[brawson July 19, 2013 at 5:55 pm Post count: 18]

#1060106

Hello to all,
I have been on this Graves journey for over 4 years and with eye involvement for three years. In this time, my life ( and face) has certainly been transformed by this condition. Last fall I attended the GDATF conference in San Diego. I was at the height of my active phase and pretty despondent. During the conference, many excellent and engaging presentations informed me about this disease and clarified many questions. One of the presentations from the Shiley Thyroid Eye Clinic Team really struck me. They described their team approach to treatment and I remember turning to my husband and saying….”I want that”. Well, after a year of agonizing about the difference between my current care and what I knew I wanted, I decided to make it happen. Yesterday I had a conference with that same dream team that I heard at the conference and learned that I am a candidate for orbital decompression. This fall I will begin that aspect of my treatment. I am so impressed with the professionalism and compassion from this team and so thankful to the Graves and Thyroid Foundation for bringing the team and me together in San Diego last October. I am full of hope.

Barbara

[KimberlyOnline Facilitator July 19, 2013 at 6:12 pm Post count: 4294]

#1180424

Hi Barbara – Thank you so much for sharing your story…it’s wonderful to hear that you had such a positive experience at Shiley!

For those who missed the San Diego conference, some of the presentations are available for viewing on the GDATF’s YouTube channel:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://www.youtube.com/user/GravesAndThyroid/videos

Please keep us posted as you go through this next phase of your journey!

[brawson September 9, 2013 at 10:02 pm Post count: 18]

#1180425

I now have a date for my orbital decompression surgery, Oct 10. I am excited and nervous about this. I have impatiently waited for the time that I might get some relief and it is finally right around the corner.

Barbar

[npattersonModerator September 10, 2013 at 7:16 am Post count: 398]

#1180426

Dear Barbara,

Congratulations on the first step on the next part of your journey! Keep us posted.

Also, many thanks for the kind remarks about the conferences. We work really hard to have them be just as professional and up-to-date as you describe, and they are truly life=changing events for many people.

There is a one-day conference in Baltimore coming up in late October, and another the following week in Chicago. PLEASE TAKE ADVANTGE OF THEM!

Take care,

Nancy

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