bad. I am already feeling better. Last summer was brutal.

I hope you find the right doctors, and a way to pay for everything. The initial costs are the worst of it. When you get to the point of just maintaining your health, it will get easier. Please find some people to help with the finances. You cannot ignore this condition. A year from now, when you are doing better, you will see what I mean.

There are some good websites where you can talk to others who have gone through this. You will find lots of support from fellow Graves patients. PM me if you need anything.

My guess is that's not necessary unless you have suspicious growths on your thyroid. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. Really you need to speak with your doctor and verify what the deal is.

Get a second opinion and scour the Internet...First go here and read.

http://thyroid.about.com/od/hyperthyroidismgraves/Hyperthyroidism_Graves_Disease_Overactive_Thyroid_Condition.htm

Then, I suggest you seek out something called a "TRH" challenge test for definitive diagnosis of Graves vs. Hashimoto's. My Endo started to think I had Graves, or just a few cases of thyroiditis, and then this test made them go "uh, oops, you ARE hypothyroid and this must be early Hashimoto's." *smacks head*

Also, you need to be screened for thyroid antibodies. If your doc is doing TSH, T4 and T3 only it isn't enough.

(Sorry about your insurance -- but I have had bouts of overactive thyroid with my Hashimoto's. Occasionally it can do that as the thyroid is dying off from autoimmune disease. Then it will swing to underactive again. Please do get a second opinion!!! I spent a YEAR AND A HALF trying to get on correct meds, ntm some of these lazy doctors wanted to shunt me off to psychiatrists because i was a "hypochondriac with normal thyroid tests", which was so not cool.)