[Anonymous]

#1147128

I too am with an HMO and I too was tempted to just let them not do anything for me. Finally I was forced to get assertive and aggressive and not back down and to fight for my rights. I started by keeping really good notes of all my visits, all the things that were said to me, all the ways they were refusing to help me, etc. I had a really aggressive supervisor here at work who asked if she could help me. So she and I went to our human resources department, to the benefit administrator with all my notes. The benefit administrator called in the HMO to hear my story and demanded some help or it would affect whether my company signs on with this HMO as one of the choices of providers. I immediately got results. I got new doctors – great ones who care. I got new surgeons. I got help. Don’t back down – keep good notes and do a lot of research on Graves so you know what you should expect as far as help. I still plan to file grievances against a certain “doctor” (he calls himself one, not me.) BE TOUGH.

[Anonymous]

#1049532

Trying a new way to deal with HMO. Gateway DR. Does not have the background to properly manage this disaese. I got this feeling at last visit as she read the internist notes back on my TSH levles. She did not understand tapazole doseages. The temptation to just leave this is the hands of another is strong but I do not like what results have happened yet.

New tack. Reveiwing with providergroup experiance base of DR’s. Going to set an interist on endo as gateway. I’ll let you all know whats up as I go on with this.

Hope to be with you all for a while.

[Anonymous]

#1147129

My story of Graves Eye Disease:
My left eye started in 1996. Terrible bulging, big puffs over and under my eye, dryness and small “cuts” in the cornea (very painful). Last summer this eye “burned out”, meaning the bulging went down (to an acceptable level), and the big bags I had over and under went away! So, it can go away by itself – so far it hasn’t come back. Maybe I am lucky, but there’s certainly hope. Now my right eye is in full blossom, I’m hoping the same will happen again. I can still feel dryness in my left eye, but not anyway near what it was.
So keep up a good spirit, you might experience the same!
Take care,
Kristin

[Anonymous]

#1147130

Hi Erica….are your thyroid levels stable yet? Sometimes it takes time to stablize and then your eyes may also improve. Automatically turning to RAI or surgery doesn’t help TED…it’s not a “quick fix”. ATDs are used to bring your thyroid levels into normal range then hopefully your eyes will follow suit. My eyes finally receded after the docs put me back on PTU (didn’t achieve remission) but it took a year and half for eyes to look normal again. I’m still not clear on “burn out” but I do know it can vary up to 5 years or longer. I’ve had problems with my eyes for almost three years…minor stuff compared to many folks on this BB but I still have pressure, burning, dryness, headaches, and vision changes and puffiness, eyelid retraction. Keep reading the BB and the book by Dr. Arem “Thyroid Solution” can provide more answers. best of luck, mona

[Anonymous]

#1147131

Hi Erica….sorry I’ve taken so long to respond but I had the flu (I think) last week and unable to connect to the BB for last two days. Regarding radiation for eyes. I’m not knowledgeable about radiation for the eyes. I’ve read some reports that state radiation doesn’t help but it may help you. I really don’t know. I do know if I were having major problems I’d try anything!! I may have some articles/journals at home I can refer you to if you’re interested. Best of luck, Mona

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