Judy Engelke - 01/20/98 01:34:08
My Email:judy@itis.com
Where are you from?: Madison Wisconsin
How did you find these pages?: My brother has a page here
Are you a regular visitor here?: yes now
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: Yes to Graves

Comments:
In 1971 after my 2nd child was born they found a lump in my neck. I also had the "fish eyes", could not stand the heat, but boy could I eat and not gain a pound. I feel I had this over a very short time. I was 21 in 1971. Had a partial thyroidectomy at that time. My problem is I starting having problems again around 1985 and all my test were up and down. Just kept complaining something was not right. Never do have a TSH amount, always reads 00. The remaining Thyroid is full of Toxic Nodulars and they want to remove it. I have put it off for years because they could never come up with a "why" my test were the way they were. Nothing ever added up as they always say. When I say they I mean 3 different clinic including the U of Wisconsin hospital and a time span of over 5 years. In 1991, at 40, it was found I had kidney cancer, and had had it for some time. I really feel that the unbalanced thyroid functions played a part in this.

Beth - 01/19/98 23:20:23
My Email:estockma@vt.edu
Where are you from?: Blacksburg, Virginia
How did you find these pages?: search on Yahoo
Are you a regular visitor here?: not yet
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: yes-Graves' disease

Comments:
I was surprised when I started reading your story. Your story sounds exactly like mine. I'm 19, I just found out a month ago that I have Graves. I have no idea as to how long I've had Graves, but I think I've had it for years. I'm currently on Tapazole but I'm not reacting well to it, yet again. I'm glad that you have this web site, it makes me realize that I'm not alone in this.

Daphne Harrington - 01/18/98 08:28:56
My Email:daph@ay.com.au
Where are you from?: Sydney australia
How did you find these pages?: search
Are you a regular visitor here?: NO
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: yes,,

Comments:
Hi there, love your page good for you we need to keep up the fight about thyriod well done, daph

Bonna Wallace - 01/17/98 05:57:31
My Email:bonnadw@juno.com
Where are you from?: Greenvill, S.C.
How did you find these pages?: surfing
Are you a regular visitor here?: will be now
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: Graves
Any new links I should add?: Alternative Medicine

Comments:
I was diagnosed 3 months ago, but have had such a hard time with the idea of taking the medicine. I have been healthy all of my life and this has thrown me for a loop! I will be 51 next month, and hung wallpaper for 20 years. Two years ago I retired because I just couldn't take the pain in my legs after I had worked all day. I am on Tapazole now but find it difficult knowing I could be damaging my liver and immune system to save my Thyroid. Surely there is a natural way of getting my thyroid adjusted again.....please help if you know of anything. Also what are the pros and cons of the radiation therepy or surgery? Thank you so much for all of the time you have invested in this web site, and in our lives. God Bless You.

Megan Lehrkamp - 01/16/98 06:13:41
My Email:sardukar@ziplink.net
Where are you from?: Berkeley, CA
How did you find these pages?: surfing for GD sites
Are you a regular visitor here?: will be now!
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: yes
Any new links I should add?: no

Comments:
I went to the doctor last week for a pre-employment physical and he noticed that I had a "generous thyroid." The tests he ordered showed that I was hyperthyroid. The cause is most likely GD, since my father has it as well. I'm going to see an endocrinologist tomorrow to discuss more terst results, but in the meantime I have searching the Web for more info, and that's how I came across your page. Thank you so much, especially for your page on symptoms. I knew that I was heat intolerant, but I had no idea that depression and weeping were related. All my life I have been called a "crybaby," and have been kept awake many nights by incessant crying for no reason. I thought I was going crazy and I have lost two very special people because of my emotional state. I am relieved to finally have a reason. And I may not have known it if it wasn't for your Web site. Thanks again. I will definitely be checking back for further updates!

Jeannie - 01/15/98 20:55:02
My Email:JeannieA@NLIC.com
Where are you from?: Seattle, WA
How did you find these pages?: Surfing
Are you a regular visitor here?: Yes
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: Yes
Any new links I should add?: Alternative Medicine/Latest Medical Advancements

Comments:
I just wanted to provide everyone with an update on my progress. The last time I posted I was depressed, scared, angry and full of unanswered questions. Well, things are starting to look up. I'm feeling a little bit better and the medication (Tapazole) I've been taking since late November seems to be working. My thyroid gland has reduced 25% in size and my TSH is gradually increasing from non-existent to a detectable level. I began getting muscle cramps, which I assume is from the medication, so I need to talk to my doctor about that. Also, I've been told great things about acupunture from a close relative who is currently using this therapy to quit smoking. She asked her doctor if it could help in treating GD and was given a resounding YES. So, I thought I'd check it out for myself within the next month or so and will try to keep everyone updated on my progress. My battle is not nearly over but I am starting to win. Take care everyone, you're not alone. Jeannie

Melissa - 01/13/98 17:17:20
My Email:ramonm@uthscsa.edu
Where are you from?: San Antonio, Texas
How did you find these pages?: Yahoo!
Are you a regular visitor here?: no
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: yes
Any new links I should add?: no

Comments:
It does some good to hear how someone else went through exactly the same thing I did. I also had to hide my mood swings and physical problems. I even went through an entire GI series, including a barium enema, because of all my GI distress. All the doctors had to do was run some blood work, but they didn't. I suffered for years, thinking I was causing all my symptoms because of my inability to cope with stress. Finally, years later, I got lucky enough to be seen by a medical student for my recurrent diarrhea. He detected lid lag (I was also sweating at the time) and thought of running thyroid function tests. The actual physician rolled her eyes at me, but decided to indulge him. Thank God! My T4 was 28 and my TSH was 0. They ran the tests 3 times with the same results. I had the radioiodine therapy and then had to put up with just the opposite (hypothyroidism). My TSH reached 19! This all happened in the course of a year. Now my hormones are within normal range and I'm trying to get healthy enough to start a family. My biggest problem now is that I have developed an allergy to my own body heat. I break out into hives when my body temperature rises. I was told that it was related to my Grave's disease and that it would go away when my hormone level was normal. Now, it's happening more and more frequently. Wierd, huh? I went from one strange disease to another one. I am not convinced they are unrelated, but that's what they tell me now. Have you heard of this happening to anyone else? I'd like to know. Thanks for putting your story on the web. I wish you continued improvement in your health status.

Robert Cutter - 01/13/98 08:47:25
My URL: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/1288
My Email:recutter@geocities.com
Where are you from?: L.A.
How did you find these pages?: Your banner on my homepage
Are you a regular visitor here?: No
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: No

Comments:
I have a very good friend that may have Graves' Disease. I will have her ask her doctor about it. Thanks for the information.

Joyce Crease - 01/09/98 02:11:39
My Email:proncon@alltel.net
Where are you from?: Saybrook, OH
How did you find these pages?: search on the net
Are you a regular visitor here?: will be
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: yes, Graves since 72
Any new links I should add?: JAMA, problem, Jan 98

Comments:
I'd love to chat with you and others, how about a chat room just for us. no one understands what it's like. I haven't felt normal since before I was pregnant in 71. Really wonder what is ahead. I'm so out of shape (mussles inculding heart) that it scares me. I'm only 45 and people don't understand. Your story hit home. Thanks so very much!!!! Now at least I know I'm not crazy.

Louise - 01/08/98 06:16:42
My Email:signalone@att.com
Where are you from?: New York State
How did you find these pages?: thyroid disease
Are you a regular visitor here?: I am now
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: YES - Graves

Comments:
The way I found out I had GD was from reading an article in Readers Digest a few years ago. When I read the symptoms I recognized them immediately. Two months later I went to the doctor for a sinus infection and asked that he take blood to check my thyroid, after explaining about the article to him. The results came in and I was correct, I was very Hyper. I didn't like the way the (MD) doctor I had was treating me, he won't refer me to an Endo, so I went to another MD who would. He tried medication treatment but my kidneys couldn't take it (they were checked regularly with blood tests). I was also taking Inderal for my heart. It's been about a year and a half since I had RAI treatment and I feel like my life was given back to me. It took about 6 months for the thyroid to go hypo with one treatment and it was rough during that time but it was worth having it removed. Now I take synthoid daily and have my blood tested once a year to make sure the dose is correct. All the symptoms I had with the hyper and hypo are gone now. Even though I've put weight on, I feel wonderful and have stayed active. A little note, when I saw the endo I asked him if there was a window of about 2 years from a major physical stress related incident to the time you can't cope with the triggered symptoms, and he agreed. I also find it amusing that my female middle aged dog also was diagnosed with an autoimmune system disorder at the same time I was being treated! I understand Mrs. George Bush has Graves and heard that her dog had an autoimmune problem. Your site is fantastic!!! Please keep it going, and I agree that more of our stories (studies) should be chronicled to others.