Make sure your husband sees the Doctor!

Last year, my husband AJ was feeling extremely run down. He'd had a few bouts of extreme sickness (throwing up etc) and was very irritable. He couldn't concentrate properly at work and no matter how much he slept, he was still tired.

Finally, after lots of hassling from me, his parents and even some of his workmates, he finally made a doctors appointment. He was told to have a blood test and they would see what resulted from that.

A few days later he got a call from the doctor to make another appointment as there was something up. I actually went in with him this time - scared that it was going to be something serious. The Doctor said that he had a form of hyperthyroidism - possibly Graves Disease. His thyroid hormone levels were 3-4 times what they should be and the thing that regulates them had stopped working. He got prescribed some pills that he had to take twice a day - three at a time. He was also told to make an appointment with an Endocrinologist. About a month later, after another blood test, we headed to the Endocrinologist who confirmed that he did indeed have Graves Disease (though without the bulgy eyes thank goodness). His muscle strength wasn't what it should have been and he was prescribed more of the same.

For the next few months AJ kept getting blood tests and the Endocrinologist would call and tell him how his hormone levels were and that the medication was working. His dosage went down to one pill, twice a day and now he's been taking only one pill a day.

The Endocrinologist has now handed AJ's care back to his GP. AJ has to get a blood test every month and stay on a maintenance dosage of his medication for at least a year.

He's now much better. Still tired, but I think that's just because he's a light sleeper and has to get up really early every day for work. He's not nearly as irritable and his energy levels have increased. It's made us both much happier.

If you or your significant other aren't feeling the best - and it keeps happening - then see a doctor. It's worth it in the long run. The worst they can say is "we can't find anything wrong". But if there is something, then surely it's worth it.