[Anonymous January 13, 1998 at 2:57 am Post count: 93172]

#1052209

I haven’t been on the board in quite a while…one of those people
who started getting better and then stopped writing for a while. Sorry. But now I have a problem/question.
Six months ago my bulging wyes were bad enough for a doctor to highly recommend surgery for my lids. I refused it. Very soon afterward they eyes began to get much better. In fact, they receded to the point where, if they weren’t my eyes, at least they looked human again! I was elated..felt like I could go out in public again. I was happier, more at ease, and got along a lot better with my husband. Life was good. But today I had my photo taken for my license and was appalled to see that one eye is now much much worse than the other. It looks even worse than before because there is such a difference in the two eyes, it seems even more noticable. I felt like I was punched in the gut and went back to my ar bawling. I just can’t take this again. They were better for only a few month s, but those were the happiest few months I’ve had in years. I feel like I just wnt to die! Any feedback/info would be most welcome
Thanks

[Anonymous January 13, 1998 at 5:56 am Post count: 93172]

#1153484

Hi, Jane:

If I based “going out in public” on the way I look in any of my many drivers’ license photos, I would have become a hermit years ago. Because we cannot smile in those photos (at least not where I live), they are lifeless. And the lighting they use is NOT designed to be complimentary, and tends to accentuate all the wrinkles and glitches that are a part of our faces. I’ve seen very, very few DL photos that look like the person I know — whether it’s me, a friend or a loved one. My handsome son looks like a thug in his. You probably don’t have a photo from the time when your eyes really looked bad to you, to compare it with, either.

I do understand how you feel — I have one eye more protuberant than the other, too. Mine is not due to lid lag, though, so there’s not much I can do about it. Except to remember that who and what I am is not defined by the way my eyes APPEAR, but more by the character that may shine from them. But if your eye appearance is due to lid lag, Jane, then there IS something you can do about it since it bothers you so much. You might want to reconsider your doctor’s advice about the lid surgery. It is my understanding that it is an out-patient surgery, and doesn’t involve much in the way of anesthesia or recovery time. Lid lag does sometimes go away once our hormone levels get normal again. It could just be that one of your eyelids responded better than the other.

And I think it is GREAT that you are feeling so much better! That is super news.

Wishing you good luck.

Bobbi

[Anonymous January 13, 1998 at 10:57 am Post count: 93172]

#1153485

Jane,
Sounds like you need to see a qualified Opthomologist who specializes
in treating eyes affected by Graves Disease. All of this sounds remotely
like Jake in the beginning. Took a doc diagnosing graves to tell us he had
the eye problem. We highly recommend a baseline eye exam to all who
develope graves disease. Not all people have or ever develope eye
problems related to graves, but a baseline will help to detect at this
time if there is a developing problem. Please seek one out. If it is
eye involvement you will want to catch it early! Jake has had 12 eye surgeries
and is about to have 2 more in march-may time frame. He is one of the more
unfortunate cases who were not caught early-on.
Please feel free to e-mail either jake or myself. We would be happy to chat with youor
your husband.

IN WARRIOR SPIRIT,
JAN

jake@support-group.com
ladybug@support-group.com GOOD LUCK!

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