[lilsispatrick]

#1019802

Hi I’m new to the group and I’am glad I found you! I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in November 2007. Prior to this I had my first mamogram and found out I had a large mass that needed attention. I under went surgery for the mass which turned out to be benign…thank goodness and the following month I had surgery to remove the right side of the thyroid. It had been about a year since the surgeries and about two months ago I noticed a change in my eye sight (I do wear glasses) and thought maybe I needed to update my glasses. After about another week I noticed severe swelling under my eyes, almost like huge water blisters, so I made an appointment with my regular physician who told me it looked like the thyroid again. She referred me back to the endo who in turn sent me to an opthomologist. He said it looks like Grave’s Disease. I hadn’t been on any medication since the surgery in 2007 and now because of the racing heart symptoms again they started me on propranolol 3 x a day. I have an appointment on February 2 with the Opthomologist to do a full vision screening so until then I guess I just wait? My levels were checked and they were within normal range and I also had an MRI which was suppose to be an Orbital scan and the technician did a brain scan…oops It came back fine! I was put on steroids which didn’t help either. I asked my endo why he didn’t know about the Grave’s Disease prior to my thyroidectomy and he said had they had more time to do a little more testing they would have found out, but because the levels were so high they had to act fast. I don’t know where I go from here? Thank you for letting me share my story.

[npatterson]

#1074167

Dear lissispatrick,

I appears that you are one of those who had the eye portion of Graves’ arrive at a different time that the thyroid portion. Although they often arrive at the same time, it is not at all unusual for them to occur at different times. Either one can happen first, and I have heard from people who have a twenty-year separation in their symptoms.

That’s one reason that we try to remind you that once you have Graves’, even though it has been treated, you still have Graves’.

They are probably talking to you about steroids or radiation at this point. I can send you some information on the radiation treatment. "nancyngdf@bellsouth.com"

Sorry this sort of got dropped off the map, and it took so long to answer it.

[Author]

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