[kskip]

#1058958

I figured I would share my story after reading so many posts over the past 3 months. I hope it will help others that may come to this site looking for answers like I did.

My daughter is 17 and has a life long history of ADHD and anxiety. We’ve seen numerous psychiatrist/counselors over the years and tried almost every drug made to control her inability to focus and hyperactivity. Nothing ever really made a huge difference but we went on with life. She attended school regularly and made passing grades. This came to be our normal.

October 2010 she began losing weight and by May of 2011 had lost about 40 pounds (which we thought was cool after struggling for her entire life). Over the summer she started having strange behavioral issues which were more extreme than usual so we consulted her psychiatrist and adjusted her meds.

September 15 2011 she had a car accident on her way to school. It was minor, she was not seriously injured – just sore. But it will forever be the day that changed our lives.

Back pain led to x-rays, CT scans, constipation, weight gain and finally her GI said to have her thyroid checked. I decided to wait until our next regular appointment but the pain continued, the behavior became erratic, she wouldn’t stay at school, she had panic attacks and the school recommended I send her to a psychiatric hospital. Levels were checked and on January 27, 2012 she was diagnosed with Graves hyperthyroidism.

We started on meds but quickly decided we needed a long term solution. Since she’s already had two eye surgeries we decided against RAI and went with total thyroidectomy.

April 3, 2012 she underwent surgery. Her T4 was never extremely high and they said her Graves was mild so the surgeon didn’t think the procedure would take that long. After 5 hours he came out and said “I was wrong” – her thyroid was extremely inflamed.

She’s doing well. She bounced back amazingly from the surgery. Now we begin the journey of adjusting to replacement hormones.

For any parent reading this, your child is not crazy – you are not crazy – this disease is real and it’s affects can be devastating.

As I’ve read on this sight so many times, “we” will get better. My daughter will get better and we will both be stronger because of this.

Through this website I’ve been able to find so much helpful information, links, articles and testimonies from others. Thank you!

[Kimberly]

#1171195

kskip – Thank you so much for sharing your story. This will no doubt provide hope and comfort to other families who have to follow in your footsteps.

There are many posters here who have gone through the process of finding the “sweet spot” of replacement hormone (either after surgery or RAI), so feel free to stop by and ask questions if you need to.

Wishing you and your daughter all the best!

[Darcy43]

#1171196

Very encouraging. You are a great support to you daughter and I wish her well and a healthy recovery. She is extremely lucky to have you in her corner. Thanks for sharing this information. You have no idea how close to home you hit for me (i.e. her symptoms, etc.). To have to endure this at 17 – wow, she is truly in my prayers. At least now she is on her way to recovery and living a much better life.

[katherinesc]

#1171197

THANK YOU for sharing!! There are times I do “feel crazy” and totally UNDERSTAND why her behavior was erratic in the hyper state. I am totally erratic at times and then REGRETFUL afterwards and there’s nothing I can do except be as cognitive as possible with this disorder.

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