Thanks Carol....you are truly dedicated...thanks for being here!

Howdy!

While it's always nice to meet new people, the reason for meeting new people on here isn't necessarily that nice - it means there is yet another member in the "Graves' club".

I know it is possible to live well and have Graves' disease because it has happened to me.

Whether a person chooses meds, RAI or surgery, THE MOST important thing is to partner with a doctor that knows how to medicate.

There are way too many doctors out there that rely on TSH for dosing decisions. This is dead wrong.

Here's the reason why:

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder - our immune system begins to produce certain antibodies that attack the thyroid, causing hyperthyroidism. The antibodies can also attack the eyes (causing Thyroid Eye Disease which runs its own separate course) and also the skin on the front of the shins.

TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) is the Graves' antibody that acts in lieu of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone. The pituitary gland recognizes this stimulation and thus produces less TSH.

Therefore, whenever Graves' antibodies are present, TSH will (and should) remain suppressed.....this continues for months, even years.

Most of us have had doctors that got nuts about the TSH issue. Many of us have been overmedicated on anti-thyroid drugs (Tapazole/Methimazole, PTU) and have suffered with significant hyPO symptoms as a result.

Those of us who have had RAI or surgery often suffer a similar fate....when a patient chooses RAI or surgery, the thyroid is no longer there to produce thyroid hormone....patients often suffer with hyPO symptoms because the doctors do not prescribe enough replacement hormone.

Here is a link to a site that provides links to medical journals that address the whole TSH issue.....why TSH is suppressed in the presence of Graves' antibodies.....how suppressed TSH does NOT cause bone loss.....how suppressed TSH does NOT cause cardiac issues.

http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/t...

Many doctors that treat Graves' do not provide enough information for the patient to make an adequate treatment decision. Those same doctors are often the ones that do not know how to medicate properly.

So, IMHO, the very first thing anyone newly diagnosed needs to do is find a doctor that medicates properly.

We've all been down this road and can help a new patient read lab reports and make dosing decisions while working with their doctor.

The patient will then discover whether or not the doctor can be trusted to medicate properly no matter what your ultimate treatment choice may be.

If you want to feel well while having Graves' disease, this is a MUST.

I thought I would post this to help all the newcomers since this topic comes up very often.

Please know that we are here to help you on your journey.

All the best,

Carol