[Anonymous July 11, 1998 at 12:08 am Post count: 93172]

#1050248

Hello to everyone!

I have been reading messages on this board now
for a few days and this seems like a very supportive
group. I could use some support and information
right now. I was just diagnosed with Graves’ disease
on Monday of this week after suffering with symptoms
for over 5 months. I am 28 years old. Here is my story:

On July 1 of last year, I had a beautiful baby
girl. From July to November of that year I busted
my butt writing my dissertation and defending to
receive my PhD in Biology while taking care of my
new baby. I would stay home with her during the
day and work on my writing at night until 2 am. The
day AFTER my defense, my husband, daughter and I
packed our moving van and moved half way across the
country to my new job, a post-doctoral research
position in neurobiology. I had never done neural
research before, so I was learning alot of new things.
And to top it off, my advisor left for a sabbatical
a month after I arrived leaving me in charge of the
laboratory. My life was stress city since the day
I had my baby.

The first symptom was weight loss. I got down to
my pre-pregnancy weight by January and was feeling
pretty good about that (128 lbs). However, I continued
to loose weight. Then I went through a horrible
bout of depression in February and March. I thought
I was depressed, causing weight loss, and due to stress.
I ended up weighing 108 lbs, having no energy, not
able to concentrate at my job, having a very short
fuse when it came to my daughter and husband, and seeing
my motivation go out the door. I almost went to see
a psychologist, but was too depressed to. Then my
mother talked me into going to a doctor. I went in
not expecting thyroid problems. 2 weeks later with a
low TSH reading and high T4 reading I was refered to
an endocronologist. He immediately thought it was
post-partum thyroiditis and that it would eventually
go away. I had done the research on all of this and
told him that the symptoms came on too late to be that.
He did the blood work to determine whether I had Grave’s or
post-partum (looking for antibodies?) After 2 weeks
of waiting (why did it take so long?) he said it looks
like Graves.

After my initial diagnosis of hyperthyroidism from
my regular doctor, I find out from my mother that
her father had Graves disease at 26(had a goiter and
bulging eyes and had most of his thyroid removed) and
that she had nodules removed from her thyroid at
age 28. Looks like it is genetic. Also, at those
times during my grandfather and mother’s life, they
were under alot of stress. I am sure the stress in
my life caused Graves’ to surface.

Up until I found out about Graves, I was breastfeeding
my daughter and had planned on doing child-led weaning
In order to start anti-thyroid medication, I have
been weaning her over the past week. I want to finish
weaning her by next week (it has been tough for her).
I will be put on 20 mg (I think this is what the
doctor said)of Tapozole when I am done weaning.

Sorry this is so long…I just wanted you to know
where I am at…very new to Graves’ disease. I
plan to continue posting as I have a lot of questions
that look like you all can answer from experience!
I wish you all well in your battle with this illness.
I look forward to sharing with you all.

Kristy

[Author]

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