Graves' Disease Support Group
Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...
I was just diagnosed with Graves today and I'm taking it really hard. I don't understand why it happened. I'm generally a very healthy person and take good care of myself. I don't smoke, drink very little, no fast food, regular exercise. What did I do wrong?? I need help : (
I agree with Brans. It's nothing you did wrong. Graves' is an autoimmune disease, and one we can work with.
Think about someone with Arthritis.. do we blame them for getting it ?
You off to a great start. finding out what all this is about right off the bat. Well done !
Graves' is different that other illnesses w may have had in the past. It takes time and patience to get better. Plus when we have thyroid hormone levels out of whack, it causes both mental and physical symptoms. But the good news is we can treat it, get our thyroid levels back to normal and feel good. Then over time, those of us that use anti-thyroid drugs can achieve remission. No pills !
The place to start is getting your levels back to normal. Using the anti-thyroid drugs ( ATDs) gives the fastest route, and time to educate yourself.
Be sure the doctor gives you a copy of all your lab test results. Then you can start to understand what is happening. we'll hep you learn.
A lot of us experienced a stressful event that brought on the symptoms of Graves. Although it is an autoimmune disease...stress seems to trigger it. For me I was going through divorce and menopause. For some of our younger members...childbirth brought it on.
If treated properly you can manage this disease and live a happy and healthy life...it just takes time. You've gotten some great advise here...the only thing I can add is...slow and steady wins the Graves race...Big Hugs...Kathy
All will be fine. You are healthy!!!
I was pretty pissed off my self when I found out my thyroid was not functioning well. I think most people here can relate. That is why you come to a support group; to find out you are not alone and to find out how you can cope with it. So: Welcome! I was diagnosed with GD a few months ago. I learned so much from the people here and they have helped me to find the right answers. Joining this board was the best thing I did for my self. I feel very good at the moment and still working on finding the "golden numbers" but if it wouldn't have been for this board, I would have been on a loose rollercoaster ride.
The motto here: slow and steady does it!
Keep reading and researching and hopefully you will be able soon to say that you are feeling better and that this disease also brought you something positive.
Nathalie
It is hard to have the autoimmune diseases. I take one day at a time and manage all my diseases with meds as well as with supplements and watching diet.
My holistic doctor does not have me get the flu shot. Matter of fact, he does not advise it at all because of knowing how sensitive I am and how it will stimulate my thyroid disease. He has me go about doing things naturally with vits/supplements and watching diet. He does offer flu shots in his office.
I've learned to try to be positive the whole time I've had the autoimmune diseases. I enjoy helping out at the health boards because if I am able to show what's been happening with me, those in need, can go and help themselves by being proactive and take the steps to be as balanced as possible with their lives.
{{{hugs}}} :-)
Hi Yvonne,
Your 10 mg of MMI twice a day is a nice average dose, and 6 weeks is a nice average time for the next labs. Sooo if your first lab results are "average", then your in good shape.
How this works is the medication blocks iodine in the gut and in the thyroid gland, from being made into thyroid hormone. The existing thyroid hormone in your body right now, has to be used up over time. There is no way to remove that excess hormone, other that time.This takes about 6 to 8 weeks. The dose is then lowered, in order o only prevent new excess hormone from being produced, but letting enough iodine through to make just enough hormone for your needs.
Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition where we have TSI antibodies falsely telling the thyroid gland to produce hormone. This is lacking a control mechanism to start, stop, slow, speed up, depending on the body's needs at the moment, so we end up with excess hormone.Hyperthyroid.
A normal body has TSH sent from the pituitary gland when, and only when thyroid hormone is needed. Instead those TSI antibodies try to be in control.
Our medication dose two things. It blocks the iodine in our diet and prevent excess hormone, and they also mildly suppress the immune system, slowly and gradually lowering our rouge antibodies..eventually resulting in remission of our Graves' or sometimes a person needs to stay on a really tiny dose to keep things in check.
Our thyroid gland is only the most obvious victim here. These darn antibodies affect our skin, bones, brain, eyes ,..the list goes on. Then just to prove how sneaky these antibodies can be, they have several forms. They may be stimulating, blocking or binding. Don't sweat the small stuff now, this will all make sense as time goes along . Right now it's your stimulating antibodies that are working in place of TSH, and causing you to be hyper. Don't let my need to be accurate confuse things. :)
Your first goal is to gently come down to normal thyroid levels for you, then the lab results will show it's time to lower the dose, and eventually reach a maintenance dose. Stay there while you heal, feeling good during all that time, and eventually needing less and less MMI,
Where you will see patients complaining is when their FT4 and FT3 levels are not optimized for their personal needs. This i where YOUR portion of learning to understand those lab reports and have good input to help your doctor help you, find that perfect place within the reference range, that fits you just perfectly. We are all just a bit different in what FT4 and FT3 feels perfect. The doctor can only really guess what it feels like inside your body, so being a partner in this process will be a great advantage for you.
First order of business is getting a paper copy of your lab results. We can help you start to learn what all those numbers and letters mean. The lab results are yours by law, so don't fear requesting them. You are asking for _lab results_, not medical records.
The front desk should be able to assist you now, and in the future, each time your at an appointment and the doctor is filling out a lab request, remind him/ her that you would like a copy mailed to you. A good doctor will be happy and pleased that you are one that is wanting to be involved and proactive. Each office has a slightly different protocol for this , and some will need you to sign a release form the first time. I always ha trouble the first time through a new office, since they differ, but once I figured their system out, those lab copies appeared in my mail box promptly.
You will want to start a file and keep all this together, for future reference. One thing I did, was on the day of the blood draw, I wrote down how I was feeling. I attached this to the lab report when I got it.
Then I learned to be more specific on my list of symptoms ...writing " I feel like doggy do-do" , turned out to not be so helpful later. LOL
Using these notes and past lab reports is how I found MY optimum levels. Interestingly enough, much later, when I was needing help from a doctor, I was able to lay out in chronological order 4 years of labs, my red circles and explain clearly what I was experiencing and what I needed.
He pretty much took a step back.. studied it all closely and I got what I needed that day. The poor guy didn't have a leg to stand on, trying to tell me tales.. "Oh, your in the normal range.. nothing I can do to help". Ha ! Got him. :)
You probably will never need to be in a spot like that, but being prepared never hurt anyone.
So, back to your current situation. Take care of yourself and admit that now is not the right time to take on extra responsibilities or big projects ( well, unless they re really FUN ). Right now your going through a tough time, so be extra kind to yourself. It's not only okay.. it's your job right now.
Depending on what your thyroid levels were at diagnosis, the 6 weeks may be perfect. Or..if the dose is too big, you will feel a big change as your thyroid levels dip too low. Tired, forgetful, things lie that are he most common. I this happens, call and request labs sooner. Better to catch it before you sink too low.
Or.. you may have very high levels and at six weeks you may not be quite low enough to take the first reduction in MMI. If that happens, don't worry. The amount you are taking WILL work fine. It's a really bad idea to accept a dose increase at that 6 week mark, because the dose your taking may take 8 weeks. Not a big deal.
Your off to such a great start. Not a scarey dose, and your already planning on educating yourself. I firmly believe those of us that take personal responsibility fair better in the long run.
Well done so far ! :)
I suspect it is a cellphone number you are giving out but you do not want to know what people can found out about you. This from a vicitm of identy theft and a husband in internet security.
I would hope you can take that message out.
Nathalie