I wonder about those people who say they’ve ‘cured’ themselves of Graves without any kind of medical or surgical intervention. What do they know that I don’t? Does anyone know?
As I understand it, there is no ‘cure’ for Graves, only treatment and hopefully, remission. I know I can help myself by being careful about things like diet (limit iodine and stimulants) and stress. But I also know that if I’d waited for those things to work, and eschewed medication I’d be in a bad bad way by now. If I was still here at all!
By the time my Graves was diagnosed I’d obviously had it for some time and was ‘highly symptomatic’, even more than my blood work would suggest. My anxiety levels were ruining my life – relationships were difficult, work was a horror. The pain in my muscles (especially my arms and my hands) was indescribable. And of course the heart palpitations were really scary. And I almost never slept. I just can’t imagine wanting to self-treat under those circumstances. Of course when I was diagnosed I read everything I could find on the implications of treatment and not being treated. My conclusion? Bring on the meds for me!
I think the greatest challenge for me in the next couple of months is going to be maintaining a healthier, less stressful lifestyle. It’d be easy to fall back into the trap of being Superwoman again, while I’m feeling so much better.
My new mantra (repeat after me)…”Good enough is ok most of the time.”
“Go home on time” is my other new philosophy.
And so to bed.
2 responses so far ↓
Annie // September 5, 2008 at 4:24 am |
Just beware the potential side effects of the meds. After being mildly symptomatic for almost 10 years, my Graves became significantly worse last fall- palpitations, resting heart rates between 120-150 (I am a runner, used to under 60), the whole gammut.
I started on a low dose of Tapazole, which the doctor assured me was harmless. It almost killed me. I had a very rare reaction and went into liver failure (no, not the white blood cell count problem which is far more common). I was incredibly ill, hospitalized and missed 2 months of work.
Since I couldn’t take the meds (my doc would not risk the other drug which can have the same rare side effect) and couldn’t get RAI (I had a cat scan with contrast when hospitalized) for a few months, I decided to give up diet soda. I was a total addict, drinking up to 20 cans a day.
Five months later, my thyroid levels are way down. Not normal although I do feel pretty good. My doctor wants to go ahead with the RAI because she does not want me to end up that sick again. I am opting to watch and wait. As far as stressful lifestyle, I am the mother of 4 (2 are disabled) and I work part-time as a corporate lawyer.
ratl1309 // September 5, 2008 at 9:39 am |
Hi Annie and thanks. What you’re saying is really interesting. I’m really still a newbie to this illness…I suppose I will have to expect ups and downs as the years go by.
Somewhere else I heard about avoiding aspartame and other sugar substitutes so I’ve been avoiding most ‘diet’ products too and in general feel better for it.
I hope you continue to feel better..and will be interested to learn what you decide re the RAI in the future. I don’t qualify at the moment as I’m in my 30’s with no kids…sort of glad they don’t want to offer it to me so I don’t have to make the decision as the idea is quite offputting!
R xo