General Medicine

» 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