Information for family and friends of Graves' patients

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

One year into treatment, I relate to so much of what you say here . . . me and

probably about 600 other people on the I relate to so much of this board! At 48

I was planning to get stronger and healthier every day--and achieve more as

well. Now I have similar goals but I've been compelled to focus much more on

myself than I'd like. The physical debilitation from Graves' has pushed me to

eat better, try to get down all those calcium pills, start some exercise. The

mental/emotional turmoil has been just as tough--I don't know if DJs still have

lots of controls to adjust, but I feel as if someone's changed all my settings,

at random.

I've used my insurance coverage for some visits to a psychologist (about one a

month). I was fortunate to have been recommended a useful one, though I think

I;m his first Graves'. I've had to reevaluate my life and circumstances far more

than I'd planned, and since I'm living with a recently disabled cab driver with

a bad temper, living alone again sometimes sounds tempting.

I just visited my sister and her family, whose house has been under renovation

for the 15 years they've lived there. Work and money constraints make the

progress exceedingly slow--though really appreciated. I imagine it's tough to

look at unfinished projects in your living space. But I'd like to believe that

the same mental energy that can get us to remission can also help us view the

situation in a useful way--in terms of what's healthiest (gee, I think there's

some advice for me in that, too).

I love your attitude on a quick remission. My feeling is that mine can be

permanent, too, given that I was doing so much wrong when I became hyper, and

have been making positive changes. We're actually in a lucky position because

our problem responds to stress reduction and positive thinking, which gives us

control over it.

Have you gone to the Graves' board at Mediboard.com? They have chats three times

a week. They're a little much for my typing skills, but I know some of the

participants and would very much recommend them as a lively group, and, like the

members here, some of the wittiest people I've met (at least we're in good

company). Maybe that will help on some of the quiet nights.

Best wishes,

I live alone and have recently bought a house that was in serious need of

renovation, still is, I had to stop.

I think Saturday night's are when I really feel bad, mainly because I don't have

the

strength to go out partying with friends but on the bright side, I am going to

achieve the

fastest remission in history... just watch *G*