Graves Disease - Carbimazole

[nooneimportant]

ME again!

Just updating as it seems to help me write(type it out).

Feeling a little better and actually been able to do a little low level weights and stretching - I have hyper mobility so it's important for me to stretch but due to the cramps caused by Graves I was unable to do this since this "living the dream" started. Although still not hungry ... so levels clearly aren't optimal but that's another story for another day.

So I went to Wales w/c 8th July for a break and had to help the estranged hubster (yes I have a weird set-up but it works) carry his kayak to the beach every day (I like punishment obviously), anyway, this made me realise just how weak Graves had made me and although painful carrying a sea kayak I decided to try some very light weights again when I got back and it appears to be helping, as well as stretching (basic yoga poses etc) alongside my daily walks - not ready to start running again - best to know your limits. But all this got me thinking .... how many things have I lapsed on since diagnosis and as it turns out .... quite a lot.

Self care had taken a hit, I wasn't spending anything other than the bare minimum of time on self care, i.e. race through shower, minimal makeup, sling on clothes, done! Run to next thing and so it goes on .... I realised in my rush I have essentially slowed down to a stop when it came to being me!

So this last week I have begun to introduce my "pre-Graves" self-care routines and take time to care for myself. I had been concentrating so much on reducing stress through the things that caused me trauma that I hadn't taken care of ME. I wonder how many of us are doing this?

I moved away from the awful neighbourhood that caused me relentless stress, cut people out that traumatised me and set boundaries with those I simply couldn't cut out, worked on the house and other bits to improve my quality of life and obviously, nursed my beloved Charliebum (furbaby) through cancer to his end of life, got the right boundaries set at work and pushed myself to knuckle down to my degree and somehow still forgot about the person I was doing most of this for ... ME!

So this weekend I didn't race to aid a friend having a temper tantrum, I said I'm here if you need anything but I have some self care things to do first.... and he sorted the issue without further intervention?! I restarted journaling, I spent time on stretching, reading, prioritising my needs and have calmly stated without guilt "no, not today as I don't want to set myself back, let me see how I am doing tomorrow" and it feels like it's working.

I tell everyone on here who is battling with these conditions to be kind to yourself, I mean that, I really do because your health and sanity is more important than that work deadline, that dinner preparation, or parent of the year award ....

... and for those who hate my name ... I understand, I really do but I won't change it until the Healthcare System starts providing us with Healthcare that makes us feel cared for, until then I will always be Nooneimportant 😘

[Fruitandnutcase]

Good for you, you are learning. It’s a very good sign that you recognise what has happened to you. I used to say ‘where is the me I used to be? Graves kind of robbed me of the things that made me the person I was.

I also used to say to people ‘you have to be quite selfish and on,y do the things you want to do, not things you think you should do or that order people think you should do’.

So stay strong and you’ll get there ☀️

[nooneimportant in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Agreed - it feels selfish sometimes but there's nothing selfish about prioritising your needs really

[pennyannie]

So there is a considerable amount of progress taking place -

and it starts and ends with you since you are the most important person in this equation -

Well done and if writing helps - here is the obvious vehicle as we read and learn from each other -

As for the name - well considering the parameters you've set - I'll stay as ' just a penny ' then for your thoughts !!

[nooneimportant in reply to pennyannie]

Don't get me wrong I still feel sick after eating and hunger is none existent, napping etc it's all still there BUT I'm just trying to look after myself with a slightly different approach and mindset ... reduced meds as stated in our message and will continue on that for at least a month and see where that leaves - just means persevering even if meds are too high as I need to know what/if it will impact results :/ A right pain in the bottom but a month of more displeasure won't hurt after the year I've had

[FallingInReverse]

Writing this has helped me too… so thank you!

[nooneimportant in reply to FallingInReverse]

I'm glad to hear that xx

[nightingale-56]

So important to look after yourself first. An old Health Visitor said that if you don't look after yourself first, then you can't look after anyone properly. I like what you are doing and hope that you benefit from your self care.

[nooneimportant in reply to nightingale-56]

I think my gran used to say that about babies "stressed out mum = stressed out baby" she wasn't wrong to be fair