Looking for some advice

[Lauren85]

Evening all,

I have Graves currently on the waiting list for surgery to remove thyroid..

Back and forth seeing the endocrine and my thyroid levels have went high again was on 20mg carbmizole then 10mg now back on 15mg . I think it’s my job that’s making my levels high. I get palpitations and stressed out very easily. I’m feeling down/fed up kind of feeling. I am a bus driver and find it very stressful long hours etc.. should I stay off work and rest or is this job not for me now seeing as I have Graves’ disease? I can’t win.. dunno what to do about my career

[Greekchick]

Hi Lauren,

On my way out, but have been meaning to answer you - will post later. Sorry to hear your Graves is acting up.

[Greekchick]

Hi Lauren,

I remember your difficulties earlier in the year when you took sick leave from your job. Do you know how long the waiting list is? If your stress levels are that high, you will not be in the best shape to face surgery if you keep working - and a TT is major surgery. We Graves patients also have other issues that make our recovery post surgery more complicated.

Given how stressed you are - and will be once you have a surgery date, if it is within your financial means - I would take off and rest up - I am speaking for myself if I was in your shoes.

Obviously, this is not an easy decision for you. You have a hard job - and one with many stressors. Only you know how you feel - and it’s not worth your health if you feel that badly.

There is no right answer here - it’s really about your feelings.

I wish you all the best and keep us posted - let us know when you have a surgery date.

[LAHs]

How about if you yourself adjust your medication according to how you feel? The frequency of your feelings is far too fast to wait for an appointment with a second party who makes a wild guess at what you might need. Well, she's not doing a wild guess she is doing a binary search, which is the right thing but you are the one suffering between appointments. Carbamizole (sp) will slow you down, if you feel too "dopey" then take less the next day - and conversely if you feel twitchy and like you cannot stop doing stuff then take a little more the next day. The doc's input, while she is on the right track, is just too slow for you to be feeling well.

I would try that before I gave up my job. You may not have one steady state, you may be having swings between hyper then hypo, only you know the frequency and wether you need to take more meds or less. You know the levels which don't work ( 10 and 20) so stay within that range and you cannot overdose. Check yourself as to wether you are swinging between hyper and hypo (hopefully not) or whether you are just trying to get to a sweet spot, which you may be close to but haven't yet attained.

[Lauren85]

Hi guys,

Thank you so much for replying, I’m going to take time off work again being a bus driver in Edinburgh city is a tough and stressful job and trying to do it with Graves’ disease makes it much more harder.

If it risks me losing my job then il just need to deal with it at the time but I can’t drive buses when I’m feeling crap and have palpitations and feel like my body’s in a sauna it’s not nice.

[Greekchick in reply to Lauren85]

I feel you 100%. I had to take time off at various points from work because of my Graves.

Only you know how you feel. I also think LAHs offered good advice as well if you were able. Ultimately, it has to be your choice - and what is right for you. I’m glad you came to a decision about what to do. Keep us posted on surgery date and how you are doing. I’m wishing you all the best for your procedure.

[Yazz1]

Hi if you dont mind me asking has the graves disease effected your eyes at all? As I was diagnosed with thyroid graves disease years ago and my eyes were bulging had to have an eye operation so they dont look so protruding. Have you had any similar symptoms?

[Lauren85 in reply to Yazz1]

Hi yazz,

My eyes are fine I recently had an eye test to get them seen to and everything is fine with my eyes. Only problem I have with my eyes is that they are so dry and tired