It’s now five months since my Graves’ Disease remission ended. Within a month, my body was broken—physically and mentally. Fortunately, medication soon worked its magic, but regaining my strength, endurance, and mental sharpness remains a work in progress. That said, I’m heading in the right direction.

The loss of strength and endurance affected me deeply. I went from being one of the strongest women in the gym to one of the weakest. A 110kg deadlift dropped to 60kg. I felt humiliated—an illogical emotion, but real nonetheless. Slowly, though, my strength is returning, and I’m now lifting 90kg for 12 repetitions.

I’ve also started running again—slow, but steady. My VO2 max is recovering. It dipped to below 27 but is now approaching 29. It was 31 before I became ill.

Mentally, I’m much stronger. When I first became ill, I had to take a temporary withdrawal from my university degree as fatigue and concentration issues overwhelmed me. Events at the end of the year shook my sense of self-worth, but I’ve found the mental fortitude to start writing again. Last year, I was asked to contribute to a book on the maternity workplace. After some final edits, the chapter I co-wrote with a friend has been approved for publication this spring.

Unfortunately, recovery from Graves’ isn’t just about determination—it requires proper medical management. And given the current state of GP services, that’s never without its challenges.

At the end of December, I had a blood test for thyroid function. The results were abnormal but moving in the right direction. I received a message to book a routine phone consultation with my GP, but with Christmas delays, the earliest available slot was four weeks away. I wasn’t too concerned—I assumed that if my medication needed adjusting, someone would contact me.

The call started well—he rang on time, which hasn’t always been my experience. But from there, it went downhill:

GP: “How can I help you?”

Unacceptable. When booking online, patients provide details about the reason for their appointment—yet he clearly hadn’t read them. As a clinical midwife, I would never call a woman into the consulting room without first reviewing her notes. It takes less than a minute but significantly impacts both the patient’s experience and the effectiveness of the consultation.

Me: “You asked me to book a routine call to discuss my blood test results.”

(GP fumbles through notes.)

GP: “Ah yes, you had a blood test on the 11th.”

Me: “No, this is about the test I had on November 27th.”

I also need liver function tests every two months due to my psoriatic arthritis medication. Why these can’t be coordinated to avoid wasting resources, I’ll never know.

GP: “Your T4 is high. Are you on thyroxine?”

Clearly, he still hadn’t grasped my history. Why on earth would I be on thyroxine? I have an overactive thyroid.

Me: “No, I’m on Carbimazole.”

GP: “We need to reduce the dose.”

Me: “So I’ve been on the wrong dose for five weeks? Why wasn’t I informed sooner?”

GP: “I was away. Another GP should have contacted you.”

I moved on—no point in berating him further.

Me: “Have you had any luck referring me to the endocrinologist?”

When I was first diagnosed in 2021, I was referred immediately and seen within two months. This time, my local hospital wasn’t taking referrals, but my GP had assured me he’d keep trying.

GP: “I’m happy to refer you.”

So he hadn’t even tried.

Me: (Losing the will to live.) “I’ll contact PALS.”

The call ended with a new prescription, a blood test form, and me convinced that I know more about Graves’ Disease than my GP.

Of course, we can’t expect GPs to be experts in every condition. Often, the patient becomes the expert. But given that Graves’ is more common than Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, you’d hope for a better knowledge base.

Fortunately, I’m a health professional—I know what care I should be receiving. The challenge is actually getting it. But what if you don’t know?

Anyway, the rebuild continues. I turn 66 in a few weeks, and I’m determined to be fit enough to knock out those 66 burpees.