Coping with bereavement : Hi everyone, Im... - Thyroid UK

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Coping with bereavement

Diane17884 profile image
18 Replies

Hi everyone,

Im reletavely newly diagnosed with hashi. I Was very sick for a long time and my mental health suffered badly too. I was just beginning to feel stronger and make improvements but I Had a terrible shock yesterday. My brother was sadly found dead 😢 I'm really worried about how this upset and stress will effect me. I know stress can have a major impact. Has anyone had to deal with anything like this? And how did it effect you? Any tips on how I can minimise the impact? I'm devastated, it was very sudden and unexpected and I'm scared I won't be able to cope and my health will suffer.

Thanks

Diane x

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Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884
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18 Replies
Hashi-Monster profile image
Hashi-Monster

I’m so sorry to hear that ... please accept my condolences

Mamapea1 profile image
Mamapea1

Oh that's terrible news! I'm so sorry you've had this on top of everything else, you must be distraught😰. This tragedy will be a shock to the system, but don't be afraid to grieve for your poor brother, it doesn't help avoiding it or denying it in any way.

I'm probably not the one to give advice on this though, as I am hopeless with stress and bereavement, but keep doing what you're doing, re stabilising thyroid, and the B12 and the Vit C for adrenals.

Just take each day as it comes, and try to give yourself a bit of time each day for relaxation and meditation, even if it's only 10 minutes, just to clear your head, albeit temporarily, of negative thoughts.

Stress is problematic, but you know this, so try to use your knowledge of thyroid/adrenal issues to navigate your way through. I'm sure a more knowledgeable member will be along soon to give you more constructive advice.

Thinking of you, and sending you lots of love 💕and ((hugs)). xxx

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to Mamapea1

Thank you so much for your kind reply and advice 💖 Yes I need to remember and focus on myself. I'll be no good to anyone if I go down. Relaxation is a great idea and will maybe try do some yoga and then keep doing what I'm doing. I just can't believe this has happened. Its been such an awful year for me and my family I didn't actually think it could get any worse but it has! When I was really sick before I based everything on one day at a time. So I will go back to that moto. It makes it alot easier to cope if your only thinking day to day. I just can't stop thinking about my brother at the moment and I don't know how to act or what to do with myself. I want to keep busy but then I worry I'd be avoiding it but then I don't just want to sit around either 🤷‍♀️ x

Maggimai profile image
Maggimai in reply to Diane17884

Hello Diane. may I offer you my condolences on the sad passing of your Brother. you obviously love your brother and you will feel the pain bear in mind the pain is natural let it wash over you, feel it, own it, bear it each day and each day it will be kinder and kinder to you as time goes by, never bottle it up by telling yourself you must think of other things and keep trying to push it to the back of your mind. let the tears flow by the bucket full wherever you be, at shops etc, etc, you have the right to let it all out, you are grieving the los of your brother after all.

This is how I coped when my beloved son was taken at the best time of his life, 20 years old.

I hope this helps you

Be kind to yourself, your brother would not have wanted it any other way, it is not a sign of weakness to bawl your head off and let the flood gates loose. it will make you strong.

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to Maggimai

Hi maggimai,

Thank you so much for your kind reply and advice 💖 I will certainly try apply it. I'm so sorry to hear about your son. No parent should ever have to go through that 😞x

Naomi8 profile image
Naomi8

I'm very sorry to hear you have suffered a massive emotional shock.I was diagnosed in 1998 & was on thyroxine for 16 years.I had a crack-up/meltdown in 2011,as a result of prolonged stress & (I believe,being on thyroxine-only for a long time)

The stress became too much & I endured 2 years of mental ill health.I did try an SSRI(Cetalopran)but it did not suit me & I believe I needed a much lower starting dose.It made me feel much much worse & I gave up after a month.

I went on to have 2 good years on T3-only but my mental health broke down again in 2016.This time I had a better GP & I am now weaning off a very low dose of Sertraline after 18 months.I am reducing by 10% per month & am nearly there.I will take it again if this reaccurs.Due to a chronically stressful childhood & hypothyroid illness which has affected my adrenals(I believe) I cannot cope with stress.

The second time it happened I was going to 2 lovely relaxing yoga classes,walking & swimming regularly & meditating daily.I tried many herbs & supplements,acupuncture,homeopathy etc.

Sertraline,an SSRI,was an absolute godsend.It massively reduced my anxiety as well as healing my depression.

Knowing help is there if my mental health suffers another relapse is very reassuring,after suffering for two years the first time due to a terror of medication,which I previously regarded as the devil's work.

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to Naomi8

Hi Naomi,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm sorry you've had such a terrible time. Glad to hear your feeling a lot better again. I don't know what's worse the mental health side or the physical side of this. Personally for me it's been the mental health. I had a really difficult, scary and dark period and I'm petrified of going back there. I'm currently taking 50mg of sertraline at the moment. Hard to tell if it's helped as I started my thyroid meds around about the same time. But I've certainly not noticed any side effects so will continue to take it. I have improved vastly since then so fingers crossed I can find the strength to make it safely through this x

Naomi8 profile image
Naomi8 in reply to Diane17884

I'm glad Sertraline is helping.I didn't find it numbed me,just made it easier to deal with feelings without feeling too raw to stay afloat.I had slight nausea for about 3 weeks & felt quite sleepy a lot.I started on 25mcgs & went up to 25/50 alternating.After about 9 months I was able to start reducing.

I hope you continue to find it helpful through this very difficult period x

SUETHEVET817 profile image
SUETHEVET817

I am so sorry, please accept my condolences also. I remember how it was when my dad died in a car accident 14 years ago.

There are no shortcuts to grieving, it is a long process and everyone does it at their own pace. You do survive and get through day by day. I don’t know how it will affect you physically, I wasn’t unwell when dad died so didn’t have to deal with that worry.

I hope you have a network of friendships to help you through, take time to grieve properly, eat properly. Sending you love, and hugs, Sue

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to SUETHEVET817

Hi sue,

Im so sorry to hear about your dad. Thank you for your kind words. I do have a great support network. Which is definitely a blessing. I have a small but close family, great friends and my boyfriend is always there for me. It's difficult as I'm trying to be strong for my mum and support her. She's totally heartbroken I don't even know how she will get through this. I guess it will just take time and we're still all in shock to be honest. Im just scared of going back the way in regards to my health and not being able to support my family particularly my mum. But I guess I'm just going to have to go with it. Try my best to take time for me and look after myself as best I can whilst dealing with this xx

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Diane

I am so very sorry to hear about your brother. Sudden death is always a terrible shock to those left behind.

When my husband passed away, we knew it was inevitable as he had been battling his illness for 3.5 years and was told about 4 months before his passing how much time he had left. In a way, that means you can prepare and don't get the shock of a sudden passing.

My father died suddenly, in his sleep, with no warning, and that had a very different effect than when my husband died.

We all cope differently, I am very pragmatic, think it is what it is, and deal with it accordingly because nothing will change it. I'm a strong person and nothing much brings me down, but that doesn't mean that I don't feel, that I don't grieve, just that I may deal with it differently from someone else.

I hope you find the strength to carry on without this having an impact on your health, take support from your loved ones, and know that members here send you nothing but good vibes at this difficult time.

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi seasidesusie,

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. Yes I think the shock of it makes it very different. I almost collapsed yesterday upon hearing the news. Was the last thing I expected to hear :(

Im not very good on dealing with things. Altho I am dealing better than I would have a few months back. There was a point I couldn't cope with any stress at all. But I know I am still fragile which is why I worry. Altho me worrying about it prob won't help either 🤷‍♀️ Guess there's no magic formula to coping with things and as you said everyone is different. We all just have to get through as best we can.

Thank you again x

Marz profile image
Marz

..... one day the pain and sadness of grief will be replaced with memories of happier times .... meanwhile take care during this difficult time ...

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to Marz

Thank you marz x

Portia1974 profile image
Portia1974

Oh gosh Diane! I'm so so sorry for your loss 😢 don't let your self care slide. It's the first thing to go for me when I'm under stress and it's even more Important for you now. Sending hugs. Px

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to Portia1974

Hi portia, thank you very much. I'm trying to look after myself as best I can given the circumstances. Will definitely try keep on top of my self care. I know how important it is x

irish31 profile image
irish31

Hi Diane,

Bless you hunni that's so sad. Sending you a big hug and hope your ok as best you can be. Life throws stuff at us what seems to be all in one go you poor thing. You will need to take time to heal and care for you body and mind. Recondition what feels bad to make good. I've been recently diagnosed with Graves or Hashi they are still undecided and feel it may be both I suffer from which is rare. The biggest thing I struggle with is life stresses I lost my grandad last year but gained my son a few days later however the birth had it scary moments for both me and the baby. luckily the baby came out of it all fine in the end but now I am suffering with my health. I've actually gone to start a new job so I can keep my mind busy off my health issue however feel utterly rubbish inside stomach feels awful bones feel scarily sore and exhausted. I now have accepted what has come my way and am taking one step at a time. just take everything one day at a time and remember your not alone - I found that I felt very lonely once diagnosed - nobody understands what you go through and the constant battle you face but you will overcome this and you will make improvements again. here if you want to chat x

Diane17884 profile image
Diane17884 in reply to irish31

Hi Irish,

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. And thank you for the advice and comforting words. I'm sorry to hear about your grandad, and such a bitter sweet moment with your little boy arriving so soon after. I'm glad you've found some coping strategies. It's so difficult isn't it.

This site and people on here have been wonderful. Such a lovely bunch and I can't thank everyone enough for the help and support I've recieved. It's definitely helped me feel less lonely with this disease.

Thank you again 💖 x

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