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Thyroid Support Meetings:
I have recieved request of what exactly do I do at my Thyroid Coffee Breaks. To answer your questions:
Is this a Support meeting?
Yes and no. I don't always have speakers at the Coffee Breaks. I am usually the only one talking. Then I get everyone else to open up and talk to each other. We may cry a litle but befor we are done we are smiling. Some times we even are laughing real hard. And That feels good.
Is this a meeting where we get bored hearing the same stuff over and over?
No . You will not be bored. You may hear stuff you heard about before ..but just not in the same way.
How are your Coffee Breaks different?
They are different because I make them different. I want you to enjoy yourself, while you get information and learn a few things. I want you to have "AHA' moments. I want you to feel that you are not alone and have some where to turn when nobody seems to be listening to you. If you bring somebody with you that just does not understand what you are going through ....well they will before you leave. I have seen grown men cry and hug a wife and say they are sorry for not understanding.
If you are not a Doctor...What makes you think you can make me feel better?
No I am not a Doctor. And I do not want to be. But I am a CNA,lol. I talk about my own learning experience with Graves' Disease and TED. I tell you about things that have made me feel better or make my life easier. Some things I learn from you people. Some from raising 5 Children and some from learning from my grandmothers. A lot of what I have learned came from being in the JayCees when I was younger....a lot younger.
What exactly to you do at your Coffee Breaks? I talk then you all talk we share our experience with Thyroid Disease. Then after serious talk we talk about positive things in our life. I have projects for that. I give out hand outs of information about the disease to websites and other support groups on the internet and else where. I hand out pages to color and Yes crayons. Depending on the Meeting. I try to get you pumped up to get your life back. We may have an uncureable Disease (depends on who you talk to) and our life will never be the same or what we thought it would be. That does not mean we can not enjoy this new life. It does not mean our life is over. Although it does feel like that at times. We share information also. I encourage you to bring any information you have about Thyroid disease you want to share. I encourage you to remember this is a "Thyroid Coffee Break". It is our Coffee Break from Thyroid Disease and we can relax and enjoy it.
Do you just hold your own Coffee Breaks?
I have my own, but it is not often I do where I live. I live in a small town now. I do travel to other cities in Colorado and New Mexico for Coffee Breaks. I travel with in 200 miles of my home to Coffee Breaks and meetings at other Organizations I am invited to speak at.
Do you charge to travel and speak at meetings?
I do not charge. But when it is more then 200 miles and I have to stay over night, the "Host" have been known to pay my room and travel expences. I went to Sante Fe New Mexico a while back. A Garden Club asked me to come and speak about "Thyroid Eye Disease". The meeting was at 7:00pm. My husband and I drove out to the meeting but it was about 9:30 or 10:00pm before we were done. The Garden club had made reservations for us at a motel for the night. They also gave me a Check for $100.00 to pay for my gas and what ever. I left them with a Support meeting kit. I always carry an extra one.
Would you travel to another state?
Yes if you give me enough notice, pay my gas and room. If I was rich I would not even ask for that. But, I am not rich. Good news is you get two speakers. My husband is always with me as I do not, will can not travel alone. If you want a speaker to talk about what it is like for a person living with a partner with Thyroid Disease, he is available also. We work as a team. But, He is not always needed ...well he is by me.
These are the questions I get asked the most. So I have put them here in case this is a question you have. If you do not see your question here..just email me and I will anser it and you may just see it here.
[email protected] or [email protected]
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This page will give you ideas for what to do for a Coffee Break
I get so many emails of what people do I decided to give it it's own page. Email what you did. I can't put them all up because some are much the same. But I do put up ones I think will interest you all.
My Mother -in law has a thyroid illness. I always thought she was a fat crabby person. Your site was recommended. After I opened my eyes I cried. Wed. I took a bottle of apple cider to my mother -in laws. I told her I wanted to tell her I was sorry I did not understand and to toast our new beginning. We cried and hugged. And I saw a smile I did not know she had. Thank you. ************************************* You made me Mad, then sorry ,then glad. Why? I did not appreciate reading that some husbands are not understanding and well seeming selfish. I came to realize maybe there was a little of me there. I am now glad to find a place to understand my life with my wife. She don't go shopping any more. Her favorite pass time. So I swallowed my pride and and went out and bought her a sexy night gown. We sat by the fire and drank wine . Had not done that in ages. ************************* I use to be ashamed of my Thyroid Disease, you made me see I was wrong. I now tell everyone I know. My son who was not understanding took me for coffee Wed. I will meet him for coffee once a month now. I am so greatful. ************* |
Took your advice and went down and had a Coffee Break in the Hospital lunch room. I paid for the drink for the person behind me in line. We sat and had a nice talk and now I have a new friend. *************************** I could not find Cinnamon mint tea in the store for our GDCB. Thank you for the simple explanation. I really enjoyed it and will drink it all the time. ******************** My husband and daughter enjoyed a walk around the block with our swim goggles. We got funny looks and laughed so hard at the looks on peoples faces. Since getting TEd this is the first nice walk and a good laugh we have had in ages. ************************* Thank you for the color book pages for my children. We colored all afternoon and talked openly about my Thyroid Disease and what was happening. This made it so much easier to explain to them. ******************* Me and the cat had Cookies and milk ************** 6 of us had a Mary Kay party. So nice to get made up again. **************** A few of us girl's got together and had an old fashion tea w/ small cakes ************************* Took lunch to a friend who also has Graves'. She is sicker then me. Nice Coffee Break for the two of us. ************* Took you advice...stayed in bed and watched cartoons with my little boy. Was he happy! *************** I did not even bother to clean house or make dinner. I ordered take out. ******** I am in collage and have Graves' Disease. I told my friends about the GD CB. They took me to Starbucks and they paid,lol When is the next one??? **************** 4 of us went out for coffee and told the waitress what we were doing as we all real dressed up. The management sent over pie for us and said "No Charge ladies, it's on the house." ************** My family put out flyers to the neighbors to take a Coffee Break in support of Thyroid Disease. Found out 2 neighbors have a thyroid disease. |