(36yo Female. Diagnosed late August last year. Started treatment October last year w/ Methimazole)
I wanted to post some positivity to bring some hope to whoever needs it today. Graves’ Disease has tried (and keeps trying) to kick my ass emotionally and physically. I‘ve had good days and bad days — days where I’m so scared and depressed all I do is cry. But I also have days where I feel so strong and hopeful that I take everything the disease throws at me with grace.
In the beginning my heart was racing, I had major chest pains, horrible water retention and swelling (especially in my face and eyes), depression, such horrible insomnia that I’ve never experienced before (I had to take those special gummies to help me sleep), GI issues like crazy (which I’m still struggling with), my hair was falling out so badly I could stuff a teddy bear with the amount of hair that was coming out of me every time I washed my hair or brushed it, weakness in the gym, panic attacks, I could go on and on…
Now, finally, my Endocrinologist has got my levels normalized after over 6 months of trying. I am finally started to feel somewhat ”normal!” I can sleep great now without gummies, my hair isn’t falling out in clumps anymore, my water retention has improved vastly, my heart rate is normal, and my strength in the gym + muscle gain has dramatically increased.
I guess what I am trying to say is that you will get better! Please don’t lose hope! Time and trust will heal. Having this disease has taught me to give myself grace every single day, which I wasn’t doing before. I suppose that’s a silver lining.
Every day is a new day. Every breath is a new breath. Keep going! There is hope! <3