Re: New and confused - Ruth

[Guest guest]

> Hi, my name is Ruth and I'm new here. Really looking for some support

> and advise. Been reading alot and seems like RAI is not such a good

> ideal huh? Too late for me! I was rushed right off to get it, Doc

> said I had no chance of remission d/t a few reasons she gave so I

> could only be on meds for a short period at a time. It has been 2

> months now and no change in my blood work (sky high levels)

You sound like you're beginning to have a handle on this. Still, let's

cover a few basics:

-Do you have copies of all your lab reports? Maybe you still have some

good binders left from school supply shopping for your three girls ;-)

- but I was under the impression that symptoms

> would start getting better in a few weeks.

It should, and that's one of the good things about RAI in its best case

scenario. That your not feeling better is not good on many fronts, the

major one being that I'm afraid you're not being properly monitored? Are

you still on beta blockers? Might a low dose of ATD help you at this

point? Many drs., instead of offering ATDs, will just rush into doing RAI

again. Keep your radar up for any talk of that.

-The thing I am worried

> about now, does the RAI really do more damage to the eyes?

This is what's most disturbing. If you already had manifestations of

thyroid eye disease (TED) RAI was clearly contraindicated. I don't like

spending other people's money but I would suggest you get hold of Elaine

's new book on TED. I haven't read it yet but can make this educated

guess: parts may be a bit too technical to get at this point but on the

whole it will be very accessible and helpful.

Three things I would do right away if I were you would be

-start taking Omega 3 supplement which has been shown to be good for you

overall health but especially helpful with thyroid eye problems

- check the links on the homepage to eye exercises posted by Jody Spitale

( " luckystrike " )

- make an appointment with an ophthalmologist experienced in TED. You may

want to run the eye exercises by your current ophthal./optometrist but

they should be totally safe. Your current eye dr. is probably not the

best person to go to at this point.

Also if anyone has any pointers

> on how I can control my panic attacks and anger spells I would love

> to hear from you, I sure don't like the person I have become.

These will get better when you achieve some level of stability, and are a

pretty clear indication you are still hyper. Here are some things that

will be helpful

- yoga. There are some good videos out there that people here have

suggested. Just ask if you want them to resuggest.

- humor. Watch funny stuff, read funny stuff. (I'm on several humor

lists.)

- Try to get spiritually centered. If you're a lapsed anything, now's a

good time to look into unlapsing.

- Professional help. This is dicey. My BIL, who's a psychiatrist,

occassionally reminds me of how loopy I was, and how dangerously close I

was, in his professional opinion to thyroid storm/psychosis, even. Yet I

think that while there are instances where we need MD professional help,

from the type of people who can prescribe stuff for us, short term

cognitive therapy may be even better. This isn't the " how long have you

hated your mother " stuff but will focus on helping you change/ reframe

negative thoughts and actions. (Kind of in line with my first three

suggestions.)

I recently suggested another list that I haven't been on for a few years

but was tremendously informative and helpful for hypo people. The address

is something like thyroidmaelstrom@.... Books that will be

very helpful for you at this point and in fairly accessible language are

Shomon's Living With Hypothyroidism (as well as her online stuff. Do

check her out) and Thyroid Power by Dr. and Dr. Shames.

You will feel better soon. Don't kick yourself, just concentrate on

getting better and think about how much you'll be able to help others

soon enough.

Take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

[Guest guest]

Hi Fay, first thanks for the help. I'm not planning on any more RAI...didn't

like being away from the kids. I only had a months supply of beta blockers

so of course they were gone even before the treatment.

I will put that book on my wish list for Christmas, I've already told my

hubby that I want yoga tapes and books to help me cope with this.I think

your right and some humor will help, would love to laugh again.

Thanks!!! Ruth

Re: New and confused - Ruth

> > Hi, my name is Ruth and I'm new here. Really looking for some support

> > and advise. Been reading alot and seems like RAI is not such a good

> > ideal huh? Too late for me! I was rushed right off to get it, Doc

> > said I had no chance of remission d/t a few reasons she gave so I

> > could only be on meds for a short period at a time. It has been 2

> > months now and no change in my blood work (sky high levels)

>

> You sound like you're beginning to have a handle on this. Still, let's

> cover a few basics:

> -Do you have copies of all your lab reports? Maybe you still have some

> good binders left from school supply shopping for your three girls ;-)

>

> - but I was under the impression that symptoms

> > would start getting better in a few weeks.

> It should, and that's one of the good things about RAI in its best case

> scenario. That your not feeling better is not good on many fronts, the

> major one being that I'm afraid you're not being properly monitored? Are

> you still on beta blockers? Might a low dose of ATD help you at this

> point? Many drs., instead of offering ATDs, will just rush into doing RAI

> again. Keep your radar up for any talk of that.

>

> -The thing I am worried

> > about now, does the RAI really do more damage to the eyes?

> This is what's most disturbing. If you already had manifestations of

> thyroid eye disease (TED) RAI was clearly contraindicated. I don't like

> spending other people's money but I would suggest you get hold of Elaine

> 's new book on TED. I haven't read it yet but can make this educated

> guess: parts may be a bit too technical to get at this point but on the

> whole it will be very accessible and helpful.

> Three things I would do right away if I were you would be

> -start taking Omega 3 supplement which has been shown to be good for you

> overall health but especially helpful with thyroid eye problems

> - check the links on the homepage to eye exercises posted by Jody Spitale

> ( " luckystrike " )

> - make an appointment with an ophthalmologist experienced in TED. You may

> want to run the eye exercises by your current ophthal./optometrist but

> they should be totally safe. Your current eye dr. is probably not the

> best person to go to at this point.

>

> Also if anyone has any pointers

> > on how I can control my panic attacks and anger spells I would love

> > to hear from you, I sure don't like the person I have become.

>

> These will get better when you achieve some level of stability, and are a

> pretty clear indication you are still hyper. Here are some things that

> will be helpful

> - yoga. There are some good videos out there that people here have

> suggested. Just ask if you want them to resuggest.

> - humor. Watch funny stuff, read funny stuff. (I'm on several humor

> lists.)

> - Try to get spiritually centered. If you're a lapsed anything, now's a

> good time to look into unlapsing.

> - Professional help. This is dicey. My BIL, who's a psychiatrist,

> occassionally reminds me of how loopy I was, and how dangerously close I

> was, in his professional opinion to thyroid storm/psychosis, even. Yet I

> think that while there are instances where we need MD professional help,

> from the type of people who can prescribe stuff for us, short term

> cognitive therapy may be even better. This isn't the " how long have you

> hated your mother " stuff but will focus on helping you change/ reframe

> negative thoughts and actions. (Kind of in line with my first three

> suggestions.)

>

> I recently suggested another list that I haven't been on for a few years

> but was tremendously informative and helpful for hypo people. The address

> is something like thyroidmaelstrom@.... Books that will be

> very helpful for you at this point and in fairly accessible language are

> Shomon's Living With Hypothyroidism (as well as her online stuff. Do

> check her out) and Thyroid Power by Dr. and Dr. Shames.

>

> You will feel better soon. Don't kick yourself, just concentrate on

> getting better and think about how much you'll be able to help others

> soon enough.

>

> Take care, Fay

>

> ________________________________________________________________

> The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

> Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

> Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

>

>

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