Really want to connect with others who have Graves

Hi everyone! My name is Ezara and I am very new to the whole Graves Disease life. Within 10 weeks of an abnormal TSH test done at my employer's annual "Wellness Fair" in late October, 2013, I had been official diagnosed as being severely hyperthyroid and with Graves Disease. At the end of December I had RAI (I did tons of research and I do not regret this decision).

I had my first post-RAI bloodwork done on Valentine's Day and yesterday my endocrinologist's office called me with the results. My TSH is still supressed but my Free T4 is very low. I'll get the number via mail in a few days. Yesterday I was started on 75mcg of Synthroid.

Dealing with this has been "interesting". I loved being able to eat anything I wanted and losing weight! I lost a lot of muscle in my arms and legs though. I had RAI on 12/27/13 and on 12/29/13 I became an active member of Spark People. I figured I needed to get my appetite under control and start developing good eating and exercise habits before I went hypo.

The last two weeks I have been dealing with lots of sweating issues and during yesterday's phone call with the endo, this is common when one goes hypo. Joy. He did say once my thyroid levels are closer to normal, this will abate as well. I certainly hope so!

My hubby is super-supportive and together we are working on ensuring our lifestyle is compatible with my new lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Both of us are still reeling from all of this, but we both strongly feel that mindset has a lot do with being successful and leading a good lifestyle.

I know, this is long and I thank everyone for taking the time to read my ramblings!

Sincerely,
Ezara

Hi all, I've been a member of Sparkpeople since 2006, that was the year I was diagnosed with Graves' and gained a crap ton of weight. I am so happy to see others that walk/run in this group!! I'm also doing the Monumental, it will be my 7th half.

THAT is hilarious! Good for you - a sense of humor gets one through a lot of muck.

In no way am I a "fast" runner. I have been passed on more than one occasion by a speed walker.

Another runner!!! Good for you, EMS-WIFE! I hope all you speedsters will let a "power-walker-wannabe" hang out here - what you are doing motivates me!

JSmith68 and HAPPY

You two are awesome at grabbing hold of your life and not letting your thyroid issues run your life for you. Go for the goals, I believe you will achieve them

today is a down day.. slogging through chores and what not. I am still pretty sensitive to heat, so I am not going on my normal Monday bike ride. I will not lie that it has been SLOW SLOW SLOW on the weight loss. When I was nursing my 2rd daughter I went to WW and managed to lose 40lbs, then gained it back when I was pregnant with my 3rd daughter. That being said, I am also still trying to lose the last 10lbs that I gained with my 1st daugter (age 7) All told from my highest (when I was released from the Hospital 6.5yrs ago) I have lost 70bs.. but I can't seem to get these last 10 baby lbs off. Then I can start working on the 50 I gained after my graves was treated.

WOW! So I'm not crazy - being hypo really does knock you in the ditch! SO sorry to hear you have days like that - but I know exactly what you are dealing with. I napped hours away in a recliner (not usually my habit at all) over the winter and spring months this year. I still do it sometimes, but not daily, and not for hours and hours like back then.

So far, I still have my thyroid - trying to do this medicinally first, and if that doesn't work, I'll have surgery or something, too. I can't imagine the swing from hyper to hypo in a week, I don't think. That's rough! My meds took my down slower. I am taking Methimazole - early on 60 mg a day, now only 2.5 mgs a day. We'll see how it goes. In the meantime, since I didn't listen to my endocrinologist's warnings about weight gain , I am paying the price now. I see you've made wonderful progress with weight loss - quite a feat while hypo!! Congratulations to YOU! You have proven that it can be done - so "poof" - there went my excuses! HAHA! And thank you for that - it's a good thing!

Have a wonderful, healthy day - I'm going to walk the pasture once today in honor of your successes!

I've been hypo since my diagnosis of graves disease 18yrs ago. I had the raido iodine, and in a matter of a week went from hyper to a crashing hypo. Somedays I can barely pull myself out of my chair while others I am too antsy to sit down.

Hi there, to all the good folks improving their lives while managing Graves Disease! I was diagnosed almost three years ago - went from severe hyper all the way to hypo - have come back up the spectrum to something more respectable of late. The muscle wasting part of severe hyper was my worst impact - it hit the legs. Each of my shoulders froze in the last few years - so I have four weak extremities - but am SURE proud to have extremities at all! Exercise is more painful than it was in my youth, and I've been using that as my excuse. I plan to ditch the excuses.

I just started today - have a lot to read still. But if there are any other Graves folks out there who could use a chat up occasionally - just let me know. We can't let Graves determine our futures, can we?!

Dee

Hi I just read your post and wanted to see how u are doing. I have had graves for some years now. I was finally diagnosed correctly I should say! I had a very large thyroid so it had to be removed now I am on Synthroid I seem to have the symptoms still and have to have it my levels checked every couple of months. I am really interested to talk to someone else who understands ! I am hypo also so any tips would be appriciated!

I'm Angela, I'm really excited to get started with Sparkpeople and would love to start connecting with others who have thyroid problems.
For me, dealing with Graves disease has really derailed my life plans not to mention my physical & mental health.
I'm actually taking this year to try and learn to live a better life while dealing with the ongoing pervasive symptoms from being hypothyroid and living with a chronic disease.
My main goals are to have consistent days and to lose weight! I'd love to be able to talk to others who are post graves or are hypo, I think connecting with others who may have been through some of the same battles I've been through would really encourage my progress! :)