Re: Eager to join your group and share my story!

[Guest guest]

Hello Tana,

Well I've tried to post my messag yesterday, but I don't know what

happened,because I don't see it here, so if there will appear two

messages with the same text know that there was some kind of

misunderstanding.

I am doing ok, how about you? I still have some pressure in my eye

and my goiter is not gone yet, but other than that I am doing fine.

Thank's for noticing my sense of humor, I think you are pretty good

in this area yourself :)I am trying to live and enjoy my life,

although it seems pretty hard right now, but I still try to drag

myself up whenever I feel like going down with negative thoughts.

I'm not that strong emotionally and I still have anxiety, whenever I

get to the store with long lines I want to run from there as fast as

I can. This feeling is driving me nuts, but I am trying to cope with

it, don't want to get on any other kind of drugs anymore. I guess

this is pretty normal, it seems that Kate was dealing with something

similar also. I'm just hoping that after all this I will be stronger

than ever...

I have started taking copper, but you know there is a strange thing

happening. For the last couple of days I feel nauseated for the 5

minutes or so afer I take it. I am not taking it on an empty stomach,

but I am thinking maybe I am not deficient in it, or maybe this is

just adaptation phase, but it's weird that it didn't happen for the

first week. I am still waiting for my selenium, so I am planning to

start it next week, I am hoping that maybe this will help for my

goiter. I am having hard time finding supplements here in

Ireland,mostly have to order it online. It was so much easier and

cheaper when I lived in Chicago,the prices are awesome overthere. I

will definately get spirulina, if you think that it's a good stuff.

Wow, I am sorry that you have celiac disease. It looks that your body

is very sensitive. Mine isn't, at least it wasn't before, or maybe I

didn't pay that much of attention to it. I am also allowing myself to

enjoy food more. I was very strict with my diet before. I was eating

pretty healthy, but maybe not enough, and I did consume much more

alcohol, which I am limiting to a minimum now.

Did you Kate or Tana had any problems with your eyes? Did you have

goiter?

So that's it for today,

Peace out,

Simona

[Guest guest]

Hey Tana I forgot one more thing. I was just wondering if you could

give me the supplement list that you are taking, maybe I could just

adjust my dosage easier since you've been through all this, just to

give me an idea. If you want you can post me a personal email on

holla_querida@...

where did you get from that selenium speeds up hyper symptoms? I

couldn't find that information, I thought zinc does, or maybe I didn't

look good enough, you know I can always blame foggy brain on this

Simona

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

I started tearing up when I read your post. I'm so very, very sorry for

what you have gone through. My heart breaks thinking that someone has

gone through all of those things.

So many things in your post reached out and spoke to me. I liked how

you wrote you have delightfully developed IBS. I would definitely

say your bout with depression has lifted if your mind can give birth to

sarcasm in the midst of hard times. What struck me the most was how

your heart didn't slow down. Do you know why? Does it beat " heavily " ?

I don't know what beta-blockers are. Can you help me understand?

Kate, I just want to give you and your poor little battle-weary body a

hug. Bless you for wanting to take what you've lived through and try

to help others. That requires a huge amount of strength; you are

awesome!

Sometimes I felt as though I was a statistical outlier with very little

help and hope; and when a trusted friend at work got me comfortable with

the possibility of surgery, I held it out there only as a last resort.

I endured the embarrassment of life with these imbalances, and the

overwhelming amount of ignorance and judgemental criticism ( " What? You

don't look sick. " ). It was a very difficult path, and at some points I

just wanted the surgery to be rid of the fear. I think sometimes

knowing that the surgery was a possibility acted as a safety net while I

kept trying to figure things out.

Kate, I look forward to learning more about you through your support of

others in the struggle.

Hugs,

-Tana

>

> Hi Tana

> I took RAI as soon as I could instead of researching the issues. So I

can report no 'trouble with my thyroid' since it was ablated. Just the

residue of having autoimmune disease without a 'focus' and of course all

the hypo/hyper symptoms that go along with med imbalances. I have a

positive ANA suggesting lupus but the second test to confirm it was

negative. I have absolutely no energy or drive. That went along with my

thyroid and although I have asked my doc for 10 years about it she never

has an answer and just does more blood work. I find about 1 or 2 days a

year I feel 'normal' and am able to have a normal day energetic day and

do a few things. As a result of having been hyper, I have osteoporosis

and take fossavance and calcium for that. Of course the fossavance

doesn't sit particularly well with me so I also ended up taking prevacid

just on the one day a week I take fossavance. This interferes with the

uptake of my thyroid meds that day. As well, my heart did not slow down

(long story) and I am on beta blockers forever now. I have still anxiety

and insomnia and take medications for both those. I was

clinically/chronically depressed for almost 15 years but, cross your

fingers, I think I may have moved past that this past couple of months.

I certainly hope so. I have had the delight of developing IBS somewhere

along the line and that is a real drag. I'm afraid to eat when we are

out so miss lots of meals. Since I gained 50% of my original body weight

through my 'thryoid experience' I don't mind missing meals. I have not

had much success losing weight unless I allow the IBS to take over for a

while. I still get facial flushing and hot flashes although it's ten

years since menopause. As well as all this crap (no better word for it)

I developped Chronic Myofascial pain and have persistant pain and physio

once a week....

> I wish so sincerely I had tried a different route. I was so frightened

(didn't realize how out of line from normal that was) and I just rushed

into treatment. That is why I got involved and hope to help others to

try other avenues before RAI. It is so final and it isn't a good

solution every time.

> Kate

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Simona,

I think you accidentally sent this post to my email address... haha.

[] No big deal: I put it below so Kate could read your question to

her.

I am doing ok. Burnt out from working a lot lately, but today is the

start of my vacation. I'm taking my kids on a road trip to an amusement

park in Northern Idaho, then spending time with extended family in

Montana.

Hmm, I didn't experience nausea with the copper... interesting. What is

it based in? I first started out with a potato-based copper, and felt

much better when I switched to a rice-based copper supplement.

Sometimes the form is very important to your body's absorption patterns.

I have to be very careful when taking things like iron... that will

upset my stomach if it isn't in an easily assimilated form. On the

other hand, you may be right... copper may not be your deficiency.

Isn't this part fun?!?! [] What's even more fun is when you find a

supplement and dosage that work for a while, and then once your body

adjusts and is happy, you need to shift it again to bring back your

balance. What is like heaven on earth for a few weeks can suddenly turn

to discomfort in excess.

Thank you. You reminded me that I need to put some Spirulina powder

into pill capsules before I leave for the trip. []

Big hugs to you, Simona, Kate, AntJoan, and everyone else out there on

the list!

See you in a few days,

-Tana

Hi Tana,

Well you seem pretty good in that area yourself

I am doing ok, thank's for asking. How about you?

You know, I am not sure about the copper. I am taking it for about a

week 2.2 mg, and for the last couple of days I feel nauseated after I

take it, it goes away in 5 minutes or so. I am not taking it on an

empty stomach, I've read that one can feel that way, but still I am a

little bit concerned, maybe I am not deficient in it.

I haven't tried selenium and Iron yet, planning to add them this

weekend. I'll let you know, how that'll make me feel. I am hoping that

selenium will help me with my eye pressure,maybe I will also add some

B3, because I've found on 's list that it might help with that too.

I will definately get spirulina, if you think that it's an awesome

stuff:)It's so easy for you who live in the usa ( I don't know if you

do though) supplements are so cheap there, and you can find anything

you need. It's tricky here in Ireland, I order it online, some only

from the uk, and the prices aren't so appealing as it used to be when

I lived in chicago.

Kate, did you have any symptoms with your eyes?

So this is all for today,

Peace out,

Simona

[Guest guest]

Hello there,

Sally, I absolutely agree with you that hyperthyroidism can cause

vertigo. This was my first symptom, I even went to ER and if you've

read my story you would know they told me I was just making this up.

How sad that the medical community sometimes know only the symptoms

from the books that they've read at school, and don't want to

consider real life stories. Anyway I still get light-headed sometimes

even though I was hypo when I had my last blood test, so I now think

that any big change in my thyroid hormonal level causes light-

headedness. When I asked my endo if this was possible she didn't

think so and told me that probably my blood pressure was the causer

of all this. And after me telling that isn't it true that thyroid has

influence on blood pressure there was a big silence and the answer -

yes.

Kate,darling, I think you ROCK!!!Many blessings to you. I feel you

when you say that you feel lazy sometimes. I feel the same way, and I

am only 25! I hope I have all the beautifull life in front of me,but

at this moment I don't feel like living a normal life. I can't

imagine how will I be able to go back to work. I don't know why

thyroid has such a big impact on me. I see other ppl with this

disease living normal lives, but not me. I want to feel normal again

so much. My doctor also never told me that I have to go off the beta

blockers very slowly, but I was taking only half the pill and then

before I stopped I reduced it to a quarter of a pill, I think I did

it instinctively. I now drink motherwort tea just one cup every or

every other day. I'll see if this will help or if I will have to go

back on beta blocker. It's just that I have low blood pressure and

beta blockers reduce it even more. I had an elevated heart rate all

my life, but I don't remember what it was before I got thyroid

problems, so now with my heart rate going close to 100bpm I am not

worried that much.

Peace out,

Simona

>

> Hi Joan

> Here is the recipe. I'll write more separately.

> Kate

> Re: Re: Eager to join your group and

share my story!

>

>

> Dear Kate,

>

> Any chance you can share your oatmeal muffin recipe? I've been

looking

> FOREVER for a good muffin recipe. That said, if it has white

sugar, or lots of

> white flour, you don't have to bother. My nephew is trying to

invent

> wholesome snacks and start a business, and uses agave as a

sweetener. I think agave,

> even honey, are better than sugar, but I make a good pancake

using some

> vanilla extract and lots of cinammon--no sugar needed, and they

have no flour,

> either! Anyway, until he starts making his product regularly, I'm

desperate

> for a recipe of my own.

>

> Just a thought for you. Shortly after I got (and then cured my)

Graves

> disease, I ended up leaving my career--my health was great, it

was my company,

> which got taken over by some real a--holes, and I just couldn't

work there

> anymore. I had been an editor, and had been at the company for 11

years. As I

> already had what I thought was the best job for me in that field,

I didn't

> want to take a lesser job, so I considered freelancing, but ended

up following

> my " calling, " and went back to school and became a

psychotherapist. It was

> the best thing I ever did, I love it so much that I haven't taken

a vacation

> since I started, 8 years ago (I know that sounds nuts, but I

can't tear myself

> away).

>

> Anyway, back to you, I don't know anything about your

circumstances, but

> have you ever considered going back to school? You spend so much

time here

> helping people, if you got a social work degree, or some kind of

counseling

> degree, you could help people and get paid for it!

>

> Please forgive me if I've overstepped, as I don't know you or

what you might

> like/want to do, but I will say that going back to school in

one's middle

> years is a wonderful, life-altering experience (at least it was

for me).

>

> Take care, feel good,

> Joan

>

> **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for

> fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?

ncid=aolaut00050000000007)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

How is it going?

Well I thought I will just post my recent test results.

My TSH is 19.2 down from 50. Wow this is good news. My T4 is 14.5 up

from 9.5. I don't know if this is very bad, I think that TSH is more

important, what do you think? I am not gonna take any meds for my

thyroid and do the blood test again in three weeks. We'll see how it

goes.

I also did my hair analysis test. It turned out I am not deficient in

copper, I am deficient in B3, calcium, vitamin E, omega3 and 6, zinc,

boron, biotin and vitamin c. They also told me the foods that I am

sensitive too, but I've read that hair test results regarding food

sensitivities are very incomplete. But still I am staying away from

oranges, wheat, barley, kiwi and other stuff from the list. One more

very important thing was that the test revealed some minor

aggrevation with my pituitary gland. There you go, I didn't tell them

that I have thyroid problems, so I guess these kind of tests do show

some good stuff.

As always please express your thoughts and suggestions.

Peace out,

Simona

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

well my post has desappeared again somewhere.

Well, I am not feeling too good today. I don't know that is going on. I

am feeling so weak again. I know I am not suppose to ask this, but why

is this happening to me. I am spending the day in bed again.

I am suppose to go get the blood test in 5 days. I am afraing that I am

going hyper again. Can you tell me how this can be that my both results

are high TSH 19 and T4 14. TSH went down, but T4 up. Am I still

considered hypo? I am consufed here, that's why I am confused with my

supplements, am I suppose to take recomendations for hypos or hypers.

My heart is still high, I am taking beta blockers. This fluctation in

hormones is just taking its toll on me. I am feeling very sad today,

and really loosing my hope that I will be able to stabilize it without

surgical intervention. On days like today honestly it seems like a

pretty good idea. I want to stay positive and believe in miracle, but

today.... I guess it's not the right day.

Simona

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I want to thank Nissa, Kate and AntJoan for the replys.

I do check my pulse, it never goes lower than 64bpm, and my blood

pressure is usually around 117/73 or a little bit lower. I am checking

it a few times during the day.

I got my new blood test results TSH- 11.57 and Free T4-16.7. So today

my doctor was on vacation and I had to talk to a new one. My results

are getting better, although the freet4 is going up a little bit every

time, the doctor said he is not concerned about it, actually he is not

even looking at it, what matters to him is only TSH. I didn't get him,

how that could be not important, but since he is not my doctor I didn't

want to waste my time arguing. I asked him if I was going hyper again,

and he said he didn't know. I might be. My heart rate is still too high

for a hipo,around 100bpm, and I am taking beta-blockers. I was having

this pinching feeling in my heart, but he checked my heart and told me

that everything sounds fine, my heart is healthy. He told me that if I

was in his country which is South Africa I probably would have already

had the radioiodine therapy and would be done with all of this thyroid

trouble.

I stoped all of my supplements for a while,because I got that pinching

feeling in my heart and I thought it was because of the copper or

selenium, so I wanted to make sure.Today I bought a multi, with some

iodine in it and some copper, and I thought I will give it a try and

see how I will be feeling.

I have a question. With Graves disease can you go hypo? Can I still

have Graves disease, because nobody yet told me what is the cause of my

thyroid problems. I just have that feeling the more I know, the more I

know how much I still don't know. And I have this dilemma now what to

do next. Should I just wait, should I start considering removing the

thyroid, which I really wouldn't want to do, should I try more

alternative therapies. What do you all think?

Thanks againg for all of your support.

Peace out,

Simona

[Guest guest]

Simona,

Have you joined the Grave's group? Many very knowledgeable

people there that have been through a lot that could answer your

questions.

graves_support/

>

> Hi everyone,

> I want to thank Nissa, Kate and AntJoan for the replys.

> I do check my pulse, it never goes lower than 64bpm, and my blood

> pressure is usually around 117/73 or a little bit lower. I am checking

> it a few times during the day.

> I got my new blood test results TSH- 11.57 and Free T4-16.7. So today

> my doctor was on vacation and I had to talk to a new one. My results

> are getting better, although the freet4 is going up a little bit every

> time, the doctor said he is not concerned about it, actually he is not

> even looking at it, what matters to him is only TSH. I didn't get him,

> how that could be not important, but since he is not my doctor I didn't

> want to waste my time arguing. I asked him if I was going hyper again,

> and he said he didn't know. I might be. My heart rate is still too high

> for a hipo,around 100bpm, and I am taking beta-blockers. I was having

> this pinching feeling in my heart, but he checked my heart and told me

> that everything sounds fine, my heart is healthy. He told me that if I

> was in his country which is South Africa I probably would have already

> had the radioiodine therapy and would be done with all of this thyroid

> trouble.

> I stoped all of my supplements for a while,because I got that pinching

> feeling in my heart and I thought it was because of the copper or

> selenium, so I wanted to make sure.Today I bought a multi, with some

> iodine in it and some copper, and I thought I will give it a try and

> see how I will be feeling.

> I have a question. With Graves disease can you go hypo? Can I still

> have Graves disease, because nobody yet told me what is the cause of my

> thyroid problems. I just have that feeling the more I know, the more I

> know how much I still don't know. And I have this dilemma now what to

> do next. Should I just wait, should I start considering removing the

> thyroid, which I really wouldn't want to do, should I try more

> alternative therapies. What do you all think?

>

> Thanks againg for all of your support.

> Peace out,

> Simona

>