Hyperthyroidism Support Group

Hi,
Hyperthyroidism is really, really tough on relationships from my own personal experience. I have Graves' disease and have gone from being an energetic, happy person who would chew off her own left arm to help her family, to being someone who can't stand to be around anyone for long periods of time, and who doesn't even call anyone to see how they are anymore because i don't really care how they are right now.
I have become obsessed with my disease, and I do talk about other issues when people come over to visit me, but it is always in the back of my mind and always seems to weasel its way into a conversation. I don't listen to other people when they talk to me because I am too self absorbed (I do pretend to, though), and most days I want to stay at home in bed with the covers over my head and wish the world would just go away. If I were independently wealthy, I would do just that. I would get into my most comfortable PJ's get into bed and maybe move to the couch to watch TV and that would be just about it for me. Its like I'm a bear who wants to hibernate.
I have fought with my boyfriend and have asked him to leave about 90 times since getting this disease. I can feel his frustration with my health issues, and sometimes I feel like he's pushing me too hard when he asks me to go out and do something that we used to enjoy, and it sparks fights. I know that I love him, but sometimes I do wish that I were alone.
If he weren't here, our apartment would probably get over run with piles of laundry and dishes, because I don't care if they get done or not. Sometimes I would probably forget to feed my cats, too, if they would let me.
It is hard to explain. I am just so exhausted that small things are a big, big deal. For instance, I have to go get my teeth cleaned at the dentist today and the thought of having it done is overwhelming and I am tempted to cancel. Little things like that are now a really big deal.
Everyone is different, but I do know that a lot of people with Graves' are having relationship troubles from what I have been reading on here, so your friend is not alone. The bad thing is, there may be nothing that you can do. After her levels get better, hopefully she will feel more emotionally stable before its too late to save her relationship if she wants to save it.
I think a lot of this comes from frustration and trouble communicating and it is probably on both of their parts if he did actually leave her.
My boyfriend would leave to give me a break, but would keep in contact and would let me know that he loved me and still wanted me, but was frustrated with my being ill and wants the "old Hannah" back ASAP. I want me back, too. I hope this goes away, soon, and I hope your friend gets better, as well.
So, when we are hyper, we can have a hair-trigger temper. When we get treatment for being hyper it can make us go hypo, and that is where I am at now. Being hypo has made me apathetic, but I no longer yell. i don't know which is worse? Being normal in thyroid levels is really important. I hope I can get normal someday, soon!
Take care,
Hannah

Relationships are hard when our thyroid levels are off. Others need to step in and help those of us with thyroid problems at times. We do not always think straight to help ourselves.

Is your friend taking any ATDs (antithyroid drugs) to help lower down her thyroid levels of the Free T4? Does she take any beta blockers to calm down her cardiac/hypER symptoms and it will help to lower down her Free T3 levels?

Take care...

No, she just recently found out. She had to have the radioactive stuff to kill her thyroid and starts taking meds. in about 5 more weeks.

Okay will your friend take antithyroid drugs to first lower her thyroid levels before taking the RAI to kill her thyroid? Just wondering because that is the usual protocol to follow first to try to bring the the thyroid levels with ATDs.

Thanks... :-)

Her thyriod level was .01 or sometihng like that. She said it was one point to be being nothing. I don't even know if I am making sense. I think she said something like that. No, she did the radioactive stuff first. Then 6 weeks after that she will start her medication. I don't know what kind though.

Are you saying your friend already went and had the RAI (radioactive iodine) done?

Hi Mmztcass,
That is what they were going to do with me, too. I was scheduled to have RAI done, and was given ATD's while I waited to see the Endo. I got feeling better on the ATD's and decided to give them a chance instead of permanent ablation. I think from what I have been reading, it looks like there can be some ups and downs with RAI, and maybe that is what Maryd4love's friend is feeling right now?
Hannah

Hi Hannah:

It would be nice to have maryd4love's friend post instead and let us know how things are going? Sometimes it's hard to do things via friends and others to know what's really going on...