It’s been great tapping into this support group for the first time.
Reviewing these messages have brought up alot of repressed emotions
because I was diagnosed with Graves when I was 5 years old, in 1968.
They removed most of my thyroid, when I was six. I don’t know for sure
but I remember being told that I was one the youngest people ever
to have that kind of surgery (it was done at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
in New York City). I definitely remember being brought into a big auditorium
that was full of men in white coats. I sat on my doctor’s lap while they
flashed huge hideous slides of my throat and eyes on a screen. It was scary.
I’ve basically been healthy ever since, except that my eyes
still protrude. This caused me a lot of embarassment growing up,
and up until now have never really dicussed it with anybody. I know
now that I’ve been very lucky, because the problem with my eyes has been
primarily cosmetic.
Up until a couple years ago, I didn’t even know the name of the disease
I’d had (and still have?). I have been on Levothroid for about 9 years
now, since a slight hypothyroidism was detected, but never really felt
any affects of being underactive. Since I am generally a health-
conscious person, I am interested in knowing about the long term health effects
of being diagnosed with Graves – assuming that the primary symptoms of the
disease itself is under control. I have always had a lot of skin problems
(including vitiligo, rashes, acne); might that be related? I’ve also heard
that people with thyroid problems need to be especially careful to have enough
calcium – is there any truth to that?. Are there any particular preventative
measures we can be taking to achieve or maintain health over the long haul?
