[clairekrz]

#1059735

Feeling frustrated with not being able to have any treatment according to my endocrinologist because my Thyroid function is “fine”, but have high TSI numbers (205) indicating Graves Disease along with swollen optical muscles and double vision which gets worse every day.

Is there anyone else who has encountered this, and can let me know how long it took their eyes to “stabilize”? Any suggestions/ideas of any kind of treatment?

I also received a Fresnel lens to put on my glasses which helps, but it also causes the vision to be blurry out of that eye because it is basically a cling-on piece of plastic with air bubbles happening between the lens and the plastic. Nothing I can really do about it. Repositioning only made it worse.

[Kimberly]

#1177167

Hello – Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s own immune system starts attacking healthy tissue. The primary targets are the thyroid (which can cause hyperthyroidism), the muscle/fat behind the eyes, and more rarely, the skin. However, since there is not currently a cure for autoimmunity, the treatment options for Graves’ all focus on correcting hyperthyroidism, which you currently don’t need.

You mentioned an endo, but are you also seeing an ophthalmologist? Once your eye issues stabilize, there are surgical options that can help get rid of the double vision. In the meantime, for severe cases, some docs will recommend steroid therapy, radiotherapy, or botox injections. The GDATF’s YouTube channel has quite a few videos on thyroid eye disease that will hopefully be of interest:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://www.youtube.com/user/gravesandthyroid

Take care – please check back to let us know how you are doing!

[clairekrz]

#1177168

I should have mentioned that this is something that started the end of January. It began with double vision for the first 5 minutes when I first woke up and now has progressed to it being pretty much all day.

I saw an ophthalmologist first…I have been seeing her every 2 weeks so she can chart my eye changes, etc. Then after an MRI I went on to the endocrinologist who did a series of blood work.

I am also possibly going to try and see another ophthalmologist who specializes in Graves.

In your opinion, who do you feel has been better for you with all of this…the endocrinologist or the ophthalmologist? I feel like my ophthalmologist has been better…at least with whole bedside manner thing. I don’t need a warm and fuzzy doctor, but I would also like one who at least calls me with results and not email like my endocrinologist did.

I just wish I knew when it would stabilize. I am not good at waiting, I guess. Thanks for the link!

[Kimberly]

#1177169

Hello – Since your thyroid function appears to be normal, the ophthalmologist will be your “go to” person during this process. However, definitely keep tabs on how you feel and get back into the endo if you start to feel hypER symptoms coming on.

Every patient is different, but common symptoms of hyperthyroidism to watch out for include rapid heart rate, hand tremors, muscle weakness, insomnia, unexplained weight loss, excessive sweating, and frequent bowel movements.

For those who have thyroid *and* eye issues, they end up seeing two separate docs for the two issues. (And an unlucky few also end up seeing a dermatologist for pretibial myxedema – a rash that appears on the front of the shin).

Take care!

[Naisly]

#1177170

Have you had your zinc checked? Low Zinc is known to effect eyes. I would also suggest getting copper and iron checked as well since all need balance for each to stay in range.

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