SICKNESS ANYONE

Subject: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 9:18 am

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in July of 05.
Info from the mayo clinic
Graves' disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism. It occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland and causes it to overproduce the hormone thyroxine.
The abnormal immune response can affect the tissue behind your eyes as well as parts of your skin. The higher thyroxine level in Graves' disease can greatly increase your body's metabolic rate, leading to host of health problems.
There's no way to stop your immune system from attacking your thyroid gland, but treatments for Graves' disease can ease symptoms and decrease the production of thyroxine.
My choice of treatment was surgery or radioactive iodine. I chose the surgery because the radioactive iodine could go to my ovaries and we weren't done having children. I had the surgery on Dec 5th 2005. It was performed at Vanderbilt by a dr of oncology. He said my thyroid was several times the size it should have been and the surgery took 2hrs more than he anticipated. I am required to take thyroid replacement hormones for the rest of my life. Due to the fact I breastfeed my daughter I must go every 6 weeks to have my levels checked. It has been very frustrating because my meds are never right. During my pregnancy the dosage I needed increased and now post partum the levels need to be lower. I am thankful it was caught early but struggle with the constant med changes. I am healthy now and should not have any other problems as long as we can get my meds somewhat regulated.

Class of 1998 Joined : 09 Apr 2008 Posts : 125

I totally empathize and will pray for you. Melissa, my girlfriend, has high thyroid level also. She is taking medicine to get it to go back down to normal. I talked to the doctor, who said that her TSH level was high and he needed to give her something between 25 and 50 (I think micrograms, not sure). I just want her to be all right, but I've noticed she sleeps so much more than she used to. We'll just keep watching her blood levels.

I have high blood pressure. I take medicine and am exercising to help bring it down. Also staying away from salty food. I never use the salt shaker, so it's just heredity passing it down from my dad.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 9:54 am

High blood pressure for me and maybe a touch of insanity. Don't now if it counts as a sickness but I am also a functioning alcohloic. I am aware that lung cancer or liver problems will end my life sooner rather than later.
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The world is going crazy, I am just cutting in line.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 9:58 am

Thanks for the prayers! Sounds like Melissa has Hypo thyroid problems. Which means underactive. It can cause you to sleep a lot, feel cold, lathargic (sp?), and cause depression it can also cause weight gain. The meds should help her. It can take several weeks before she will feel better. What is she on? I have found that the generic form of my meds does not work as well as the brand. I take Levoxyl.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 9:58 am

Even with your explanation I still don't get what Graves does overall. It jacks up the thyroid but what does that do
_________________
The world is going crazy, I am just cutting in line.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 10:09 am

The easiest way to explain it is a hormone inbalance. I also had large goiters or cysts in my thyroid. They ran test to make sure that my thyroid was cancer free after it was removed. It was Very Happy

Anxiety

Irritability

Difficulty sleeping

A rapid or irregular heartbeat

A tremor in the hands or fingers

Sweating

Heat intolerance

Weight loss, despite normal food intake

Brittle hair

Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)

I had all of those symptons. My liver levels were also off. It can also cause your eyes to pop forward. I never had that problem.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 11:02 am

phillip do you smoke also? my husband use to smoke. I begged and pleaded for him to stop after our children were born. I told him if he got sick because of smoking I would not be around to drag that stupid oxygen tank around for him. He finally quit cold turkey but he still sneaks a dip once and awhile.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 11:18 am

Yeah I still smoke. I might quit I don't know. I am already planning to pimp out a hov-a-round to carry my oxygen tanks. I was thinking about maybe putting some rims on it and a banging sound system. Maybe hydraulics too. I won't be able to breath but my rascal will be bad ass.
_________________
The world is going crazy, I am just cutting in line.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 11:48 am

that reminds me of this guy at MTSU....I worked for a company that took care of handicap adults. I took care of this one guy who had hov-o-round sort of thing. He had a system in his wheel chair and black lights. He also use to enter it in car shows. He won lots of trophy's. He is really cool guy. If you went to MTSU you have most likely seen him

Class of 1998 Joined : 09 Apr 2008 Posts : 125

You're welcome. Melissa's on Levothyroxin, a generic for Synthroid. She has had thyroid problems for a while now. At first it was sleepy, sleeping, lethargy, and weight gain. At the next doctor's visit, I was surprised when he told her she had a higher thyroid level. He asked her if she had been irritable and wanting to go to bed later, which she was. Now, after the change in amount of micrograms, she is tired when she gets home from work and usually takes a nap of an hour or two.

It makes less time to be together on the weekdays, but of course I do not wake her up or anything. I wouldn't want anyone to wake me up if I had this. I am told that the thyroid level can fluctuate, and it appears that this is what was happening. I could be wrong, though.

She smoked also, a pack a day, and went cold turkey and has never smoked again. It was hard and I had to encourage her to quit, and it paid off.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 1:52 pm

Does she see a PCP or a Specialist? I was released to my PCP after my surgery and she did not have a clue on how to treat me nor could she answer all the questions I had. I requested to go back to my specialist. I see Dr Jagasia at the Vanderbilt Endocrinology Clinic. I LOVE HER! She is very hard to get into see but if you can I would recommend it.

Does Melissa take Birth Control, Vitamins, or any other meds? You don't have to answer that.... Just Know they ALL interact with thyroid meds. You must take thyroid meds 1st thing in the morning before any food or drink or any other medication. Really it’s no food, drink or meds for 3-4 hours before you take the meds and no food, drink or meds 1hr after you have taken it. Any calcium like with vitamins will slow the up take of the medication So you have to be very careful on anything with calcium. You have parathyroids next to your thyroid.... parathyroids (4 if them) are responsible for making calcium in the body. It's a big guessing game on the proper dosage. Any weight loss or gain will also affect the meds you need.

I would also request BRAND ONLY in thyroid meds... something about the dosage in generic is not as consistent as brand. My copay for brand is the same as generic.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 2:21 pm

I had a LT Hip Replacement on April 10th 2007 due to Avascular Necrosis. I was 27 at the time. I am fully recovered now and walk normaly. I cannot do some things (like running) but it dosen't phase me for the most part. I notice the big scar on my butt more than anything. It was strange being in physical therapy with a bunch of old people..
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Class of 1998 Joined : 08 Apr 2008 Posts : 80

My illness really sucks! I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 24. I hallucinate visually and audibly. I am normal most of the time. I am the same guy you knew back when. I do see some weird stuff from time to time. I have to tell myself that it is my mental illness.
I take a medicine called seroquel. It limits the amount of dopamine in my brain. Basically, it slows down my thinking and keeps my mind from creating delusions. It really sucks! Do not think of me any different. I usually do not share this with most people, just the people I trust.

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 3:35 pm

what is avascular necrosis?

Subject: Re: SICKNESS ANYONE Wed May 07, 2008 4:09 pm

My mom is taking seroquel. It's really been a great help for her.

As for me, I take Xanax and Klonopin for my anxiety disorder, Requip for Restless Leg Syndrome (yes this is a real disorder), and Ambien for chronic insomnia.

I think its funny that the side affects of the Requip include "an increased urge to gamble". I mean, WTF? What kind of medication makes you want to gamble? I guess I should stay away from Vegas.