General Medicine

» cybee - undereye swelling?

In response to undereye swelling? posted by fivebreaths:

Oh, I know that sleeping with more pillows so that your head is elevated does seem to help with undereye (and other eye) swelling. I do have TED, apparently, but this has helped me so could help you. Also , if you let yourself cry..there is just more water to absorb and could worsen the bags/swelling. So try not to. Of course, sometimes a person just can't help crying , eh? B^) Otherwise..I did take a water pill for a while , but have quit that for now. Not sure how long a person can be on those. Of course, cold compresses and what you are doing (tea bags) helps. I enjoyed tucks on my eyes actually! (soothing! )

-- posted by cybee

» cowlover614 - undereye swelling?

In response to undereye swelling? posted by cybee:

Hey girl how ya doin? I got back on meds. This hypo has been worse then hyper if that is possible! Yeap I still have really swollen eyes. I hope the meds do something. The last few weeks have been awful. I seen a new doctor, but guess I'll keep the Endo for now. I went and bought one of these eye mask that you can use cold or warm for your eyes haven't tried it yet! Mornings are really the worst for me.I've been waking up dizzy and unable to focus for the first part of the morning. You don't have the bags under your eyes or do you? I wonder what my face is gonna look like when all this goes away. I'm glad you brought up the tucks again. I have to get some I forgot about you mentioning them. I'm willing to try anything for relief. Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» fivebreaths - undereye swelling---plus questions to Elaine..

In response to undereye swelling? posted by cybee:
Thank you , both of you, so much for your replies. This is to both of you, cybee & Shirl....And Elaine, at the end, if you're reading....
Cybee, thank you for the raised pillow suggestion. I'm a tummy sleeper, so I will try!!And,what are 'tucks"?
and Shirl, I have been reading your postings all along, and G-d, I sure hope you find there's a really great doctor with whom you can have easy access. My endo allows patients to email her, and she does repy and answer concerns. Not as broadmindedly as Elaine does (hi Elaine!!, more conservatively, but at least I feel like I'm still in the loop and not lost and forgotten between lab testings).So, I wonder if your doctor is willing to be available that way to you. It doesn;t sound like it, but I live by, 'it doeasn't hurt to ask". I wonder also if all the stress in your home makes the whole process of healing even more challenging. Plus then , when you're feeling unwell, it worsens everything --what I mean is a viscious cycle of reciprocity. Is this ok to say?... is there any way for you to find down time, quiet, simple time, take a walk---something to feed& nurture your spirit??? Because without that, it's impossible to be with this illness. That's what I've found anyway. I found I 've had to , wherever possible, un-complicate my life, reduce stress, etc. I know this isn't always a possibility, and that we all have different circumstances----but I send these thoughts, well-intended, as support and encouragement---Can you seek one thing, just one thing that nurtures you and give it to yourself , every day if you can? For me that had to be a lot of quiet , before the meds kicked in and calmed my symptoms down. I think if I go hyPO from these meds, I will still look for what i really need that helps me deal. Sometimes our families just don't get it--how intense our internal experience is, how hard it is to find and feel a balance!! Anyway---I ramble---sorry---but of course, I feel for you, I think we all do who read these postings. Don't give up! I'm so glad that you can write in to this group.
So--EYES----yeah---swollen lids, upper & lower, not bulging, but there's swelling, it's ugly---I will try what you two suggest---

and Elaine, if you're reading this---if this is not early TED (which my opthamologists says it is not, he gave me full exam, measured whatever they measure)---is this common? why does it happen? do you know if the Methimazole does this? could it be a sign early hyPO, not HyPER symptoms? My levels are down now, but she's kept me on the meds on a lowered the dose from 40 to 20 mgs dly--despite my objections, since the only thing not normal yet is the TSH---which you have said is not the indicator of whether or not one is still in hyperthyroid. She still says it is--so am confused by that--and nervous of course that I am walking eyes-wide open, no pun intended, into a hyPO issue. But she, the endo, insisted, and I want to trust her, and I want to do the right thing......but I still question how it works...she said I'd have to stay on these a while! I don't really understande why, if the levels are in normal range now, all except the TSH...yak, yak, yak---any insight into above questions? thanks so much!!
Sorry so long!! Thank you c, s, &E !!!!

-- posted by fivebreaths

» cybee - undereye swelling---plus questions to Elaine..

In response to undereye swelling---plus questions to Elaine.. posted by fivebreaths:

Hi! Yes, I totally agree with your thoughts re reducing stress. I tried, and of all things a series of events that were highly stressful made an huge obstacle to that attempt. But we must try anyway, right? B^) Now, I first presented with tearing of the eye and then swelling (esp at morning after sleeping) of swelling of the eyelid and more concerningly to me, the area above the eyelid and below the brow espeically by the nose ! Boo. Well, I went to an opthalmologist and at first he was not sure, he had another fellow come in to look and that doctor said he thought it was systemic, likely thryoid (which does run in our family). The first one noted usually he sees pushing forward of the eyeball, but I don't have that or at least not to a notable degree . My readings show that this can be present in mild TED which actually my be more usual (maybe missed at times) than the poppy eyed version. Well,so I did go in to an endo and yes, labs reflect I do have TED. So if your opthalmogist says you don't have it, that is what you go on. Be assured that even if you DID have TED...they don't do much for it but treat is symptomatically..such as eye drops if your eyes feel gritty and that sleeping elevated (that is what I think really helps with eye swelling and mind you..I was a tummy sleeper...! So it can be done! ). Best wishes!

-- posted by cybee

» cybee - undereye swelling?

In response to undereye swelling? posted by cowlover614:

Oh, I have had a LOT of stress ! Circumstances evolved that did not help. I would try to decompress..(breath slowly /deeply)..it was hard. Right now I feel pretty good...and I am hoping my stressful circumstances are dissapating..but stress is hard to keep a reign on, regardless! Well, yes, tucks...good for hemorohoids...and very soothing on the eyes too. I use both cold ice bags each evening and then tucks. It is always kind of a treat...I lay there with my piled pillows (for upper body elevated sleeping) and do this..and it is funny that I find this a treat after a long day to do! (and hopefully it helps, to boot! FEels good).
Yes, I am waitng for my most recent labs. Had some weird muscle twitching (generalized) but that seems to be going away and think may actually be caused by a toxin I was exposed to..yikes! (scarey)But I had wondered about it thyroid wise too as had read about a connection.
So hypo is worse than hyper! That is what Elaine said, I think! Well,that is why I just want to do meds if my labs so indicate~ as opposed to permanently doing something that may make me hypo...as least give that a go first! (but even there, one has to caution about being hypo! Good to know though just how careful a person needs to be re that!

-- posted by cybee

» cowlover614 - undereye swelling?

In response to undereye swelling? posted by cybee:

To Cybee and fivebreaths, I'm about as stressed as I can get.I have way to much going on here and yes I think that was a big factor besides getting to much thyroid meds. I can't seem to get these guys here to listen! I talk but still everything is dumped on me. Taking care of my mom is sure no easy job! I was going to send her to the rest home, But I have a problem with that. Mothers Day she sat here all day and not one of my sisters or brothers came by. Two finally called late that night one dropped her off gifts Friday night. My problem is if they won't come here and see her and I can't seem to get them to help out. Then how in the world can I send her to that place and know they won't go there either. I would'nt be able to live with myself! That's stress#1 My husband is a trip in his self. As far as helping me out his idea is he works and when he gets home his main goal is to get on his computer and play his games. He doesn't have internet can't trust him so I hide my modem at night He is stress #2 Then their is my kids as you all know {six of them] I babysit for one! My 17 Ran to his dad's the 19yr old and my 21 yr old leaves also with their dad but run to me with their problems so I have that also to deal with my 35yr old made it clear to me she has her own family. So stress#3 And to top it all off this thyroid thing has made me sick as a dog. It's bad enough to look this bad but to feel bad on top of it and know you still have to handle everything just makes everything worse! So no I don't get much time to destress! But I think eveyone is right Stress can do bad things to you! I'm hoping this edema will go away! Cybee I tried the sleeping on extra pillows doesn't seem to work on my swelling! I am gonna get the tucks! And this is for you Elaine if this isn't TED or from being soooo hyper from the meds could their be some other diease I don't know about related to thyroid? Thanks everyone for the help and support! Shirl [sorry had to vent once again]

-- posted by cowlover614

» fivebreaths - what are "Tucks" ???

In response to undereye swelling? posted by cybee:
hi again--- thank you-- and can you or cybee maybe explain to me what "tucks" are?
Is it just elevation and use of cold packs? or is it something else?

-- posted by fivebreaths

» fivebreaths - Elaine, hi! questions

Hi Elaine, greetings to you. I don't know how far back you'll read postings, so I wanted to ask if you'll take a look at #346, at the end especially I asked a few questions I think you could maybe shed some light on for me.
However, today I have another. How normal is it to have levels still fluctuate while on the methimazole? what about heartrate changes from high to low to high again?
I'was doing well, very well I think--levels gone down, heart rate normal from having been too high---then today, out of nowhere, I noticed my heart rate climbing a bit, but then spiking. got a really bad headache, had to suddenly move my bowel and , well, wow! didn't see that coming!!

I can't reach my endo yet. I'm sure she'll say take a beta blocker. i hate those beta-blockers!
I can ride this out if I have to---have before. But I have to admit, a got a little scared---things, almost all my sympotms have been calming down steadily for the past 6 wks since I started the ATD. Now this. Makes me wonder what's what.
So, If this is normal, then fine.at this point it's ,like, WHATEVER!!!
BUT, if you think it's telling of something other than what's normal, it'd probably be good for me to know....
I guess this is not a linear process, more circular or spirals...dunno...thought I'd ask.
thanks so much.
As you can tell, we all think you are a godsend, so thank you, thank you.....!!!!!!

-- posted by fivebreaths

» cybee - what are "Tucks" ???

In response to what are "Tucks" ??? posted by fivebreaths:

Oh, sorry fivebreaths! I meant to answer that for you! They are these circle pads soaked in witch hazel (you can get the generic brands, but the most familiar name brand is "Tucks") and they are disposable so you get 40 to 100 in a container at a time. They are generally used for comfort and reduction of swelling for hemorhoids, but I found them useful for eye swellings too. (actually idea discovered on the internet.) Asked an eye doc about this, and she said that was fine...as long as the witch hazel does not get in the eye (which it never does). Witch hazel is an antiseptic and I have also heard it described as an anti-inflammatory (topical). I find them comforting if nothing else (sometimes more so than other times)>

-- posted by cybee

» cybee - what are "Tucks" ???

In response to what are "Tucks" ??? posted by fivebreaths:

They can be found (generally in round containers) at any drug store. B^) Hope this helps!

-- posted by cybee