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...

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Endocrine System
/ Graves' Disease Support Group

hi everyone

deleted_user
deleted_user
hey! i'm really enjoying reading y'alls stories. I am scheduled to have RAI next tues and have been a little freaked out by alot of what i've read elsewhere...i have all the symptoms, pulse of 160 which i'm taking beta blockers for and are helping amazingly, eye involvement, tremors, frequent bathroom trips ugghh, and the list goes on...doc said i needed to do RAI as soon as possible but i'm having a huge problem with stopping smoking...he said last friday to quit TODAY and its just not going so well...of course with that comes the guilt and other yucky feelings...i'm really glad i found this group...you all seem very well informed and honest about your experience...thanks a bunch!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi. Why are you having RAI so quickly? Did they give you any options for ATD therapy first??
deleted_user
deleted_user
one is that i don't have insurance and so i let it go for some time before i saw a doctor..he gave me the options of meds but with the risks with liver damage being that i already have some from being a presciption drug addict (clean since 12/05/05)...it seemed that the RAI would be the safest and most effective way to go...they side effects i am having are pretty severe at this point adn to be honest i just want some relief..i'm a med transcriptionist and my fingers just aren't working so much either so work has been pretty slow...i assume by ATD you mean the pills?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sorry to hear you have to deal with Graves. But do know you can recover and feel better after RAI.
I was at the point where I had very little muscle mass left in my body and my heart was in danger so I did the RAI as soon as I could. I'm Glad I Did. My gut told me to trust my endo and 6 years later it was right.
Hugs,
Bel
deleted_user
deleted_user
As for the smoking: Your body is under deadly attack! Why would you give the enemy more ammo?
You need to gather all your resolve and Help Yourself! Stop Smoking!
deleted_user
deleted_user
thanks bel! i went to a yahoo site and nobody had one good thing to say and i just needed to hear ONE person say something positive...again thanks...my heart is involved too...pulmonary hypertension and MR and TR regurgitation...one of the reasons also i don't want to wait with teh meds...this site is really awesome and so are you girls...and the smoking thing...i'm an addict and if i can quit drugs then by gosh i can quit smoking...i'm gonna work on some willingness and strength with prayer...thanks again
love
gretch
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hey honey I'll be praying with you!
Perhaps, every time you want to smoke try singing an inspirational song or mantra or your children's names.
Hugs,
Bel
Screw the Yahoo site - it scared me!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I just wanted to chime in. My endo would not let me do the RAI when I had the eye thing going. He said sometimes it makes it worse. He suggested the meds until my eyes were back to normal and then the RAI. The meds took about 6 weeks to get my eyes back to normal but then I opted to stay on meds. I'm not saying not to do the RAI just check with your endo to make sure he does not think your eyes will get any worse.
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