Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

[Guest guest]

My new doctor ran " routine " blood tests before our first appointment, so we

could discuss results. She immediately referred me to the endo, who did all

the tests including uptake scan, and came back pretty quickly with a

diagnosis. But I know the ab tests do take time to get results from since

only a few labs run them, so they get sent away.

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 11:33:49 -0500

> To: " 'graves_support ' " <graves_support >

> Subject: RE: getting diagnosed - another poll

>

> I was diagnosed because I had gone to the doc for symptoms I was

> having-sleeplessness, nausea, shaking, shortness of breath, etc. It also

> happened to be time for my annual thyroid panel, which I've had done since

> my mother was diagnosed with Graves' 22 years ago. So, in addition to

> checking my blood sugar, etc, she did the thyroid panel and it came back

> abnormal. I'm so thankful that I knew to have this done because of my

> mother; otherwise I would probably have been given an antidepressant or

> something. My doc thought it was just stress.

>

> Holly

>

> getting diagnosed - another poll

>

> Well, it's going on two and a half weeks now and still no results

> from my blood work(tsi, trab, etc)... but really, it's going on three

> months with no diagnosis other than hyperT. I have many of the

> Graves' symptoms, my TSH is almost non-existant, my T3 and T4 are out

> the roof and I have antibodies and I've had an ultrasound that ruled

> out cancer or nodules... I just don't know why it is taking so long

> and I'm feeling pretty frustrated... I could be feeling much better

> by now.

>

> I'm venting, but also I was wondering how you all were diagnosed..

> and how long it took.

>

> Thanks,

> Pam B.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam B.

>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no explanation,

>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going on

could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked 60-80

hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took care

of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I denied

it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go to

them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big part

of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital, with

what I know now was thyroid storm.

I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone but

ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam B.

>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no explanation,

>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going on

could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked 60-80

hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took care

of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I denied

it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go to

them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big part

of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital, with

what I know now was thyroid storm.

I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone but

ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam B.

>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no explanation,

>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going on

could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked 60-80

hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took care

of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I denied

it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go to

them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big part

of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital, with

what I know now was thyroid storm.

I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone but

ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

[Guest guest]

In October my mom asked me if my thyroid was enlarged (it was normally large)

and I told her no, it was fine. We have had that conversation for 20-something

years. Then in November, right before Thanksgiving, my husband said that he

thought it was getting bigger. I had been experiencing all kinds of things, none

of which I thought were related. I could not get comfortable at night, I was so

hot. I am normally cold. I was incredibly itchy. I had a lot of rage that would

just explode. I was eating like a horse and losing a bit of weight. My muscles

would hurt when I walked up steps and it was almost impossible for me to carry

something heavy up a flight of steps.

At the time I was working in a very stressful job. I thought all of these things

were related to that.

So, when Bill said he thought my thyroid was getting bigger too, I called my

doctor. I took a list of all the strange things that were happening to me and

said, I don't know if these things have anything to do with anything, but here

they are. He asked me other questions and said, " You have Graves Disease " . He

gave me a bunch of stuff to read and ordered blood tests to confirm it. He also

ordered the radioactive iodine uptake test and some other scans of my thyroid.

Over the next few days I read all about Graves Disease on the internet and it

all made perfect sense. Everything fit. When we got my labs back, we also found

out that I was pregnant. Probably about 3 weeks at the time. So, he cancelled

all of the RAI stuff and sent me to the endo right away.

We were so scarred and so excited.

My endo put me on PTU and then in December I miscarried. After the miscarrage I

developed an allergic reaction to the PTU. We did RAI in January.

Amy J

[Guest guest]

In October my mom asked me if my thyroid was enlarged (it was normally large)

and I told her no, it was fine. We have had that conversation for 20-something

years. Then in November, right before Thanksgiving, my husband said that he

thought it was getting bigger. I had been experiencing all kinds of things, none

of which I thought were related. I could not get comfortable at night, I was so

hot. I am normally cold. I was incredibly itchy. I had a lot of rage that would

just explode. I was eating like a horse and losing a bit of weight. My muscles

would hurt when I walked up steps and it was almost impossible for me to carry

something heavy up a flight of steps.

At the time I was working in a very stressful job. I thought all of these things

were related to that.

So, when Bill said he thought my thyroid was getting bigger too, I called my

doctor. I took a list of all the strange things that were happening to me and

said, I don't know if these things have anything to do with anything, but here

they are. He asked me other questions and said, " You have Graves Disease " . He

gave me a bunch of stuff to read and ordered blood tests to confirm it. He also

ordered the radioactive iodine uptake test and some other scans of my thyroid.

Over the next few days I read all about Graves Disease on the internet and it

all made perfect sense. Everything fit. When we got my labs back, we also found

out that I was pregnant. Probably about 3 weeks at the time. So, he cancelled

all of the RAI stuff and sent me to the endo right away.

We were so scarred and so excited.

My endo put me on PTU and then in December I miscarried. After the miscarrage I

developed an allergic reaction to the PTU. We did RAI in January.

Amy J

[Guest guest]

In October my mom asked me if my thyroid was enlarged (it was normally large)

and I told her no, it was fine. We have had that conversation for 20-something

years. Then in November, right before Thanksgiving, my husband said that he

thought it was getting bigger. I had been experiencing all kinds of things, none

of which I thought were related. I could not get comfortable at night, I was so

hot. I am normally cold. I was incredibly itchy. I had a lot of rage that would

just explode. I was eating like a horse and losing a bit of weight. My muscles

would hurt when I walked up steps and it was almost impossible for me to carry

something heavy up a flight of steps.

At the time I was working in a very stressful job. I thought all of these things

were related to that.

So, when Bill said he thought my thyroid was getting bigger too, I called my

doctor. I took a list of all the strange things that were happening to me and

said, I don't know if these things have anything to do with anything, but here

they are. He asked me other questions and said, " You have Graves Disease " . He

gave me a bunch of stuff to read and ordered blood tests to confirm it. He also

ordered the radioactive iodine uptake test and some other scans of my thyroid.

Over the next few days I read all about Graves Disease on the internet and it

all made perfect sense. Everything fit. When we got my labs back, we also found

out that I was pregnant. Probably about 3 weeks at the time. So, he cancelled

all of the RAI stuff and sent me to the endo right away.

We were so scarred and so excited.

My endo put me on PTU and then in December I miscarried. After the miscarrage I

developed an allergic reaction to the PTU. We did RAI in January.

Amy J

[Guest guest]

that is so true. I knew something was wrong too, but I kept blaming

it on something else... breastfeeding, getting no sleep - I thought

once I weaned him I would " get my body back " . I figured if the

hotflashes and shakiness and breathlessness didn't go away after I

weaned him then I would go to see the doc " when I had the time " . If

it weren't the fact that I took some cold medicine and nearly had a

heart attack from it, I would probably still be thinking I didn't

have the time to see a doc. And I would try not to think too much

about it.

But now that I know something IS wrong, I just want to find out what

and deal with it and start feeling better. And then stop obsessing

about it!

> Hi Pam B.

> >>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep

from

> >>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no

explanation,

> >>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

>

> It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

> antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was

going on

> could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I

worked 60-80

> hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family,

took care

> of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so

I denied

> it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had*

to go to

> them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection,

migraines, I

> needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid

every

> checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the

neck, if

> it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that

was the

> extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a

big part

> of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

>

> When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc

told me I

> had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped

for a

> short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to

help me

> any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the

hospital, with

> what I know now was thyroid storm.

>

> I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so

busy

> taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and

everyone but

> ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that

denial

> almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

> http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

[Guest guest]

that is so true. I knew something was wrong too, but I kept blaming

it on something else... breastfeeding, getting no sleep - I thought

once I weaned him I would " get my body back " . I figured if the

hotflashes and shakiness and breathlessness didn't go away after I

weaned him then I would go to see the doc " when I had the time " . If

it weren't the fact that I took some cold medicine and nearly had a

heart attack from it, I would probably still be thinking I didn't

have the time to see a doc. And I would try not to think too much

about it.

But now that I know something IS wrong, I just want to find out what

and deal with it and start feeling better. And then stop obsessing

about it!

> Hi Pam B.

> >>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep

from

> >>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no

explanation,

> >>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

>

> It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

> antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was

going on

> could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I

worked 60-80

> hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family,

took care

> of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so

I denied

> it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had*

to go to

> them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection,

migraines, I

> needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid

every

> checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the

neck, if

> it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that

was the

> extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a

big part

> of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

>

> When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc

told me I

> had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped

for a

> short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to

help me

> any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the

hospital, with

> what I know now was thyroid storm.

>

> I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so

busy

> taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and

everyone but

> ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that

denial

> almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

> http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

[Guest guest]

that is so true. I knew something was wrong too, but I kept blaming

it on something else... breastfeeding, getting no sleep - I thought

once I weaned him I would " get my body back " . I figured if the

hotflashes and shakiness and breathlessness didn't go away after I

weaned him then I would go to see the doc " when I had the time " . If

it weren't the fact that I took some cold medicine and nearly had a

heart attack from it, I would probably still be thinking I didn't

have the time to see a doc. And I would try not to think too much

about it.

But now that I know something IS wrong, I just want to find out what

and deal with it and start feeling better. And then stop obsessing

about it!

> Hi Pam B.

> >>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep

from

> >>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no

explanation,

> >>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

>

> It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

> antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was

going on

> could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I

worked 60-80

> hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family,

took care

> of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so

I denied

> it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had*

to go to

> them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection,

migraines, I

> needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid

every

> checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the

neck, if

> it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that

was the

> extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a

big part

> of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

>

> When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc

told me I

> had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped

for a

> short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to

help me

> any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the

hospital, with

> what I know now was thyroid storm.

>

> I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so

busy

> taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and

everyone but

> ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that

denial

> almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

> http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy, I'm so sorry to hear about your miscariage.

I have/had every symptom you described below as well. It's really odd

to think that itching can have anything to do with the thyroid.

When I went into the dr. she asked me a whole list of symptoms and I

kept saying " yes " to all of them... it was amazing to have a reason

for all the *random* stuff I'd been going through. Then she asked if

I'd noticed my thyroid being enlarged and laughed because she thought

it was funny. Not funny to me she said, but funny to her. Nice doc.

Thanks for writing,

Pam B.

> In October my mom asked me if my thyroid was enlarged (it was

normally large) and I told her no, it was fine. We have had that

conversation for 20-something years. Then in November, right before

Thanksgiving, my husband said that he thought it was getting bigger.

I had been experiencing all kinds of things, none of which I thought

were related. I could not get comfortable at night, I was so hot. I

am normally cold. I was incredibly itchy. I had a lot of rage that

would just explode. I was eating like a horse and losing a bit of

weight. My muscles would hurt when I walked up steps and it was

almost impossible for me to carry something heavy up a flight of

steps.

>

> At the time I was working in a very stressful job. I thought all of

these things were related to that.

>

> So, when Bill said he thought my thyroid was getting bigger too, I

called my doctor. I took a list of all the strange things that were

happening to me and said, I don't know if these things have anything

to do with anything, but here they are. He asked me other questions

and said, " You have Graves Disease " . He gave me a bunch of stuff to

read and ordered blood tests to confirm it. He also ordered the

radioactive iodine uptake test and some other scans of my thyroid.

>

> Over the next few days I read all about Graves Disease on the

internet and it all made perfect sense. Everything fit. When we got

my labs back, we also found out that I was pregnant. Probably about 3

weeks at the time. So, he cancelled all of the RAI stuff and sent me

to the endo right away.

>

> We were so scarred and so excited.

>

> My endo put me on PTU and then in December I miscarried. After the

miscarrage I developed an allergic reaction to the PTU. We did RAI in

January.

>

> Amy J

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy, I'm so sorry to hear about your miscariage.

I have/had every symptom you described below as well. It's really odd

to think that itching can have anything to do with the thyroid.

When I went into the dr. she asked me a whole list of symptoms and I

kept saying " yes " to all of them... it was amazing to have a reason

for all the *random* stuff I'd been going through. Then she asked if

I'd noticed my thyroid being enlarged and laughed because she thought

it was funny. Not funny to me she said, but funny to her. Nice doc.

Thanks for writing,

Pam B.

> In October my mom asked me if my thyroid was enlarged (it was

normally large) and I told her no, it was fine. We have had that

conversation for 20-something years. Then in November, right before

Thanksgiving, my husband said that he thought it was getting bigger.

I had been experiencing all kinds of things, none of which I thought

were related. I could not get comfortable at night, I was so hot. I

am normally cold. I was incredibly itchy. I had a lot of rage that

would just explode. I was eating like a horse and losing a bit of

weight. My muscles would hurt when I walked up steps and it was

almost impossible for me to carry something heavy up a flight of

steps.

>

> At the time I was working in a very stressful job. I thought all of

these things were related to that.

>

> So, when Bill said he thought my thyroid was getting bigger too, I

called my doctor. I took a list of all the strange things that were

happening to me and said, I don't know if these things have anything

to do with anything, but here they are. He asked me other questions

and said, " You have Graves Disease " . He gave me a bunch of stuff to

read and ordered blood tests to confirm it. He also ordered the

radioactive iodine uptake test and some other scans of my thyroid.

>

> Over the next few days I read all about Graves Disease on the

internet and it all made perfect sense. Everything fit. When we got

my labs back, we also found out that I was pregnant. Probably about 3

weeks at the time. So, he cancelled all of the RAI stuff and sent me

to the endo right away.

>

> We were so scarred and so excited.

>

> My endo put me on PTU and then in December I miscarried. After the

miscarrage I developed an allergic reaction to the PTU. We did RAI in

January.

>

> Amy J

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy, I'm so sorry to hear about your miscariage.

I have/had every symptom you described below as well. It's really odd

to think that itching can have anything to do with the thyroid.

When I went into the dr. she asked me a whole list of symptoms and I

kept saying " yes " to all of them... it was amazing to have a reason

for all the *random* stuff I'd been going through. Then she asked if

I'd noticed my thyroid being enlarged and laughed because she thought

it was funny. Not funny to me she said, but funny to her. Nice doc.

Thanks for writing,

Pam B.

> In October my mom asked me if my thyroid was enlarged (it was

normally large) and I told her no, it was fine. We have had that

conversation for 20-something years. Then in November, right before

Thanksgiving, my husband said that he thought it was getting bigger.

I had been experiencing all kinds of things, none of which I thought

were related. I could not get comfortable at night, I was so hot. I

am normally cold. I was incredibly itchy. I had a lot of rage that

would just explode. I was eating like a horse and losing a bit of

weight. My muscles would hurt when I walked up steps and it was

almost impossible for me to carry something heavy up a flight of

steps.

>

> At the time I was working in a very stressful job. I thought all of

these things were related to that.

>

> So, when Bill said he thought my thyroid was getting bigger too, I

called my doctor. I took a list of all the strange things that were

happening to me and said, I don't know if these things have anything

to do with anything, but here they are. He asked me other questions

and said, " You have Graves Disease " . He gave me a bunch of stuff to

read and ordered blood tests to confirm it. He also ordered the

radioactive iodine uptake test and some other scans of my thyroid.

>

> Over the next few days I read all about Graves Disease on the

internet and it all made perfect sense. Everything fit. When we got

my labs back, we also found out that I was pregnant. Probably about 3

weeks at the time. So, he cancelled all of the RAI stuff and sent me

to the endo right away.

>

> We were so scarred and so excited.

>

> My endo put me on PTU and then in December I miscarried. After the

miscarrage I developed an allergic reaction to the PTU. We did RAI in

January.

>

> Amy J

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

If you count all the times I went to my doc about my awful diarrhea and the

times I questioned my gyno about hot flashes and night sweats...then it took

me years to be diagnosed. I have old T4's that were run in 1994 that shows

me normal, became symptomatic with hot flashes in 1996....was diagnosed by

" accident " in 1999 after we moved to a new town I went to a new doc to see

about my feet peeling. She was thorough and included a TSH in her new

patient blood work. It came back 0.08 and she referred me to an Endo.

Doris

[Guest guest]

Jody,

Reading your story here it sounds like so many of us. But we are always getting

that mixed message that: 1. Women are weak and get sick too much (hence we

ignore stuff) and 2. Women need to have those jobs and do them better to prove

that they can do them at all but still take care of home and hearth.

How many women do you know who routinely get less than four hours of sleep a

day? Get up at four or five AM to get the breakfast and then get the kids ready

for school and/or daycare so that they can go to work and earn the needed income

and then come home and cook the meal, help with the homework and get the kids

ready for bed. Next day same thing. Weekends are for catching up on the

chores, often while the kids are doing their own thing and our significant

others are watching sports on TV. Or we are driving the kids to soccer,

baseball, enriching events etc. ad nauseam.

So, if Graves is precipitated by stress, well how could we not get it? And

maybe part of this discussion should be how we cope with " diminished capacity "

and the mixed message.

If a doctor says " relax " how are we supposed to do that? Can we manage to have

reasonably normal lives before we have to declare ourselves " disabled? "

I'd really like to know how others manage. 'Cause I'm not doing so well in that

department. Looking back I loved the part with my kids and I loved the job but

if I hadn't been hyper all the time I don't know how I would have made it.

Laurel

Re: Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

Hi Pam B.

>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no explanation,

>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going on

could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked 60-80

hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took care

of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I denied

it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go to

them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big part

of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital, with

what I know now was thyroid storm.

I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone but

ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

-------------------------------------

The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended

to replace expert medical care.

Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

----------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the endorsement of

the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

------

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam B. -

Hang in there - I know how you feel about being frustrated waiting for

diagnosis! This whole disease seems like one big exercise in patience to a

bunch of high strung, leg bouncing, anxious, impatient people! :-)

Took about 2 to 2 1/2 months for me to get diagnosed officially. Started in

end of May when I went in with a Mysterious Ailment. Stumped at least 3

doctors. Last doc ran a whole diagnostic panel of blood work, including

Epstein-Barr, Lyme disease, sackie, other weird stuff that I knew I

didn't have. Only thing that came back abnormal was TSH of .05. Then more

bloodwork to check T4 and thyroglobulin antibodies (all normal). Radioactive

iodine uptake scan 2 weeks later (36%) pretty much confirmed it for this

doc. When to endo a month and a half later (first available appointment) for

more bloodwork for T4, T3, TPO and TSI. By then T4 and T3 were elevated. So

by mid July I was finally officially diagnosed. The months in between nearly

drove me crazy! We later determined that the Mysterious Ailment I originally

went for was probably unrelated to the GD, some bizarre virus. But if I

hadn't gone for that, I likely wouldn't have known I had GD until it was

really bad. All those dead grandparents were watching out for me again!

getting diagnosed - another poll

>Well, it's going on two and a half weeks now and still no results

>from my blood work(tsi, trab, etc)... but really, it's going on three

>months with no diagnosis other than hyperT. I have many of the

>Graves' symptoms, my TSH is almost non-existant, my T3 and T4 are out

>the roof and I have antibodies and I've had an ultrasound that ruled

>out cancer or nodules... I just don't know why it is taking so long

>and I'm feeling pretty frustrated... I could be feeling much better

>by now.

>

>I'm venting, but also I was wondering how you all were diagnosed..

>and how long it took.

>

>Thanks,

>Pam B.

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------

>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

endorsement of

>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam B. -

Hang in there - I know how you feel about being frustrated waiting for

diagnosis! This whole disease seems like one big exercise in patience to a

bunch of high strung, leg bouncing, anxious, impatient people! :-)

Took about 2 to 2 1/2 months for me to get diagnosed officially. Started in

end of May when I went in with a Mysterious Ailment. Stumped at least 3

doctors. Last doc ran a whole diagnostic panel of blood work, including

Epstein-Barr, Lyme disease, sackie, other weird stuff that I knew I

didn't have. Only thing that came back abnormal was TSH of .05. Then more

bloodwork to check T4 and thyroglobulin antibodies (all normal). Radioactive

iodine uptake scan 2 weeks later (36%) pretty much confirmed it for this

doc. When to endo a month and a half later (first available appointment) for

more bloodwork for T4, T3, TPO and TSI. By then T4 and T3 were elevated. So

by mid July I was finally officially diagnosed. The months in between nearly

drove me crazy! We later determined that the Mysterious Ailment I originally

went for was probably unrelated to the GD, some bizarre virus. But if I

hadn't gone for that, I likely wouldn't have known I had GD until it was

really bad. All those dead grandparents were watching out for me again!

getting diagnosed - another poll

>Well, it's going on two and a half weeks now and still no results

>from my blood work(tsi, trab, etc)... but really, it's going on three

>months with no diagnosis other than hyperT. I have many of the

>Graves' symptoms, my TSH is almost non-existant, my T3 and T4 are out

>the roof and I have antibodies and I've had an ultrasound that ruled

>out cancer or nodules... I just don't know why it is taking so long

>and I'm feeling pretty frustrated... I could be feeling much better

>by now.

>

>I'm venting, but also I was wondering how you all were diagnosed..

>and how long it took.

>

>Thanks,

>Pam B.

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------

>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

endorsement of

>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam B. -

Hang in there - I know how you feel about being frustrated waiting for

diagnosis! This whole disease seems like one big exercise in patience to a

bunch of high strung, leg bouncing, anxious, impatient people! :-)

Took about 2 to 2 1/2 months for me to get diagnosed officially. Started in

end of May when I went in with a Mysterious Ailment. Stumped at least 3

doctors. Last doc ran a whole diagnostic panel of blood work, including

Epstein-Barr, Lyme disease, sackie, other weird stuff that I knew I

didn't have. Only thing that came back abnormal was TSH of .05. Then more

bloodwork to check T4 and thyroglobulin antibodies (all normal). Radioactive

iodine uptake scan 2 weeks later (36%) pretty much confirmed it for this

doc. When to endo a month and a half later (first available appointment) for

more bloodwork for T4, T3, TPO and TSI. By then T4 and T3 were elevated. So

by mid July I was finally officially diagnosed. The months in between nearly

drove me crazy! We later determined that the Mysterious Ailment I originally

went for was probably unrelated to the GD, some bizarre virus. But if I

hadn't gone for that, I likely wouldn't have known I had GD until it was

really bad. All those dead grandparents were watching out for me again!

getting diagnosed - another poll

>Well, it's going on two and a half weeks now and still no results

>from my blood work(tsi, trab, etc)... but really, it's going on three

>months with no diagnosis other than hyperT. I have many of the

>Graves' symptoms, my TSH is almost non-existant, my T3 and T4 are out

>the roof and I have antibodies and I've had an ultrasound that ruled

>out cancer or nodules... I just don't know why it is taking so long

>and I'm feeling pretty frustrated... I could be feeling much better

>by now.

>

>I'm venting, but also I was wondering how you all were diagnosed..

>and how long it took.

>

>Thanks,

>Pam B.

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------

>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

endorsement of

>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks , I'm trying to hang in there... still waiting for the

doc to call... havn't even showered yet because I don't want to miss

her call. It's a good thing I work from home!

How can you have graves' if you don't have antibodies??? I thought

that was the whole nature of the disease?

Dead Grandparents - LOL - I think my guardian angels have deserted me!

:)Pam B.

> Hi Pam B. -

>

> Hang in there - I know how you feel about being frustrated waiting

for

> diagnosis! This whole disease seems like one big exercise in

patience to a

> bunch of high strung, leg bouncing, anxious, impatient people! :-)

>

> Took about 2 to 2 1/2 months for me to get diagnosed officially.

Started in

> end of May when I went in with a Mysterious Ailment. Stumped at

least 3

> doctors. Last doc ran a whole diagnostic panel of blood work,

including

> Epstein-Barr, Lyme disease, sackie, other weird stuff that I

knew I

> didn't have. Only thing that came back abnormal was TSH of .05.

Then more

> bloodwork to check T4 and thyroglobulin antibodies (all normal).

Radioactive

> iodine uptake scan 2 weeks later (36%) pretty much confirmed it for

this

> doc. When to endo a month and a half later (first available

appointment) for

> more bloodwork for T4, T3, TPO and TSI. By then T4 and T3 were

elevated. So

> by mid July I was finally officially diagnosed. The months in

between nearly

> drove me crazy! We later determined that the Mysterious Ailment I

originally

> went for was probably unrelated to the GD, some bizarre virus. But

if I

> hadn't gone for that, I likely wouldn't have known I had GD until

it was

> really bad. All those dead grandparents were watching out for me

again!

>

>

>

> getting diagnosed - another poll

>

>

> >Well, it's going on two and a half weeks now and still no results

> >from my blood work(tsi, trab, etc)... but really, it's going on

three

> >months with no diagnosis other than hyperT. I have many of the

> >Graves' symptoms, my TSH is almost non-existant, my T3 and T4 are

out

> >the roof and I have antibodies and I've had an ultrasound that

ruled

> >out cancer or nodules... I just don't know why it is taking so long

> >and I'm feeling pretty frustrated... I could be feeling much better

> >by now.

> >

> >I'm venting, but also I was wondering how you all were diagnosed..

> >and how long it took.

> >

> >Thanks,

> >Pam B.

> >

> >

> >

> >-------------------------------------

> >The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and

is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> >Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new

treatments.

> >----------------------------------------

> > DISCLAIMER

> >

> >Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

> endorsement of

> >the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to

emails.

> >-------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

> -----------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

,

What you say rings true. I think the key might be letting go of the notion that

we control anything. We don't. Perhaps the fact that we all got this disease

tells us that. And the best we can do is the best we can do.

I'm trying to remember that. Thanks for sharing your story. I have my fingers

crossed for you.

Laurel

Re: Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

>

>Hi Pam B.

>>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no

explanation,

>>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

>

>It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

>antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going on

>could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked

60-80

>hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took

care

>of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I denied

>it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go to

>them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

>needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

>checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

>it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

>extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big

part

>of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

>

>When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

>had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

>short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

>any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital,

with

>what I know now was thyroid storm.

>

>I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

>taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone

but

>ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

>almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

>Jody

>

>

>

>_________________________________________________________________

>MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

>http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------

>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>----------------------------------------

>DISCLAIMER

>

>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

endorsement of

>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

What you say rings true. I think the key might be letting go of the notion that

we control anything. We don't. Perhaps the fact that we all got this disease

tells us that. And the best we can do is the best we can do.

I'm trying to remember that. Thanks for sharing your story. I have my fingers

crossed for you.

Laurel

Re: Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

>

>Hi Pam B.

>>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no

explanation,

>>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

>

>It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

>antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going on

>could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked

60-80

>hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took

care

>of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I denied

>it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go to

>them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

>needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

>checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

>it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

>extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big

part

>of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

>

>When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

>had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

>short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

>any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital,

with

>what I know now was thyroid storm.

>

>I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

>taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone

but

>ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

>almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

>Jody

>

>

>

>_________________________________________________________________

>MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

>http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------

>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>----------------------------------------

>DISCLAIMER

>

>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

endorsement of

>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

What you say rings true. I think the key might be letting go of the notion that

we control anything. We don't. Perhaps the fact that we all got this disease

tells us that. And the best we can do is the best we can do.

I'm trying to remember that. Thanks for sharing your story. I have my fingers

crossed for you.

Laurel

Re: Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

>

>Hi Pam B.

>>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no

explanation,

>>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

>

>It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

>antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going on

>could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked

60-80

>hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took

care

>of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I denied

>it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go to

>them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

>needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

>checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

>it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

>extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big

part

>of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

>

>When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

>had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

>short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

>any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital,

with

>what I know now was thyroid storm.

>

>I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

>taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone

but

>ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

>almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

>Jody

>

>

>

>_________________________________________________________________

>MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

>http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------

>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>----------------------------------------

>DISCLAIMER

>

>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

endorsement of

>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Laurel -

>I think the key might be letting go of the notion that we control anything.

We don't. Perhaps the >fact that we all got this disease tells us that.

And the best we can do is the best we can do.

What you say rings so true! We only delude ourselves into thinking we have

control. Sometimes I think I got this disease to wake me up to that fact

(but I still try to control stuff anyway - it's a hard habit to break!)

>I have my fingers crossed for you.

Thanks so much! We can use all the finger crossing we can get!

Re: Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

>,

>

>What you say rings true. I think the key might be letting go of the notion

that we control anything. We don't. Perhaps the fact that we all got this

disease tells us that. And the best we can do is the best we can do.

>

>I'm trying to remember that. Thanks for sharing your story. I have my

fingers crossed for you.

>Laurel

>

> Re: Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

>>

>>Hi Pam B.

>>>>>10 years?! Three months is not so bad, then hu? How did you keep from

>>>>>going crazy? I think if I was like this for 10 years with no

>explanation,

>>>>>my husband would be out the door running.<<<

>>

>>It's called *denial*...I refused to believe I was sick, I would get

>>antibiotics for what I thought was colds...and so much of what was going

on

>>could have been explained away as stress causing my problems. I worked

>60-80

>>hours a week, took courses at the local college, raised my family, took

>care

>>of my mom and elderly aunt...I just didn't have time to be sick so I

denied

>>it, mostly to myself and I stayed away from doctors unless I *had* to go

to

>>them...then they would tell me bronchitis, sinus infection, migraines, I

>>needed to slow down, get some rest...but at no time was my thyroid every

>>checked...and for me, I knew there was a thyroid somewhere in the neck, if

>>it was hyper you lost weight, if it was hypO you gained and that was the

>>extent of what my knowledge was on what a thyroid *did*. So I am a big

>part

>>of why I never got diagnosed for 10 years.

>>

>>When I did get sick with a *cold* that wouldn't go away, the doc told me I

>>had pneumonia, gave me a decongestant and antibiotics, they helped for a

>>short time, and I refused to go back because they weren't going to help me

>>any how. Finally we headed for the ER where I was put in the hospital,

>with

>>what I know now was thyroid storm.

>>

>>I think for many women, we do tend to ignore the signs. We are so busy

>>taking care of our kids, our husbands, our jobs, everything and everyone

>but

>>ourselves...until we can no longer ignore things. For me, that denial

>>almost cost me my life. Untreated graves can and will do that.

>>Jody

>>

>>

>>

>>_________________________________________________________________

>>MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

>>http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx

>>

>>

>>

>>-------------------------------------

>>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

>intended to replace expert medical care.

>>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>>----------------------------------------

>>DISCLAIMER

>>

>>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

>endorsement of

>>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------

-

>-----------

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed fairly early on...after maybe only 6 weeks of symptoms but I

thought I was heading into serious menopausal action due to light periods, hot

and sweaty when I had always been the cold one in the crowd. I was also sure I

was developing Parkinson's disease or some other awful condition because the

tremors were so bad. I also began having what felt like anxiety spells with

hyperventilation in public situations which was not normal for me. All of this I

would have ignored a lot longer but I had a bronchitis that was not clearing up

so I went in and while there my BP was 160/112 and my heart rate was sky

high...somehow this cute little PA....looked about 15...thought I should get my

thyroid checked...along with many other things. I had to go back to make sure I

wasn't a true diabetic because this condition also had my blood sugar too high.

She called me as soon as the results were in and told me she thought I had

Hashimoto's...but after being referred to an Endo...the official dx was GD. It

is interesting to hear all these diagnosis stories.

Ruthie

Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

If you count all the times I went to my doc about my awful diarrhea and the

times I questioned my gyno about hot flashes and night sweats...then it took

me years to be diagnosed. I have old T4's that were run in 1994 that shows

me normal, became symptomatic with hot flashes in 1996....was diagnosed by

" accident " in 1999 after we moved to a new town I went to a new doc to see

about my feet peeling. She was thorough and included a TSH in her new

patient blood work. It came back 0.08 and she referred me to an Endo.

Doris

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed fairly early on...after maybe only 6 weeks of symptoms but I

thought I was heading into serious menopausal action due to light periods, hot

and sweaty when I had always been the cold one in the crowd. I was also sure I

was developing Parkinson's disease or some other awful condition because the

tremors were so bad. I also began having what felt like anxiety spells with

hyperventilation in public situations which was not normal for me. All of this I

would have ignored a lot longer but I had a bronchitis that was not clearing up

so I went in and while there my BP was 160/112 and my heart rate was sky

high...somehow this cute little PA....looked about 15...thought I should get my

thyroid checked...along with many other things. I had to go back to make sure I

wasn't a true diabetic because this condition also had my blood sugar too high.

She called me as soon as the results were in and told me she thought I had

Hashimoto's...but after being referred to an Endo...the official dx was GD. It

is interesting to hear all these diagnosis stories.

Ruthie

Re: getting diagnosed - another poll

If you count all the times I went to my doc about my awful diarrhea and the

times I questioned my gyno about hot flashes and night sweats...then it took

me years to be diagnosed. I have old T4's that were run in 1994 that shows

me normal, became symptomatic with hot flashes in 1996....was diagnosed by

" accident " in 1999 after we moved to a new town I went to a new doc to see

about my feet peeling. She was thorough and included a TSH in her new

patient blood work. It came back 0.08 and she referred me to an Endo.

Doris