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in reply to: fat orbital decompression #1176032

The only comment I have is, that it is not really a choice between the two, but I imagine you realize that. Your surgeon can show your your orbital CT scan, and show you if you do/don’t have any orbital fat. Speaking in very general terms, the bony decompression is what usually needs to be done to make the orbit larger, to accommodate the bulk that has accumulated with the enlarged, fibrotic muscles (which do not get better or smaller.)

I am not aware of any video, but it may be included in the OD compression videos you have watched.
Shirley

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in reply to: new to hyperthyrodism and graves disease #1176023

Since you have elevated BP now, and a rapid heart rate, I’d call the doc who prescribed the ATD, report this info. Since it is the weekend, then one day before a holiday, I am sure Monday will be crazy at that office. I think the important thing for you right now is to record those two vitals. If your heart rate is above 120 resting, or hovering around that range, it is worth a trip to an urgent care center. That is not a safe heart rate, and probably should be treated. He/she may want to start you on a beta blocker. **How high is your BP?
As Kimberly said, and i am repeating, there are not doctors on the forum, just wonderful facilitators and us regular folks who have been through this darn disease.
I think the suggestion to see an endocrinologist is a good one, but that takes a long time, and the heart rate and BP need attention, or at least reported.

I also suggest if you endo has suggested beginning your ATD, that you not hold off on starting it (: Cause you do have a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism by your doctor.
Shirley

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in reply to: got back from consultation with surgeon #1176020

Hi, they have the orbital CT in front of the in the operating room, which shows all the anatomy of the eye. It shows the degree of fibrosis of the six eye muscles, identifies the optic nerve,and much more. But probably random is a reasonable thing to say. The goal is to lessen the degree of proptosis, and that is accomplished by “making more room” for the eye to go back where it was, and/or at least to be less proptotic. You really don’t know the final result until 2,3 months after the surgery. IT takes a long time for swelling to recede, healing to occur, any oozing to resolve.

Re your statement from your online research, I think it is not realistic or relevant to read that decompressing the lateral wall alone can reduce by 6mm.

The decisions on which walls to decompress are dependent of the degree of fibrosis of the muscles (they occupy space, which is why the eye might be pushed one way or the other.) So, if your medial eye muscle is very fibroses, they would need to decompress the medial wall to make more room for that muscle. If a surgeon can accomplish what they need to do, recede the eye, AND make it even, with pupil in the middle, they will do it with as few walls and with as minimal risk as possible. If the pupil is out of place, they may have to tweak both sides.
Yes, there are more nerves, including the optic nerve on the medial side.

In my own experience, I have found that measuring the degree of proptosis is rather arbitrary. Depends on where each person places the equipment to try to measure it. I have had a resident, fellow and attending measure proptosis in the same visit, and they have obtained three different readings, that is my experience.

True about the lower lid. OD’s are done first, and lid surgery comes afterwards. To those of us with extremely bulging eyes, 1.5mm sounds very minimal. But I’d be pursuing and OD, too, if my pupil was changed, and I could not close my eye at night. I cannot close either eye at night, and I am considering an OD on one eye for that reason. But I have already had eyelid surgery, out of order of the general plan. That was a mistake, but necessary at the time because of optic neuropathy.

And yes, it is scary to think of having an OD. It always is. I don’t think anyone wants to do this, but the degree of damage to our eyes, makes it a good choice for good reasons.

I’d get a copy of the appt. with the surgeon so you can read what she said. It is so hard to remember stuff. Now that you have seen her, you know more,and can ask more questions. What is your next step?

I really feel for you and understand how distressing it is to not have your eye close at night, and to have your pupil in a different place. It really does sound like an OD would help you.
Shirley

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in reply to: fasting after OD surgery #1175999

no way. agree with gator.

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in reply to: GDATF 2012 Update & Annual Fund Drive #1175952

Kimberly! I laughed out loud when I read your post!!!!! Thank you!
Shirley

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in reply to: what are some questions you asked your surgeon before OD surgery? #1175958

I’m traveling today, so not much time.
Most of the practical questions and answers, you’ll find on the forum if you do a bit of searching.
My quick answers are these:
How long do I need help after surgery? Again, I suggest you scan the posts, ask the name of a nurse in office who is more familiar, this is not a great surgeon question.

Doc questions=
*how many TT’s do you do a year? What complications have you seen, if any?
-estimate of how long the surgery takes,
do ask to be medicated for nausea, although this is so common, i am sure it will be done. The anesthesiologist handles this issue anyway.

Ask for a copy of the POST OP instructions before your surgery, that really helps.

Risks-you can ask, but they will be sure to tell you the risks and etc.

I had fewer questions about before the surgery and many more about after the surgery. Surgeons are pretty good at telling you stuff about what they are going to do. Take someone with you, have them take notes,and ask right then while you are seeing him/her if you don’t understand something.
Shirley
Hope someone else chimes in, I have no more time right now.

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in reply to: GDATF 2012 Update & Annual Fund Drive #1175950

Thanks! I am a luddite in this area! I went to the site, donated there. I’ll work on my scanning skills for 2013!
Thank you again
Shirley

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in reply to: what happens if i get punch in the eye after OD surgery? #1175956

It is my thought that you would be just fine. But I imagine this is a question that nobody can answer 100%. You can ask your eye surgeon, that is probably the best idea.
Shirley

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in reply to: GDATF 2012 Update & Annual Fund Drive #1175948

Kimberly, I went to the link. I think more information is needed. It said,
“scan here,” I was not sure what that meant, but I decided it meant to scan my credit card on the scan here design. I have never done anything like that before. Nothing happened. I will try to begin again, type in the site myself, and try to donate. I think I did at the annual meeting, but wanted to give some more, cause the organization has been so helpful for me. But first, I need to know how to do it, I want to do it tonight, during 2012.
Shirley

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in reply to: what happens if i get punch in the eye after OD surgery? #1175954

Hi, I can’t tell if you are serious or joking!

But, if you are concerned about this, and feel this is a likely occurrence for you, I suggest you stay in your house and your yard for about a month from your surgery date. Also, stay away from anyone you know who is likely to punch you in the eye. That just makes sense. I suppose, too, that you can look back at your life in Chicago, and realistically examine the number of times you have been mugged, punched and robbed. I lived there, on the south side, and never had that experience.

I wish you the best with your OD, many of us have had them, and there is some very helpful advice on the forum about them, especially post op. My suggestions are to be sure to elevate the head of your bed for quite a few days, more than they suggest, and to use cool packs on your eye off and on most of the time. This really helps with the swelling and bruising and most of all, pain.
Best to you,
Shirley

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in reply to: Diet & Graves Disease #1175373

Best wishes to all of you, regarding what you decide to eat or not to eat. Since there are varying thoughts on this topic, my thinking is that what we eat or don’t eat, is not relevant in any way to Graves’.

The only change I have made, and not for any reason except that I like good food, is to organically grow most of my fresh produce. I notice that carrots, especially, taste wonderful, like they did when I was a little girl in Iowa.
I pretty much dug up my lawn, planted vegetables, and lots of berries. In the northwest, much food winters over, so I can go outside now for beets, onions, garlic, chard, leeks, carrots and kale, to mention a few I remember at this moment.
Shirley

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in reply to: Anxiety Medications, which are best? #1175908

to vanilla sky-I’d reflect Kimberly’s comments. Not sure if this is an RX because are hyper right now, and being treated. Don’t recall. Or if this is unrelated to Graves’, and a long standing issue for you. Seems more like a long standing issue.
The docs who really know these meds, are psychiatrists. One option is for you to consider this option.
You are correct, that the benzos, antidepressants, and all these meds certainly have their con, side effects, and big problems with withdrawal…as well as pros.
I am hoping that you will end up in the future, not needing or wanting any of these meds.
Shirley

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in reply to: Synthroid Recall #1175825

Not sure. But offhand, I’d say that it is out of the pharmacist’s hands.
The drug companies generally make different doses different colors,a nd I actually like that. Recently, three of my meds have been reverted to all white. They are all tiny, all the same size, shape, and the markings are so faint on the tablets, that I worry all the time about this situation. I load my pill containers for three weeks at a time, AM and PM, cause I take quite a few meds for my heart and breast cancer. It is the heart and breast cancer meds that are almos exactly alike.
I do appreciate concerns about dyes, but I have had dyes all my life, in Kool Aid, frosting on cookies, and jello. Not that any of these are very good for us, but I had them. So I kinda welcome the different colors of Synthroid. Just a personal anecdote.
But the meds are manufactured by the drug companies, and the pharmacies simply receive them, but it sure is worth asking the question.Shirley

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in reply to: 9 year old daughter with Graves #1175893

I think the facebook site will be very supportive and helpful for you. Sooo sorry that she and your family have to deal with graves’ and all the it entails, along with everything else!
Shirley

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in reply to: Need info about IV steroid therapy #1175873

After you have your CT scan and visual fields tests, you will know a lot more.
If the pressure is on your optic nerve, you will NEED IV steroids (as I did) to decrease swelling, fast, to save your vision. After your vision is safe, I would not be surprised if your were referred to a surgeon to have an orbital decompression..even if you are in the active phase. Like I did!
Get those tests asap.
Shirley

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