What are /r/gravesdisease's favorite Products & Services?

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Firstly, I’m not really fond of the way your mom is speaking to you. Just wanna throw that out there right off the bat. As for the feeling anxious and ‘slow’, a kind of brain fog is consistent with some symptoms of thyroid disorders. Taking medication consistently made mine a lot better. I’m in my early 30s and was only diagnosed a few years ago, but I didn’t realize how much my anxiety and brain fog was stemming from my thyroid.. I just chucked it up to being an anxious forgetful person. Personally I’m on birth control so I keep my pills right next to each other.. it helps me remember if I took it that day or not since I always take them together, so I can look and see Wednesday’s pill gone, for example, and know I took my methimozole too. Have you tried getting a small pill box? They make some that are more subtle and not too obnoxious than those grandma-style pill boxes and it might help you a lot. Here’s an example of one, but I’m sure you can find others:

https://www.amazon.com/Organizer-Waterproof-MoistureProof-Supplements-Medication/dp/B082NYSKT5

Try one of those. If you really don’t like that for some reason, get a piece of tape. Stick it to your bottle lengthwise, and write S M T W T F S on it. Cross off the letter of the week each day you take it, then just replace the tape at the end of the week. Might help.

You’re not slow, everyone needs help remembering things. Don’t get down on yourself. Keeping up with your medication can help with a lot of the symptoms you’re feeling!

Medical Medium Thyroid Healing: The Truth behind Hashimoto's, Graves', Insomnia, Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Nodules & Epstein-Barr https://www.amazon.com/dp/1401948367/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nLapFbFHYHV0K

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dk.kalorieopslag.symdir

I did some digging after reading your post (a little late to the game, but ok). This one is basic, but you can add whatever you'd like and give it a rating of 1-5 for intensity, as well as adding factors (exercise, hot temp, etc).

Daylio!

It's not specifically for symptom tracking but you can customize it like crazy and I've used it to track my own health stuff for a bit.

It’s just this one off Amazon! YANIBEST Satin Bonnet Silk Bonnet... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MCM2Z5S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I have long hair that I sometimes end up lying on and was finding so many strands on my pillow. Under normal circumstances, I would put it in a braid, but in an effort not to pull on my so much, I’ve started tucking it all in the cap! Again, not a miracle, but Id like to think I’m not shedding as much with it!

I solved this problem buy using one of those little medicine organizers. Where you put in what you're supposed to take everyday for the next week. If the pill's gone I know I took it.

Something like THIS

Hope you can figure it out from counting.

I forget if I have taken meds a lot. I find it really helpful to use a medication timer cap like this (link is just an example, doesn't need to be that specific one).

The only thing is, when you split a pill, if you keep the second half out of the bottle, you will have to remember to open and close the bottle to mark whenever you take it.

You could also use some kind of app. I didn't really like the medication apps I have tried, but for once a day pills like vitamins a habit tracker app where I simply mark it off for the day has been working pretty well for me. It is a whole other step to put it in my phone though so discipline is required to do it immediately so you don't forget. So I still use the timer cap on my important meds, because knowing myself I can forget I took something before I get to my phone.

If you can, please see an endocrinologist and eye doctor to track disease. I’m lucky mine stopped when it did.

Here’s a link to the one I bought.

You can also find ones that are microwaveable with rice on a lot of different websites. Just depends on your preference. Best of luck to you. Also check out selenium as a supplement for thyroid health. My endocrinologists have always recommended that to me.

When my face is puffy I take anti-histamines (but keep in mind I also have a lot of pollen/ pet allergies that play a role in the puffy eyes), and I wear a freezable face mask like this one (https://www.amazon.com/Gel-Eye-Mask-Sleeping-Pack/dp/B00SS9AUA0/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=freezable+face+mask&qid=1648055050&sr=8-10), it really helps with the inflammation, but just be careful to not let it stick to your face/ leave it on too long or you'll get freezer burn on your skin!

Ok, brows and lashes.

Keep grooming your brows just go easy on them. If they do thin out noticeably, the cheap fix is Brow Wiz by Anastasia. It does not move until you take it off. A more permanent fix is microblading, it's the bomb!! The first appointment is most expensive (check in your area) but touch ups are much cheaper and you should only need it once a year. Make sure you look around for a good artist though. A bad brow job will suck.

For lashes, there is no cheap fix. AVOID extensions at all costs. They will damage/remove what lashes you do have left. Latisse is brilliant. It's by prescription (in Canada at least) so a dermatologist can hook you up. It really works. Like really really works. A less expensive alternative is EyEnvy serum, available in salons. Works, but not as well as Latisse. Both can also be used on brows.

My dermatologist suggested these Embrace Scar Therapy sheets. They make different ones for immediately after surgery and post-6 months.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B071DW9XSM/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_81CFG4HF1EM37CYHNTB4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Scarfade silicone scar gel for scar removal, scar therapy - 30g Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0113AA1MM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_THFZBHNQKYF8XTB394GZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

This is what I use! I’m really pleased with how well my scar is healing. I haven’t even used it religiously and my scar has faded a lot, I imagine that if I had used it as often as I was supposed to, it would be even better.

Thanks, I needed to hear positivity from someone out the other side.

Thinking back, it's weird that I never asked my endo specifics of what to expect post RAI. I think i've been ill for so long, that I was just eager to get to the stage I could do it. I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't produce antibodies, so when I started having symptoms 7 years ago, my doctor ran the antibody test and it came back negative so Graves' was ruled out. For that reason, when I was finally diagnosed I opted for the more permanent solution of RAI, rather than hoping another 18 months of meds would possibly put me in remission.

I'm already taking melatonin and THIS which gets me to fall asleep, I just can't stay asleep. Zzzquil isn't available to buy in the UK unfortunately. This is all familiar, as i've experienced insomnia before I was diagnosed, but it improved while on carbimazole, it just seems to have reared it's ugly head again.

Not to tell you what to do, but clearly the methimazole isn't offering you the stability you would hope for. Possibly opt for radioiodine or removal? It may seem drastic, but it's been 3 years for you and how long do you have to wait to feel normal indefinitely?

I'm gay, so cock rings are pretty commonly used and accepted, nobody would even question using one. I guess it's different with 'the straights'. I get that it would be weird explaining to a random partner you just met, but you could just say that you like the way it feels or some crap about it giving her pleasure. They do work for me, the tighter the better, so adjustable is good. They help get you hard by keeping blood in and once you are hard, maintain it. THIS is the type that can get really tight, it goes either round the shaft (which would look weird), or round both cock and balls.

I know this is getting in to weird territory now, but if you wanted to try it out for yourself before buying something like this, try tying a shoe lace or something and watch some porn, see how you get on and if it helps.

Good luck mate.

Scarfade silicone scar gel for scar removal, scar therapy - 30g Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0113AA1MM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_DKJ5KEVZYAYNM631PPYY?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

This is one that someone else recommended to me, I like it so far! I haven’t been using it long enough to really be able to tell how well it works, but it has fantastic reviews.

I don't use it to track my symptoms, but I've been using https://nomie.app/ and it's working pretty well. No app but usable in your phone's browser.

I also use Daylio but it's more as a mood tracker and a micro diary.

Graves can fuel emotion and maks you "go faster", giving you less patience with others. However, keep in mind that the mind which sees, is still yours. Even if Graves "fuels" things up, it's the perceptions that you produce in your mind, that which you experience.

It's still you. So you may need to work with that.

You might want to turn and look at that root. What is the perception that is under your anger/impatience? What is the emotion relating your perception to yourself? Is it a healthy one, or is it arrogance, jealousy, anger, maybe fear/hope? Are you reacting to your own emotion? Are you identifying with it, instead of being able to observe it, and let it pass?

There are various methods which can help dealing with disturbing emotions. I find this one to be extremely helpful.

(I'm not affiliated with the book in any way, other than having read it and appreciating it)

Good luck :)

This is what I bought:

5 Packs Natural Invisible Single/Double Side Eyelid Tapes Stickers, Medical-use Fiber Eyelid Strips, Instant lift Eye Lid Without Surgery, Perfect for Hooded, Droopy, Uneven, Mono-eyelids https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GYM1LPB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_M9FnFbB0AACGK

If you’re gaining weight, I think that means your body isn’t hyperthyroid anymore/your Graves is getting better.

I took Methimazole for 5/6 yrs and I finally graduated and I wasn’t school stressed anymore. So I looked up research papers at my school library about Graves and read a few papers that said that flaxseed taken daily put patients into remission. So I started taking 2/3 tbsp of ground flaxseed and eventually upped it to ~4 tbsp of ground flaxseed which I still take daily. I experimented mixing it with everything and the best for me was mixing it with a vegetable juice called Uber Greens that’s like drinking a salad. I found juice with a thicker consistency was better to mix the ground seeds with, and I buy a 4lb bag of ground flaxseed every few months off of Amazon.

I also did acupuncture for your thyroid for about 6 months when I first started taking the flaxseed. I went into remission and stopped acupuncture but still took a maintenance dosage of 5 grams of Methimazole for a few months before I completely stopped. It’s going to be a year next month and I see my endocrinologist to see if I’m still in remission, I think I am.

I go back and forth between vegan and pescatarian for over ten yrs and I exercise too, I’m currently vegan. But thyroid diseases run on my dads side of the family and I was in a really bad car accident which I think “turned on” my Graves. So hopefully no school stress, acupuncture, and flaxseed made me go into permanent remission. If you try flaxseed, make sure it’s ground because your body can’t digest the shells. I hope you get better soon ❤️

Oh yeah, this book was really informative and helpful too: https://www.amazon.com/Graves-Disease-Practical-McFarland-Health/dp/0786410116

This has helped me a lot: Herb Pharm Thyroid Calming Herbal Formula for Endocrine System Support - 1 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00196R1V0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_h55sBbT51Y3F9

Also, like the other person on here said, I cut out gluten and focused more on relaxation.

It can be hard to adjust, but if you are willing to read and learn then you can also educate those around you and it will help you feel better(emotionally) in the process.

Two Books I recommend are Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide (McFarland Health Topics) & Natural Treatment Solutions for Hyperthyroidism and Graves' Disease 2nd Edition. Also check out some of the links in the sidebar. Maybe you can get one or both of your parents to read the books with you so they are educated as well.

Have a look at this (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/t4-only-meds-dont-work/) Synthyroid only has T4 and it may not be enough for you. You might try finding a doctor who would be willing to switch your meds to a natural desiccated thyroid which contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin.

Not to be mean, but your dad has no clue what it's like to have Grave's disease and he's not a Doctor of any kind, so he can't really advise you medically, all he can do is go by what the doctor said, and sadly lot's of doctors suck at treating GD.

You're going to have to do lot's of reading and may cycle through lot's of Doctors before you find one that actually works with you. Just remember your Doctor works for you and you can fire them any time you want.

I highly recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786410116?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Also have a look at the helpful links in the sidebar. In particular The 2nd and 3rd one.

Good Luck and I hope you feel better soon!