Visitor's name: Cassandra Moore
Homepage url:
You are from: Medford, OR
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: Well, this has been very informative. I have felt close to tears a couple of times. I have had graves disease diagnosed since my 20's. It became known because of a goiter. I have related to many of the stories I've read. I recently had orbital decompression. I will probably be told tomorrow that my left eyelid will have to be done again. If you've had the surgery you probably know the dread. It's bad enough to have the disease, having people mess with my eyes even when I know it will increase the comfort level and aesthetics, just simply gives me the creeps. I am sensitive about my eyes on all levels. Thank you for having this information out there. You are a blessing.
Sign Time: September 27 1998 at 22:52:13

Visitor's name: Debbie
Homepage url:
You are from: Baton Rouge
Referred by: Search Engines
Comments: I was diagnosed with Graves over 17 yrs ago when I went to the doctor with a swollen neck, other than that I felt fine. The doctor gave me medication to take for about 1 1/2 yrs. At the time, Graves was considered rare and I couldn't find any information on the subject. After taking the medication, I felt good for about 3-4 years and then the problems started to surface. To make a long story short, I am so ill now I wish I never heard of this illness. I would have taken the symtoms of Graves over what I now suffer. For starters I am hypothyroid, I have tried every thyroid meds I can convince the doctors into, none seem to help . The fatigue is so unbelieveable, I had to close my very sucessful business 5 1/2 yrs ago. I have so many problems with my health and to top that off I've gained over 80 lbs. that refuses to leave no matter what. I have traveled to several well known medical centers and have received no help. Today I finally talked my doctor into another scan, the first one in over 17 yrs. I am hoping that will show something.
Sign Time: September 24 1998 at 15:27:35

Visitor's name: Sharon Berner
Homepage url:
You are from: Rochester, NY
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: This is the best site to read - I will suggest it to my fellow diseased friends! THANK YOU!
Sign Time: September 21 1998 at 11:27:55

Visitor's name: Gwen Denton
Homepage url:
You are from: NY
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: I am in the early stages of being diagnose with Graves. Reading your story was like re-living some of my own life. I would like to here from other people too and discuss experiences with treatment. Thank you for opening this great site to others.
Sign Time: September 21 1998 at 10:19:39

Visitor's name: Shannon Anderson
Homepage url:
You are from:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: I have had Graves for two years now and my story shawdows that of your own...I was lucky though I was detected at 26...Just a note, although Thyroid problems are a genetic passover, mine was created by total stress. Nothing genetic about this one...
Sign Time: September 19 1998 at 22:58:27

Visitor's name: Amanda Norman
Homepage url:
You are from: Ohio
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: I have just started my battle and sometimes I feel like I am alone in it. This disease seems to only affect women between the ages of 30-40, but I am only 20. It was passed on to me by my grandmother who is just now at a normal state. I thank you for your story maybe this will help in "my fight". Amanda
Sign Time: September 19 1998 at 13:14:14

Visitor's name: Liana Tomchesson
Homepage url:
You are from: Austin,Tx
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: Here I am four days after the radioactive iodine treatment and I feel bad again. I found this web page and started reading all it offered and this is when I realize that this disease is going to be a long time battle. Hi my name is Liana Tomchesson and I need correspondence.I live in Austin Texas and I have Graves disease. My battle is only a few months old and already it to feels like a roller coaster. Nowhere in my family history can I find anyone with Thyroid problems and I had never heard of Graves disease. Stress may have been my cause. It all started with an extremely hard physics summer session class. I had just moved to Austin, bought a house and gotten engaged. In the final week of my class, I started having a problem with the shakes and a high heart rate. We have had an unusually hot summer here, one in which I am not use to and I went to the hospital thinking I was suffering from heat stoke. The doctor took one look at me and noticed the goiter and ran test on my thyroid hormones. Sure enough, that was it. I then remembered having a physical exam a year earlier and the doctor mentioning that my thyroid was enlarged but nothing else, not you need to get this checked out. My doctor gave me a choice of treatments and on the recommendation of a good friend here in Austin I Started out on Tapazole 30mg a day and started seeing results right away. My doctor was not too supportive of tapazole and suggested that radioactive iodine as the best treatment. I can only gather from a doctors perspective the drug has side affects and is expensive. Unfortunately, after a month on the drug I had an allergic reaction. I broke out in hives all over my body and had to quit treatment. This left me with only one treatment the radioactive iodine. When asking the Nuclear Doctor about the treatment he was very condescending and contradicting to what my doctor had said. This was my first clue that this disease was going to be a long ordeal. On the referral of my mother's nutritionist sought while recovered from breast cancer a few years ago, I looked into herbal relief for so of my symptoms. Here is what I have found. In the beginning to help with hot flashes I found that the very same herbs that are recommended for menopause are good for thyroid induced hot flashes, both conditions are hormonal. I bought Motherlove herbals Hotflash formula. This would give me instant relief until the beta blocker could take effect. This was very helpful at night. Energy is a big problem with Graves and CoQ10 30mg up to three times a day will help here. This helped get me out of bed. For those of you that are going or already have tried tapazole or the other medication one of the big side effects is liver damaged and low white cell production. For the liver there is nothing better than Milkthisle. What I have read on its effects states that it can do everything from prevent damage to actually generate new liver cell production. This has been a big boost to people with liver damage that face medically damaging treatment such as that with hepatitis C treatments. Two other supplement my nutritionist recommended were Astragalus and Thymus. These help with the low white blood cell count. Last but not least, for those sleepless night and the itching Benadryl has helped me here. I also used the Benadryl lotion for itching. Cost: Motherlove Hotflash-$11.55 Natures Plus C0Q10 - $16.05 Solaray Astragalus - $7.75 Support Thymus - $19.00 Milkthisle - $17.00 I still have lots of unanswered question. Will I ever feel normal again? Am I ever going to be able run again? Will I be able to have children? Will I ever be able to go back to school or work? Am I going to get fat? Has research just stopped on Graves disease? Can anyone answer these qustion Thanks for your attention, Liana
Sign Time: September 15 1998 at 12:45:45

Visitor's name: Marilyn Gregory
Homepage url:
You are from: Indianapolis, Indiana
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: I just received my diagnosis of Graves' Disease, today. To be perfectly honoest, I was a little frightened, at first. My doctor's nurse just seemed to rattle on about everything that could happen and has been happening. From what I have read of your story it looks like I have had this problem most of my life, as well. I just turned 43. I'm looking forward to getting this thing under control and hopefully beginning a new, normal life. I would appreciate any advise you might be able to offer. What questions should I ask, etc.
Sign Time: September 14 1998 at 18:05:15

Visitor's name: vilma cardenas battad
Homepage url:
You are from: vancouver, british columbia
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: I was diagnosed with exophthalmus goiter some twenty years ago and I was given radioactive iodide as well as some tablets, but up to now, my eyes are still bulging out and I dunno what to do...
Sign Time: September 13 1998 at 13:53:50

Visitor's name: lucy
Homepage url:
You are from: mass
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
Comments: I am looking for alternative methods. I have recently told I need bedrest. I MAY HAVE THE START OF A STORM. I NEED ANY SUGGESTIONS.
Sign Time: September 11 1998 at 16:02:45