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  • Anonymous
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    Post count: 93172

    To answer one of your questions, I did not have any family history
    of thyroid disease when I was diagnosed. I’ve nagged everyone
    in my family for so long that I think they have all had at least
    one TSH test and all came back normal. And, on your doctor question,
    I did RAI on March 1, 1994. The last appointment I had with my
    endo (or any endo for that matter) was August 16, 1994. I have
    been seeing my primary care physician (an internist) since with
    no problems. Before I settled for this arrangement, I made sure
    that my PCP and I understood each other. I wanted a doc who would
    consider more than just my lab values and understand that I know
    a whole lot about GD. My first PCP moved to another state, but
    I’ve been with my current PCP for 3 or 4 years. I have my blood
    tested about every 6 months and he has never refused a test when
    I have called to request one a little earlier. It is my opinion that
    you should go with a doc that works with you whether that happens to
    be a specialist or not. If you have a mutual trust and a team
    attitude, it can only be all around good.

    Good luck,
    Sheila H.

    Anonymous
    Participant
    Post count: 93172

    I am so happy that I have found this page. I live in ND where there are no support groups for patients of Graves Disease. I was diagnosed with GD October 1999 and had RAI in Feb 2000 after battling with PTU for three months. Currently I am pleased to say I am feeling so much better, my only real complaint is the inability to lose the weight I put on.
    I do have three questions to ask: how many of you out there have a family history of Graves? My father was diagnosed with graves at the same age I was diagnosed (age 32). So far I have not met anyone with Graves that has a family history.
    My next question: after the RAI are we still considered to have Graves disease? I think we are, but I notice my doctor now use the diagnose “hypothyroidism.”
    Last question: I currently just transferred my medical files back to my nurse practitioner who was the one who diagnosed my graves..she did refer me to an endo for a 2nd opinion and a thyroid scan. I was with this endo from Nov 1999 – July 2001. Since my thyroid levels are now normal I decided maybe it was time to go back to my NP…hated the 60 mile trip to the endo.
    Would like peoples in put on what your feelings are on no longer going to an endo.
    Hope to here from everyone!
    Hope we can share our GD story.
    Thanks,
    PackerPal

    Anonymous
    Participant
    Post count: 93172

    Count me as one who has a family history of Graves. My grandmother had it probably about 50 years ago or more. She was a bit older than me when she got it, but not much. She had a thyroidectomy. She’s almost 90 now and is doing great. That is actually the side of my family that has the most illnesses, mostly diabetics, which includes 2 uncles, 1 cousin, and my grandfather who all have diabetes.

    Anonymous
    Participant
    Post count: 93172

    Remember it doesn’t have to be a family member who has Graves. It could be a diabetic family member. GD and Diabetes and others are auto immune diseases…those can run in families. That’s how we figure my daughter got it.

    Anonymous
    Participant
    Post count: 93172

    Hi,

    Just wanted to reply to the question about family history of Graves’. All my siblings have a thyroid problem. My brother and I have Graves’ and my two sisters have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. My brother was diagnosed many years ago with Graves’, but at the time, I had never heard of Graves’ disease (and he didn’t tell us that it was Graves’), so I never knew that I should ask to be tested for it. All three of us girls found out about our thyroid problems around the same time last year. Strange, huh?

    My endo said that it was not unusual for many family members to have thyroid problems. He also said that Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Graves’ are both reactions to the same antibodies our bodies are producing, the difference being that with Graves’ our thyroid is stimulated by it, and with Hashimoto’s the thyroid is being destroyed by it.

    My brother and I are the more emotional ones in the family. We are affected by the harshness of life more, I think. So, we were the ones who ended up with Graves’…just my theory.

    Anonymous
    Participant
    Post count: 93172

    Just wanted to reply to the question regarding family history. My mother was diagnosed with GD when she was 61 and I was diagnosed with GD when I was 52. To my knowledge none of my sisters or my brother have it. I am the oldest of the kids.

    Tom

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