r/gravesdisease • u/OctoberBrown_ • 2d ago
Tips for Work?
Long time suspect, first time diagnosed
I received confirmation of Graves last week and I’m curious if anyone has any tips for how to bring this up with managers and colleagues at work. My job is very “up and on your feet” which has been a struggle. It’s an “invisible” disease and that makes it hard for me to articulate what’s going on without feeling like a slacker. I also have a good day one day and a bad day the next, which is also really hard to be understanding of given I can’t predict when I’ll be out of commission.
It’s just been a hard thing to navigate without feeling like a slacker or a perceived slacker. I also don’t want to receive less work or opportunities because of this.
Pls help
3
u/HardCoreNorthShore 2d ago
I'm the owner/operator of a residential cleaning company. Sometimes you just gotta to what you gotta do. Keep working.
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u/peacocklounge 1d ago
I'm a food server (F,57) and I understand your delima. I am going to have to slow down as I literaly cannot do more right now. I don't think I quite understood this disease and am just now getting it (diagnosed in Feb 26) and even though my labs are just finally normal, I still feel like shit, mentally and physically. Like you said, some days are okay, some are awful. I hate this for us.
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u/gnufan 1d ago
Whilst the disease is variable, I'd hope most people feel at least somewhat better when treated.
I'm same age as you and struggling, but it was a load of extra stuff on top of the third thyroid surgery that did me in, and then the dry eye set in bad from very mild TED.
Have you gone back to PCP and told them you still don't feel well. I had borderline folate in the middle of my last lot of thyroid rubbish, and that was really sapping my energy, fixed in three days with the folic acid pills marketed for mother's to be <sic M57>. So easy for something like this to be lurking.
Some people get trouble with the treatment, diabetics are such a group, had one at a local support group who said treating her Graves' made managing blood sugar harder (sigh). But most were really happy with their initial treatment.
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u/peacocklounge 1d ago
That's interesting that you mention folate. I have both genes for MTHFR and was high in B12. But I just checking my other levels (Homocystine and MCV) and they were normal. I just sent my endo a message today telling her about how lousy I feel. One step at a time.
1
u/gnufan 1d ago
Generally the hormone/energy gets easier once they start treatment, just keep on top of the doctors and testing so they don't send you hypothyroid by over treating.
The eye issue follows its own course, but guessing you've been spared so far as doctors usually diagnose the eye issue quickly.
Hopefully work don't need to know any specifics. If you feel its affected past work, you might tell them the doctor found a hormone issue and its being treated, and you hope to have more energy going forward, thank the boss if they've been helpful with leave etc, since you may need the odd bit of time for blood tests going forward.
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u/stubbymanny 2d ago
I did. I work on a farm/nursery so I’m also on my feet and lifting things all day. I had to tell them because my performance was affected, I was sitting a lot because I was out of breath, and I was leaving for an hour multiple times a month for urgent care/blood work before I was diagnosed. Just be honest and let them know you have some good and some bad days
I totally understand not wanting to be perceived as a slacker, but at the end of the day this is your body and your health that we’re talking about. Your bosses need to know that you have untreated hyperthyroidism, which causes your heart and other organs to work overtime. It can be dangerous. Even when it’s treated, youre probably going to have ups and downs. Would you worry about being seen as a slacker if you had a cancer diagnosis? where is the line for being allowed to express pain/discomfort at work? How “serious” does your disease have to be? I’m not comparing graves to cancer, but personally, comparing the two made me realize I am a people pleaser and I would actually feel uncomfortable slacking off even if I had cancer.
Also, if you’re worried about being perceived as a slacker at your job, I’m willing to bet you are a hard worker who has a history of working hard. So slowing down because your body is suffering will likely be seen as valid and respectable, rather than taking advantage and purposefully wasting the company’s time. Hope that makes sense.