Rhonda Pike - 07/01/98 22:31:55
My Email:rpike@lcc.net
Where are you from?: Lufkin, Texas
How did you find these pages?: searching
Are you a regular visitor here?: no
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: yes
Comments:
I was looking for information for a friend. I was diagnosed when I was 14. I am now 35.
BRENDA SHANNON - 07/01/98 18:29:08
My Email:b&d@shannstorr.force9.uk
Where are you from?: BRADFORD, UK
How did you find these pages?: BROWSING
Are you a regular visitor here?: 1ST TIMER
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: YES I CERTAINLY DO
Comments:
Joyce Ann White - 07/01/98 17:29:12
My Email:rvrside@memphisonline.com
Where are you from?: Memphis, TN
How did you find these pages?: Playing around with the computer
Are you a regular visitor here?: I will be now
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: Yes
Comments:
Roslyn - 06/30/98 03:45:20
Where are you from?: Los Angeles
How did you find these pages?: yahoo search
Are you a regular visitor here?: no
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: yes
Comments:
I've just been diagnosed with grave's Disease. I have been feeling tired for the last few
months or so and a fast heart beat however I just thought it was stress. Well, I took my
daughter for a check-up and her pediatrician couldn't stop looking at me! He told me to see an
endocrynologist right away. Well, come to find out my mother was diagnosed 30 years ago as
well! Now I'm on tapazol and beta blockers for my fast pulse. I'm seeing an optalpologist
tomorrow...hopefully I'll get a good report!?
Loretta Baker - 06/27/98 07:16:34
My Email:clbaker@netusa1.net
Where are you from?: IN
How did you find these pages?: WebFerret
Are you a regular visitor here?: First timer
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: Yes
Comments:
I chose radiation 10 years ago. I've been on Sybthroid since. I've been wondering about long
term problems. I have gained weight since the radiation. I'm working in losing it, but it is
difficult. I read about taking kelp to replace the iodine loss. I wonder if anyone has had any
experience with it. So far I noticed I quit craving salt. I also still have problems with
dizziness and vertigo. I've had problems with doctors taking this seriously. I finally found
one who is willing to listen. After reading about other experiences, I feel pretty lucky,
though. Good luck to all of us. I'm glad there is so much info on the net now. I had a hard
time finding out anything when I was first diagnosed 17 years ago. Keep up the good work!
linda dietrich - 06/26/98 01:56:52
My Email:UponCld92u
Where are you from?: sarasota, florida
How did you find these pages?: yahoo search
Are you a regular visitor here?: yes
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: mom does
Comments:
Hi, thanks for the information, my mom was just diagnosed with graves disease, and we are
researching now. Your story has helped greatly, i understand more than she does, but i feel
that she is in denial. So the most that we can educated ourselves the better we will be.
thanks so much. Linda Dietrich
Suzy Sheldon - 06/26/98 01:00:04
My URL:
http://www.andata.com/bcolourful
My Email:donovanb.colourful@andata.com
Where are you from?: coon rapids minnesota
How did you find these pages?: yahoo-thyroid disease
Are you a regular visitor here?: no
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: I have acute radiation poisoning from being
60 km from Chernobyl in 1986, having alot of thyroid prob.
Comments:
I was exposed to plutonium and iodine-81 from the Chernobyl accident in 1986-I was about 60km
away. In the past year I have been seen at the U of Minnesota endocrine clinic for a large
goiter and odd thyroid readings. I don't have Graves but am seeking info from lay people on
what all these numbers mean. My tsh was .83 in Dec. 1997 and is now .5 in June 1998. It's just
nice to be able to post and read other posts on this pesky gland that until a year ago I never
paid any mind to.
Wanda G. Vereen - 06/25/98 20:49:45
My Email:vereenw@socom.mil
Where are you from?: Conway, S.C.
How did you find these pages?: Yahoo...Thyroid Disease
Are you a regular visitor here?: Now I am
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: I have Graves'`
Comments:
I have had the "disease from hell"(GRAVES) all my life, I know from the age of at least 10!
I was diganossed in the early 80's. I've had four decompression surgeries on my eyes. I can't
get my doctor to understand that when my dosage is changed, I'm changed! Never take
ferro-sequel (Iron) with Synthroid, it will surely screw up your levels. I want my doctor
to understand that if there is a range of .49-4.59, for low or high, that I want to hit the
number in between that makes me feel good...with him, as long as I'm within the numbers,
he thinks I should be ok! I've had enough of this, I THINK I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND
STUDY NOTHING BUT THIS GLAND, IF HORMONES FROM THIS GLAND TOUCHES EVERY CELL IN BODY, THEN,
THAT TELLS ME IF THIS GLANDS GOES BAD, THEN THE WHOLE BODY GOES BAD...MORE LATER
Linda Jones - 06/24/98 16:11:08
My Email:lljones@secollege.edu
Where are you from?: Lakeland, FL
How did you find these pages?: Netscape
Are you a regular visitor here?: no
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: Yes
Comments:
Thanks for all the personal stories. I was diagnosed with Graves disease last December. At
the time the symptoms really became noticeable I also caught a bad sinus infection which was
going around. I kept thinking that everything was related to this infection. My family has a
history of thyroid disorders, but noone ever thought to mention it before, so I never included
it in any medical history. I finally went in to see my GP because my stomach was really upset
and the normal medications I took only worsened the symptoms. Looking back, I realize that
some of the questions he asked did relate to thyroid disease, but I didn't feel that the
symptoms were "that bad," so I probably didn't answer him correctly. It wasn't until I was in
outpatient surgery prep room, getting ready for a panendoscopy, that another doctor discovered
my rapid heartbeat. He cancelled the surgery and told me to get my thyroid checked asap. My
GP did the test, and as soon as it returned sent me to an endocrinologist in town two days
later on a Saturday, no less. The next week I had a radioactive scan. It showed a perfect
picture of a thyroid. The radiologist said "no wonder you're feeling so poopy." I was
diagnosed with severe Graves, but I had no goiter or eye problems. However,I had lots of the
other symptoms!! Three years of stress at my job probably helped to increase the symptoms. In
fact it had gotten so bad emotionally that my boss had sent me to a counsellor to find out what
was wrong with me. When I quit seeing her in September, the symptoms really kicked in. I lost
25 lbs in 6 weeks; I was shaky; my periods became scanty; I had no muscle strength in my legs
or arms; my heart pounded; my skin seemed to be thinner; and I had severe heartburn. I
remember spending most of my weekends in bed, just resting, thinking "Boy--I'll sure be glad
when this sinus infection goes away." After the diagnosis, I was on Tapazole and atenolol for
a month. I don't remember the dosages. My biggest complaint then was that my heart rate
dropped-albeit gradually-to 60. In February I elected to have radioactive iodine therapy
which happened on Friday the 13th! But it has worked well, although I became hypothroid
sooner than my Dr. expected. Since February, my biggest problem has been sleep related.
Sometimes too much--sometimes too little. However, this too seems to be improving. My weight
only went up 6 pounds of which I lost 3 later. I did have a sinus infection which with some
medicine began to clear up at the same time. What I have learned is that for most people,
returning to a "normal" state takes months if not years. I didn't understand this when I was
first diagnosed. Now I'm more accepting of what is happening and the up and down nature of my
life. Also, several of my co-workers have thyroid disease--without going into details--
and they have been very supportive and understanding. I was also discomfitted to discover
that Graves is incurable, just controllable. This is the hardest to explain to people when
they ask how I'm doing. I tell them I'm feeling fine, but I'm not out of the woods yet. BTW,
I haven't mentioned my family because they live in other States, so while they were concerned,
they weren't involved in the daily problems as my friends and co-workers were. However, I
called them every day during the critical time, and they were helpful, especially my one
sister who is a nurse who often corrected information I had received or misunderstood. One
of my Aunts is hypothyroid, and she also encouraged me. I couldn't have made it this far
without their prayers and the prayers and support of my co-workers and friends. I also feel
I have been fortunate in the doctors who have helped me, but thanks for the warnings. Linda
Anita Dick - 06/24/98 13:55:17
My Email:acd@wkpowerlink.com
Where are you from?: Ashcroft, BC Canada
How did you find these pages?: Yahoo-health Graves Disease
Are you a regular visitor here?: no, but will be
Do you have Graves' Disease or related?: Yes, I have graves disease
Any new links I should add?: no
Comments:
I was diagnosed will graves about a month ago. Due to some tech misinformation my treatment was
delayed by a few weeks. As I have no idea what this disease is or what I was expected to do.
I felt I was left in a void, the one where no information was not the best information.
Anyways I start my radioactive iodine treatment today. I was told the worst case scenario,
if is doesn't work I would have to go back again. Operations are not done anymore. I was
told that 30% of the patients treated with radioactive iodine have the thyroid totally
destroyed and would have to take a pill for underactive thyroids for the rest of my life.
When I sat and listened to the doctor tell me all this information, I was and am still upset
that this has happened to me, but I will make it through this as I have survived all the downs
in my life. Must go I have to be in Kamloops, which is an hour away to receive my treatment.