I found that putting makeup on only irritated my eyes more. Sunglasses and look like a star! It will take time to go back and it's hard not to look in the mirror. Maybe that's another reason why I stopped putting on makeup :-(
Hang in there!

I feel your pain and u r not alone at alll!! I am so sorry to hear that ur slef esteem has been affected. I gained over 30 pounds, my eyes are always irritated and I can not build muscle as well as before. What works for me is this - doing what ever I can to look better & feel better with out being obsesive about it. I excersise at least 5x a day & I am always researching new food and vitamins that will help me. I take iron, vitamin D, and about 9 others (e,c,flaxseed, etc) I drink lots of water. try to stay away from alcohol,never go in the sun, I have hair extensions cuz so much hair fell out. I drink green & ginger tea, wheat grass, acai, and mangosteen juice a lot. It is for the good of my body and it does make me feel better & look better. I surrond myself with positive people and always have an excersise partner. Life is too short & it can always be worse. I personally do not ever want to take meds for anxiety or depression so I do what I can naturally. If you want to ask anything else just send me a note. We can all help one another. You are not alone & we will all help eachother. Love yourself & be your own best friend cuz u cant expect anyone else too. Ps - you are beautiful so at least you have that to help you!!

Thanks for the support. I know as time passes I will be able to deal with it more. Its just so sudden and it does not help that my husband is totally turned off and as supportive as a dishrag! I know its just as hard on him so Im just giving him his space until he can grasp it. Thank God for all of you!

I understand your frustration with appearance changes...I am too!

I look back at old photos of me..and I just don't look the same. Nothing I can really do but accept myself for the way I am.

You are beautiful, so don't let Graves Disease get you down!!

Thanks baybeedawl for the compliment. I am actually having a good day today. The swelling isnt so bad today and with all of the support I am getting here it really does help! Thanks :)

I understand how you feel. I had edema of my left eyelid last January, and was not diagnosed with Graves until Sept. 07. I would see people in the grocery store, and they wouldn't even say hello. It didn't occur to me that I looked so different. My left eye had started to bulge, and then the right eye. My thinning hair was covering the bathroom floor, and the shower drain. It didn't help that I wanted to start treatments and needed to have all the blood tests and sonagrams. Once I started using predazone drops in my eyes, taking Methimazole, and using women's Rogaine, I started to see changes. My eye's are almost back to normal now, and my hair has stopped falling out. I no longer have the pressure and pain in my eyes. I'm hopeful that I will go into remission!

I understand how you feel. Try to focus on the positive. You have a great smile, and nice thick hair.:)
Hopefully your treatments will start to work, and you too will have positive results. I wish you well. :)

I can relate, I didn't know my eyes looked that bad until my brother so lovingly pointed them out to me. I had just been diagnosed so this sent me into months of self esteem issues. I just thought I was the only one who could see the differnce. After my RAI my eyes stopped bulging but left me with DARK circles. Everytime I look in the mirror I feel more tired.
My husband is as supportive as yours. I let it slide until he told me all my symptoms were in my head!! I almost killed him!! Anyone own a shovel?

Well it is certainly not all in your head! Men! My husband told me not to look at him when I am talking because my "stare" freaks him out! I said sorry to inconvienence you..it must really suck to have to look at me! I have begun to question our once perfect marriage of 18 yrs. If I can't count on him now what is going to happen when I am in my golden years? Will he be support if I develop heart disease or some other condition? I want somebody to grow old with...for better or for worse! Hang in there, I know its not in your head so anytime you need to vent I am here to listen.

I understand what you feel like my hubby is the same way!!My mom says he doesnt get it because there isnt a huge gaping wound he can see. He wouldnt even come with me to my first endo app. 2 hours away.I also have issues with my eyes but not physically just cosmetically. Dark circles,wrinkles and now i found a big white spot on my upper eyelid. Its really a big blow to the ego to go from beautiful to an old looking lady in a matter of months!!!!

I have had a hard time with the eye changes. The one thing I was always complimented on was my eyes...not anymore. Now I get comments on my moon face, swollen neck and swollen eyes. Most people that know me, can't believe how my looks have changed. I try to think that when this is all over with and it will be. I will get reconstructive surgery on my eyes, loss the 36.3 pounds I have gained. I try not to let it get me down, this is hard enough without worrying about how I look. I can relate to the dishrag husband. You'd think 28 years of marriage and I have stuck out a lot of for "worse" he thinks I should "man up". So I hide a lot from him. We will get better and we will go back to normal. It just will take a bit of time.

Why should we have to hide the way we feel? Some compassion would be nice!! Not only do i hide the way im feeling from him but from all my family. My mother in law heard i was having a bad day and rushed right over. Of course i lied to her because i dont want people feeling sorry for me. I want understanding!! I try to keep everthing a secret especially from her, she lost her hubby 2 months ago. Which of couse added to the stress related issues.I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL AGAIN.

I feel your pain. I rarely look in the mirror. I had decompression eye surgery 3 yr.s ago and my eyes are starting to look normal. I still see kind of cockeyed so I can't put make up on straight anyway.My husband will help me as mush as he can.except for our kids our amilys think I just let myself go. Support is our lifeline to keeping sane.I'm here for you as are the great people here on DS.

To me this is by far the worst part of this disease, it has been years since I've recognized my self in the mirror I feel like I became someone else. I hate even getting haircuts because I can't see the top of me head and I have to look at myself in that huge mirror. while plastic surgery has gotten rid of the luggage under my eyes now that I'm crossed eyed my wife of 19 years says it all when she won't look at me anymore. But I don't blame her.

Hi cc,
I looked at your before and after, and see two beautiful photos. You are still gorgeous with Graves disease! I feel uncomfortable with my changes, too, though, so I understand.
IMy eyes were always my best feature, and everyone would comment on how perfect they were, and I would get complimented on them every single day.
Right now, they're buggy and puffy and people ask me if I'm angry all the time. (I am actually angry all the time...) Nobody tells me they're pretty anymore. I have not had one compliment on my eyes in about a year and a half now.
My hair has fallen out to about 50% of normal, too. So, lately I am feeling fat, sweaty, buggy and bald. Not a good combo for a girl. I am thankful for that my eyes work. I'm thankful that I don't have a huge goiter. I'm glad that my weight gain has stopped and stablized. I'm trying to fix my hair trouble, but it's slow going.
You are beautiful, but we all feel uncomfortable when we change, so I understand. You could stare at me all you want. I think you're a doll!