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...
Hi all,
Got my thyroid panel back on Thursday and all 4 tests were normal. Not even leaning more to one or the other sides. So I am wondering how can this be?
My whole family, and I do mean that as all the women on my moms side suffer from one form of thyroid disease. All starting in their early twenties.When I was 20 I was dxed with hyper and was given pills to take for 6 months. When I tested again it was normal so they took me off thepills. Then when I was 30 I was tested and came up hypo. put me on Synthroid and there I stayed for about 4 years. I forgot to get them at the pharmacy and went two months without them. According to my mom this was a BIG no-no. She said and nurses have confirmed since, that once you are on hypo meds you are on them for life.
Well I tested 2 months after not taking them. I told the doctor that i had forgotten to take the last two months and he lectured me about it. But the test results came in and all was normal. He said not to worry about it that apparently it had balanced itself out.
I went to a center for fibro and fatigue after that and they tested just about everything there is to test. She told me that my thyroid was extremely unbalanced along with my adrenal glands and that the two were somehow connected. She said it was like I had hypo and hyper which was rather rare but still happened. I had to take two types of meds for that. Then I had to leave the center as my insurance would not pay for it and I sure couldnt.
Later my regular doctor tested me and I told him my problems I had with my thyroid. First off he thought the whole fibro and fatigue thing was quackery and had very strong feelings about it. Got my results and he said that my thyroid was fine. No problems.
Meanwhile I have had almost ALL the symptoms of both of the types. Fatigue, lots of unwarranted sweating, anxiety, moody, losing weight and then gaining weight while doing absolutely nothing different. About 6 weeks ago I felt very pecuilar. Was freezing and then sweating off and on with no fever. I had diarrhea 3 times and it was not horrible. Yet in the span of about 18 hours I lost almost 15 pounds. I was very fatigued but also very restless. This just resulted in lots of sleep with tons of horrible nightmares. Told my doctor about it and he just said that it was perfectly normal to lose that amount of weight when one has diarrhea. Well I personally do not think that is normal. I know it is not normal for me anyway.
After this I have continued to lose weight and am doing nothing to cause it. I often eat pretty hefty stuff after midnight and yet in the morning I will weigh less than I did the day before.
I also have bad eye issues. They have dxed me with blepharaspasms and they are really bad. Sometimes my eyes would stay shut for literally hours at a time. They did the tear test on me and I was told I was not making any tears at all. Severe Dry Eye. So I have something called Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). The Opth. put silicone plugs in both of my lower tear ducts and told me to use my drops and gel as needed. Well that was more than 24 hours ago and I have been in SUCH pain!! I have to use this stuff called Blink -- it is a lubricating eye gel and much better that Ultra Systaine and even that gel for night time that begins with a V (?). I called the office and the doctor was out of town at another clinic. I cant go see him tomorrow because we are going out of town on vacation. This eye pain is so intense that it has made my stabilized high blood pressure shoot up really high again.
I am wondering many things right now. I have heard from another member here that you can have Graves Eye Disease without having the thyroid condition. Yet doesnt it seem strange that my thyroid is not involved somehow since I have such a history with it? Also, what is the deal with these plugs? Anyone else get them? They are silicone and will naturally dissolve. Could I possibly be allergic to silicone? I know they work for a little while, maybe an hour. Then it is like the gel never stayed in my eyes because there is all this residue that leaked out around my eyes, very crusty stuff. I look at my eyes and they are as dull looking as ever. now my eyelids are swollen and my blepharospasms that had begun to resolve due to using drops and gel have come back on me full force. Plus my left eye is slightly protruding and out of allignment with my right. These things are just weird and scary to me.
He thinks I should see an endocrinologist as he thinks they can do more involved tests there. I am thinking I should do that. Any suggestions? Sorry so long. I have a problem with writing too much. If you have made it through all this, well bless you!!! If you can think of anything to tell me or any advice I would greatly appreciate it!! With love, Irish
Got my thyroid panel back on Thursday and all 4 tests were normal. Not even leaning more to one or the other sides. So I am wondering how can this be?
My whole family, and I do mean that as all the women on my moms side suffer from one form of thyroid disease. All starting in their early twenties.When I was 20 I was dxed with hyper and was given pills to take for 6 months. When I tested again it was normal so they took me off thepills. Then when I was 30 I was tested and came up hypo. put me on Synthroid and there I stayed for about 4 years. I forgot to get them at the pharmacy and went two months without them. According to my mom this was a BIG no-no. She said and nurses have confirmed since, that once you are on hypo meds you are on them for life.
Well I tested 2 months after not taking them. I told the doctor that i had forgotten to take the last two months and he lectured me about it. But the test results came in and all was normal. He said not to worry about it that apparently it had balanced itself out.
I went to a center for fibro and fatigue after that and they tested just about everything there is to test. She told me that my thyroid was extremely unbalanced along with my adrenal glands and that the two were somehow connected. She said it was like I had hypo and hyper which was rather rare but still happened. I had to take two types of meds for that. Then I had to leave the center as my insurance would not pay for it and I sure couldnt.
Later my regular doctor tested me and I told him my problems I had with my thyroid. First off he thought the whole fibro and fatigue thing was quackery and had very strong feelings about it. Got my results and he said that my thyroid was fine. No problems.
Meanwhile I have had almost ALL the symptoms of both of the types. Fatigue, lots of unwarranted sweating, anxiety, moody, losing weight and then gaining weight while doing absolutely nothing different. About 6 weeks ago I felt very pecuilar. Was freezing and then sweating off and on with no fever. I had diarrhea 3 times and it was not horrible. Yet in the span of about 18 hours I lost almost 15 pounds. I was very fatigued but also very restless. This just resulted in lots of sleep with tons of horrible nightmares. Told my doctor about it and he just said that it was perfectly normal to lose that amount of weight when one has diarrhea. Well I personally do not think that is normal. I know it is not normal for me anyway.
After this I have continued to lose weight and am doing nothing to cause it. I often eat pretty hefty stuff after midnight and yet in the morning I will weigh less than I did the day before.
I also have bad eye issues. They have dxed me with blepharaspasms and they are really bad. Sometimes my eyes would stay shut for literally hours at a time. They did the tear test on me and I was told I was not making any tears at all. Severe Dry Eye. So I have something called Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). The Opth. put silicone plugs in both of my lower tear ducts and told me to use my drops and gel as needed. Well that was more than 24 hours ago and I have been in SUCH pain!! I have to use this stuff called Blink -- it is a lubricating eye gel and much better that Ultra Systaine and even that gel for night time that begins with a V (?). I called the office and the doctor was out of town at another clinic. I cant go see him tomorrow because we are going out of town on vacation. This eye pain is so intense that it has made my stabilized high blood pressure shoot up really high again.
I am wondering many things right now. I have heard from another member here that you can have Graves Eye Disease without having the thyroid condition. Yet doesnt it seem strange that my thyroid is not involved somehow since I have such a history with it? Also, what is the deal with these plugs? Anyone else get them? They are silicone and will naturally dissolve. Could I possibly be allergic to silicone? I know they work for a little while, maybe an hour. Then it is like the gel never stayed in my eyes because there is all this residue that leaked out around my eyes, very crusty stuff. I look at my eyes and they are as dull looking as ever. now my eyelids are swollen and my blepharospasms that had begun to resolve due to using drops and gel have come back on me full force. Plus my left eye is slightly protruding and out of allignment with my right. These things are just weird and scary to me.
He thinks I should see an endocrinologist as he thinks they can do more involved tests there. I am thinking I should do that. Any suggestions? Sorry so long. I have a problem with writing too much. If you have made it through all this, well bless you!!! If you can think of anything to tell me or any advice I would greatly appreciate it!! With love, Irish
It would be helpful if you posted your last few thyroid lab results so we can see if it is as balanced as you say it is. Post also the lab ranges.
{{{hugs}}}