Terrified in Hyperthyroidism

[kimkurtz1]

This stuff isn't cool it's confusing it's new its terrifying to me. I was fine none of this crap a total blood transfusion all but 1 unit and my life isnt mine anymore. My memory and ability to manuver threw this maze if information has got me full of fear and sure I can't do this for myself. My feet are swollen starting to come up my leg. A dull ache in my chest. Please tell me it's not as hopeless as it apears. I'm my fathers care my boyfriend is a whole other set of problems. HTF can I do this?

[Jodypody]

Because you have to. Giving up isn’t an option. You’re in shock I’m guessing. Do you have anyone you can lean on apart from your boyfriend?

[NIKEGIRL]

Hi. I had the swollen legs too. You need to seek medical help and psychological help. You need to approach this from two angles. GP for drugs and psychologist for mind. This forum will give up the support you need. You are not without hope. I can tell u this having been where u r 9 months ago. I was very sick and psychologically struggling to come to terms with Graves. There will be others who will come along and give you advice. You will need antibodies testing and vitamins testing but I am not the best on this information. I am more aligned with the psychological struggle and seeking help for this.

[Lalatoot]

The real you is still there underneath all the symptoms. The anxiety and terror are a symptom and not the real you. Remember that always.It does get better.

[pennyannie]

Hello Kimkurtz and welcome to the forum :

I too am with Graves :

Is this what you hve been diagnosed with and do you have any blood test results and ranges you can share with forum members.

Are you on any medication yet, you mat well feel exhausted and challenged mentally, plysically, emotionally and psychologically - try not to worry - it will be resolve once you have a diagnosis, and medication, to block your thyroid hormones rising any further.

Graves is said to be an stress and anxiety driven auto immune disease and it reads as though you can tick these boxes several times over.

Please post anything you don't understand and keep us in the loop;

Take good care - it will get better -

[very_ginger]

It’s so hard, you will get through this though. I was diagnosed with Graves 18 years ago, I didn’t really understand it because I was a teen & ive coasted through my adult life misunderstood by others without a long term health condition & misunderstanding what my body needs to do to adapt to this disease. So yea I’m re-learning & educating what I know & it’s daunting, overwhelming & feels abit hopeless yet this forum is a bit of sunshine in the drizzly times. Sending love, you are not alone xx

[Valarian]

The early days of Graves’ can be very frightening, many of us have gone from bing perfectly well to being more unwell than we’ve ever been before within quite a small timescale. The good news is, most of us do get our lives back again as our thyroid levels some down, but it may take a few months.

You might find it useful to share any test results and whether you are on medication.

While waiting for any antithyroids (eg carbimazole) to take effect, a beta blocker, usually propranolol, may take the edge off the worst symptoms, possibly including the ache in your chest. You could talk to your GP about this.

[Salgar]

Hi there, just after Xmas this year my feet and ankles swelled up, had never happened before. After two weeks of this along with very exhausted and heavy legs I went to the doctor. Hadn’t needed a doctors appointment since 1999 so overall before this I had been a healthy bunny. Full blood results showed very high level of thyroid hormone, hyperthyroidism and I was put on 30mg Carbimazole. My ankles and legs went down within 10 days, my strength was back within a month. I had a series of anxiety panic attacks during the first month, also very new to me and extremely scary, as I am a very calm and laid back person usually. Within two weeks of taking the meds my levels had more than halved. I am now feeling back to my old self other than a rash which arrived 3 weeks into starting Carbimazole, hives in large areas all over my body, which looked like I had been attacked by a werewolf. They knocked my dose down to 20mg as my liver function test was not as good as they would have liked. The Endo considered taking me off the Carbimazole and changing to the alternative drug because the rash was pretty awful and uncomfortable. After several discussions with the Endo nurse and the fact that the rash was lessening after a month or so I am staying on the Carbimazole and taking a daily antihistamine. Feeling much better no panic attacks, rash intermittent and not particularly irritable, body strength restored. I had no idea I could become so ill so quickly but I only started taking medication on 4th Feb and a marked difference to date. My doctors have been fab, referred me for a telephone Endo appointment which I had within 3 weeks of first bloods. Doctors and Endo specialist nurse have been in constant touch and seem to care. Have had so many blood tests since have lost count of them, really couldn’t fault my treatment so far. kimikurtz1 I do hope you get the treatment u need and feel better soon. I was so depressed to start with and wondered if I would ever get a normal life back and happy to say I have at the moment.