Hi, Barb!
I’m sorry if I offended you in any way. It was not my intent to
belittle your situation or suggest that you (or your doctors)
should’ve handled it differently. I really wanted to offer support
and understanding. I know some of what you’re going through at this
point in your treatment, as you prepare for your long-awaited eye
surgery. You’re probably right – your diagnosis of Graves’ and
treatment should’ve come *a lot* sooner than they did. “Wait and see”
wasn’t necessarily the best approach for you. You’ve been through so
much and you deserve so much more.
My point of posting (and I did a bad job of making it) was not only
to give you support, but also to send a message to the newcomers on
this BB that Graves’ disease doesn’t have to be an ongoing problem
that will alter your life forever. To be honest, Barb, if I had just
visited the board for the first time and read your post I would’ve
been scared to death of what my future held with Graves’. I’m not
saying that you shouldn’t share your story and feelings. I just
want to offer a different perspective from someone who’s been there
and back. Most people DO get better after treatment, and most
people return to life as they knew it before Graves’. The people
posting on this BB tend to be newcomers to Graves’ or people who
have ongoing problems. We don’t hear too many success stories on
here, because those people have moved on with their lives. So, why
do I continue to post if I’m better? I like to! I’ve made many
friends on the board, I continue to learn more about Graves’, and I
offer help when I can. I have asked my doctors at Mayo if they have
many “repeat customers” with Graves’. They stated that once my eyes
were treated and thyroid levels were normal, they didn’t plan on
seeing me again. Of course, I still have to have my thyroid levels
checked once a year, but I can go through my local GP for that.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, Barb, and hopefully
yours is looking brighter these days. Stay brave, little warrior!
Wishing you health and happiness, Debby
