After six months of trial and error my endocrinologist agreed that we needed to try something new. She proposed radioactive iodine treatment but I ruled that out. While we have general data on the success of that treatment (90%) we also know it does not work for some people and there are complications, especially for the eyes. I have three cousins who tried radioactive iodine treatment and ultimately ended up with surgery. I also learned from my mom that hyperthyroidism…
Ugh! One of the challenges I have with Grave’s disease is with the symptoms of the disease. The swelling in my neck and eyes caused by inflammation of the tissue. This is caused by antibodies attacking the tissues. The level of antibodies rises and falls causing the symptoms to wax and wane. Today has been a difficult day. My neck is swollen. It’s difficult to swallow or talk. The tissues of my eyes are so inflamed that the pressure is…
How are you feeling? The socially exceptable response is “Ok”. Even when I’m not “Ok”. Because with two chorionic progressive autoimmune diseases, I am by definition, always sick. Unless of course ... no one really cares about the answer. Or I redefine normal to the state of being one is in when living with two chronic progressive diseases. So maybe today, I’m just “Ok”. I’m having another wonderful day with the effects of Graves Disease. This morning, I woke up…
Graves' Disease - A Man's Perspective | GDATF I was a Naval reservist and had to go in for a routine physical. The ship’s corpsman noticed my resting heart beat was one hundred and ten beats per minute. He sent me over to the Naval hospital for an EKG and to be evaluated by a doctor. A corpsman took my EKG and asked me if I was feeling OK. I said sure, no problems! I was told to rest ten…
I think photo sums up how I’ve felt recently. Exhausted, beaten down, feeling despair, depressive, highly emotional, and generally not well physically and emotionally. #Graves #Autoimmunity #Hperthyroidism…
