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That’s a good question ~ genetics play a definite role. As far as I know, Graves’ doesn’t cause early onset of menopause, though imbalanced levels can wreak havoc with the schedule (I’m sure you know ~ hyper = late/light periods, hypo = early/heavy periods). If it doesn’t fall consistently on one side (early or late), then thyroid levels probably have nothing to do with it. I found out that menopause is actually defined as the time AFTER you’ve had no period for at least a year (and the "usual" range for that is between 45 and 55). Everything before that is peri-menopause, and it can go on for years before your cycle stops completely, so there’s a chance that’s just beginning for you.
I do think stress can affect our periods, once we get into that peri-menopause state. I’ve had a few "skips" when I was just worried about getting it (travelling or something like that), so it’s possible the stress of your procedure prompted your latest episode. Just a completely off-the-wall guess.
” title=”Very Happy” />Both eyes, wow! I’m sure many reassuring responses will be forthcoming.
” title=”Very Happy” /> You must’ve hit the cold phase, or they probably wouldn’t be doing the surgery ~ I guess you weren’t one of those who saw significant improvement prior to the cold phase. Sorry ’bout that. 
” title=”Wink” /> I’m awfully glad you’re having the decompressions done though, I’m sure you’ll be happier afterward (after the recovery)!I have NEVER heard that the thyroid rejuvenates after RAI (requiring surgery), by the way, and I’ve been hanging out at this Board for more than 10 years. There’s a slight chance that the RAI dose wouldn’t be large enough to destroy the whole thyroid, and in that case, if hyperthyroidism returns, the patient would have a choice of another RAI, or surgery. I have never heard that surgery is "routine" following RAI, except for thyroid cancer patients. Oh, except I think they do it in reverse (thyroid surgery first, RAI following, to cover any thyroid tissue that may remain).
My thyroid is LONG gone since RAI, no hint of its return.
Best of luck on your surgery, we’ll be thinking of you!!
Thanks for the kind words, lakeview.
” title=”Very Happy” />I didn’t have surgery because my eyes returned almost completely to normal. Granted, my eyes were never really that bad ~ there was a period of time when they bulged a little, but I never had significant double vision or difficulty moving my eyes or pain behind my eyes. Here’s the weird part ~ I DO still get puffiness sometimes, even though my TED is completely resolved. That’s what makes me think it’s related to some other element of Graves’, and not even thyroid imbalance, because that’s over with (for me) too!
I found that raising the head of our bed helped IMMENSELY with the puffiness, you may want to experiment with that. It’s a little weird, and some beds might not take well to it (we have a dresser at the foot of the bed so the mattress won’t slide right off), but it has been so worth it. It just helps the fluid NOT to collect around the eyes during the night, which means you start the day ahead of the "puffy" curve. Mine usually gets better during the day, so starting from a better point means it’s better all around. Piles of pillows are nice (I actually do that TOO, for the arthritis in my lower back), but you can fall off pillows during the night, and the bend also creates stress points that can be uncomfortable, so if the bed itself is raised up at the head, you can fall off all the pillows, lay flat on your mattress, and still get the benefits of having your head raised while you sleep. My husband put "chunks" of 4x4s under the frame at the head of the bed, if that helps. (By the way, this also solved his middle-of-the-night heartburn!)
It’s really common to have a little blurry vision right after you put the drops in, don’t worry about that. It shouldn’t last long. Just hang in there.
” title=”Very Happy” /> Some drops have different "weights," if you will ~ thin, thicker, thickest, like that ~ so you may want to take a look at the type you bought and see if they have a "thinner" version that might not create the blurriness. The ones that come in individual doses are probably the very thinnest. Keep in mind also, they can get expensive (especially since we use them so often), but if you can get the eye doctor to write you a prescription, you may be able to buy them for your co-pay, instead of full price.I understand how you feel with your looks changing ~ my first symptom was puffiness around my eyes, and it literally appeared between bedtime and waking up. I must’ve been two hours late that day, running around with cold compresses and trying to figure out how I could "fix it." For me, I don’t think the puffiness was related to TED.
Puffiness actually may be a symptom of thyroid imbalance instead. If it is TED, some people do get puffiness rather than eyes bulging, because the fluid can be pushed from the cavity behind the eyes into the tissue surrounding the eyes instead. Lovely thought, I know.
The doctor should be able to give you some idea of what’s going on with you when you have your appointment. If you feel there’s any use in doing so, call them up and tell them your most recent symptoms, then ask to be put on a cancellation list, so you may be able to be seen sooner. (Don’t give up that solid appointment, though.)
Now, blurry eyes may be a result of dryness, so get some artificial tears (preservative-free, NOT get-the-red-out drops), and use them liberally. Corneal dryness can cause damage that cannot be corrected. Without preservatives, you can use the artificial tears as much as you like. When you’re working on the computer, or doing something else that is sufficiently irritating to the eyes, using them every 15 minutes is NOT too much.
If you have TED, "treatments" include many things. Most patients just have "wait and see" treatment until their eyes settle down, then you can talk about corrective surgery. Many never need corrective surgery (I didn’t). If your optic nerve is threatened (the pressure can compress it and you can lose sight ~ VERY RARE, DON’T PANIC!), then steroids and/or directed radiation (literally, a beam pointed at your eye socket) are treatment options, but they are reserved for only the patients in the worst condition, because obviously both steroids and directed radiation carry some risk.
I completely understand the feeling of "looking different," that is extremely difficult to deal with. You may want to look into using anti-depressants or even just having "talk therapy," because there is SO much wrapped up in how we appear to others. The emotional effects of TED are what most patients will declare as the most frustrating thing, the thing that puts them into deep depressions, so doing what you can to level that emotional field will likely help you through it.
Well, perhaps he’s thinking about going into RAI from a stable point, rather than while you’re hyper ~ it is possible that stopping the ATDs won’t make much difference, depending on the period of time your doctor recommends. Yet another question for the doctor.
” title=”Very Happy” /> Remember to write these down, I know I tend to forget until JUST as my hand hits the car door handle….Still, three more months to stabilize is a while. If you really feel as if you’ve made up your mind completely on RAI, that’s ANOTHER good question for the doctor ~ why would he keep you from doing it now?
I think the amount of time you need to be off ATDs depends on a few things ~ which one you’re taking, how much you typically take, and finally, your doctor’s opinion. This is a good discussion to have with the doctor NOW. There shouldn’t be too much time that you feel awful, because the ATDs have a little bit of a residual effect anyway (from what I understand), but you’ll also know that you’re headed for better days, so that might help. Besides that, you’ll know what to expect, and why it’s happening, which has to be an improvement over the first time.
” title=”Very Happy” />I believe that, after the first few days, you would be clear to go back on the ATDs until the RAI accomplishes the real destruction (that can take up to six weeks), so you could use ATDs to keep yourself balanced in the interim. That’s another part of the discussion you need to have with your doctor, ahead of time. Everything goes better when you’re fully informed up front.
