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 have graves disease with graves opthomopathy issues. Vision is very poor. Like have 5 or 6 sheets of wax paper on them. I have crossed eyes, lots of eye pain, puffiness of the orbits. I am taking steroids for the swelling and it has helped that some. No help with the vision tho. I have seen the eye dr 2 times now and getting no information
I have both GD and TED as well. It has been about 3 years and I am finally starting to see some improvement with my eyes. My Graves was NOTHING compared to the TED! So we can all understand how you are feeling.
My labs have been in the normal range for over 2 years BUT they are now in the optimal range. Once my labs reacched optimal, my eyes started getting better!
Now I have figured out most of my food and environmental triggers. So I would encourage you to journal and look for patterns. My most potent triggers are: soy, artifical sweeteners, gluten, hair products and perfumes. Now if I have a glass of wine - my eyes react within 15 mins. If someone is smoking anywhere near me - I am toast!
So I eat organic as much as I can. I avoid processed foods and most grains. I eat mostly vegetables, low glycemic fruit and animal based proteins. I thought I was an excellent eater before GD, but my body has forced me to make some seriousl changes to my lifestyle and habits.
Here are a few things that helped me:
1. Take Fish Oil (6/day) and Black Current Seed Oil (3/day) - I started off at 3 fish oils a day and worked my way up.
2. Use Refresh PM in each eye every evening (keeps the eye lubricated).
3. Use drop of Johnson's baby shampoo to wash my eyelids each morning in the shower (I have blephoritis and the waxiness you are experiencing could be that as well).
4. Put cold compresses on my eyes when I just can't stand it anymore (happens much less frequently now than 1 year ago).
Now I am not recommending that you do exactly what I did but talk to you Dr. I encourage you to read all of the old posts on elainemoore.com There is invaluable information on there!
Good luck!!! Let me know how else we can help.
Kim
When I first was diagnosed I did tons of research. With the help of the folks here and Elaine Moore I found a supplement program that quickly brought me to the cold stage with my eyes by healing my immune system. Here is what I took.
The most important part is keeping your levels on the upper third of your ranges...ignoring the TSH
2400 mg Omega 3
1200 mg Evening Primrose
200mcg Selenium...very very important
Vit B Complex 50
Cal/Mag with Vit D
natural Diuretic...helps reduce water build up around the eyes.
When I was at my worse...I slept with my head elevated...almost upright...I used a humidifier in my bedroom to keep my eyes moist and also used eye gel.
I too had to use prisms...the stick on kind...as my eyes changed so did the prisms...I had mine changed 3 times. When it was all over I had to have surgery to correct my double vision...it was a quick and easy surgery that restored my sight back to normal...you cant tell I went through what I did.
I know how hard it is to deal with TED...for me it was horrible...but do keep in mind...its a self limiting disease...it eventually burns itself out...there is a beginning a middle and an end...the secret to getting to the end (cold stage) is by keeping your levels up and giving your immune system the nutrients it needs to heal itself...Big Hugs...Kathy
I eat a lot of vegies, but still cannot loose weight. I have no thyroid.