[Anonymous July 14, 1998 at 6:28 am Post count: 93172]

#1050204

Gwen, thank you for the information on eye surgery. Actually, I am here
to learn as much as to share, having been a longtime survivor of GD.

Belinda: I think ignorance is what’s kept me going LOL (no kidding, though).
I was down to 98 lbs. in the late 1960’s when I was finally diagnosed with
Grave’s Disease. My heart was almost in crisis and my pulse was racing
along at 120 beats/min. I couldn’t keep my hands steady, especially when
trying to set down a cup of coffee. I first went through several months
of PTU and then developed an allergy to all the meds used at that time
to put GD in remission. So then it was a choice between surgury or
RAI. I chose RAI because it just seemed better.

When I had my RAI treatment I was put to bedrest for 3 weeks. Was to
do nothing but rest and eat, and eat I did! LOL But I also remember the
restless nights, the sweating, and the weakness that I felt during that time.
Then it took about a year before my thyroid really stablized after several trial
and error episodes of going on and off thryoid replacement hormone. I
don’t think the tests were as accurate then as they are now. But anyway,
I kept going back for tests. As you know it is important to get a yearly
thyroid panel done after GD treatment.

By the time the tests caught up with the doctors as to what was going
on with me, I was pretty much in a hypo crisis–most of the symptoms of
hypothyroid had caught up with me. I probably should have been on
replacement hormones years earlier than when I truly got started. I think
after GD I forgot what “well” really feels like. And I remember how much
better I felt once the replacement hormones were started.

Anyway, that’s a little history of my experience with GD. You know that
one is never cured, but is rather in remission after treatment. So it’s a
lifelong vigil to make sure one is getting the correct dosage of TRT.

I hope that answers your question, Belinda. As I said, I think I just
went along thinking I didn’t need TRT until I just was plodding along at
a snail’s pace. And I really am here to learn as much as to answer any
questions anyone has of what life is like with GD. There are worse diseases
than GD, but GD really is a life-changing disease in the way it influences so
many of the vital body functions through metabolism. The more I read
the more I wonder how it really has effected my life more than I realize.

GD is one of the most treatable of all diseases, and a good endo is your
best friend. Keep on keeping on.

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