Guest Name Dawn Horarik
Homepage URL:
From: Shakopee, Minnesota
Comments: I was just diagnosed with Grave's Disease and will be seeing an Endocrinologist in about 2 weeks to discuss treatment. Reading these stories has made me feel not so alone and that I am not the only one going through this. I have symptoms from both hyper and hypothyroidism. My body is just doing whatever it wants!!! Thanks for the stories.
Sign Time: April 15 1999 at 12:37:22

Guest Name Michelle Smith
Homepage URL:
From: Queensland, Australia
Comments: I have vitiligo(a skin disorder), this is how it was discovered i have a thyroid problem. Apparently vitiligo can be caused by your thyroid not functioning properly. It appears that i have been 'lucky' with my symptoms, as i have not had nearly as many as most of the stories i read. I suffer from anxiety. Currently i'm 14weeks pregnant with second child so am having tests monthly to monitor my thyroids' activity. Heres' hoping.
Sign Time: April 15 1999 at 02:57:16

Guest Name Renee
Homepage URL:
From: Montana
Comments: Appreciate all the assuring information on this site. I have no diagnosis, just 4 years of symptoms wearing me down. Marched into my doctor's office today armed with print-outs from the Net and records of low-basal temps. She says I'm hyper. (All my complaints are hypo.) Or, she said my antibodies are fighting the thyroid, in which case, my body is very confused. Am scheduled to have an uptake scan next week. Can someone tell me if there is (more) hair loss from this test? Have had thick, coarse hair all my life; was always the joke that I'd never be bald. The past year at least 1/3 of it is gone. I am not letting up with the medical field this time but recognize this is just the beginning. Any information as to holistic approach as well would be appreciated . . .
Sign Time: April 15 1999 at 00:21:28

Guest Name Bethany Burgess-Smith
Homepage URL:
From: New York
Comments: Thanks for helping to supply a backbone for me in this and a place to cry and release. I feel like I'm not alone.
Sign Time: April 14 1999 at 17:57:09

Guest Name Roxanne
Homepage URL:
From:
Comments: Thanks for writing such a great story. This is the first time since my diagnosis that I have been able to here someone elses story of survival. I am still fighting with doctors about my present condition. An intern does not believe my thyroid is related to the problems that I have today. Hypertension at 32, palpatations, shortness of breath, bleeding during intercourse. I hope I can figure out what's wrong with me so I can let the doctor know how to treat me.:) Thanks again.
Sign Time: April 13 1999 at 21:34:04

Guest Name KAREN HELLER
Homepage URL:
From: PA.
Comments: GRAVES'DIEASE WAS A VERY HARD BATTLE FOR ME. I ALSO WENT ON WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. DOCTORS SAID IT WAS STRESS. IT TOOK YEARS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. I ALSO HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
Sign Time: April 13 1999 at 20:42:47

Guest Name Holly
Homepage URL:
From: California
Comments: I was diagnosed with Graves on March 16, 1999. I was feeling horrible since around the beginning of December. I had really bad tremors, weight loss, extreme fatigue, you name it, I was feeling it. I couldn't even go to the mall for over an hour before feeling as if I was going to pass out. Now I am on tapazol and getting married in less than 4 weeks. I wish that I could do something different (treatment wise). I am so itchy, my hands - they itch like crazy, and I keep getting rashes. I can barely touch my skin and it turns all red and irritated. My eyes are swollen, but not too bad - thank God. I am just looking for any information anyone might have. My doctor says that none of my problems are related to GD, but I disagree and reading all this info on this web page has been 10 times more helpful than my wonderful supposed "specialist". Any information is greatly appreciated. Hang in there! I know I am. God Bless!
Sign Time: April 13 1999 at 19:02:48

Guest Name elaine moore
Homepage URL:
From: idaho falls, id and colo. springs co
Comments: i was diagnosed with graves disease when i was 38, 12 years ago. at the time i was visiting my allergist who happened to notice my enlarged thyroid and recommended i see an internist. instead i ran a thyroid panel at the hospital lab where i worked. my t3 and t4 were slightly elevated and my tsh was <0.01. a scan confirmed by graves and i opted for the radioactive I cocktail. although i'm generally pretty mellow, i had been irritable and my pulse and bp were increased. but i looked great 5'8", 130# and i did aerobics alot. since being treated i've gained 23# and my legs have pretibial myxedema where they look like leather. i still work out but my weight is a constant battle. i monitor my thyroid levels in the lab and the results say i'm hyperthyroid but my body says no way--so i keep upping my dosage- i'm on synthroid and i've added armour thyroid too. i take tons of vitamins, minerals and herbs, hoping to find just what was destroyed with the radio I that i'm no longer getting, maybe calcitonin. Since i'm not obese-yet- my doctor isn't too concerned except that my bone density scan showed moderate bone loss in my spine from being hyperthyroid, in sept i'll see if my od'ing on thyroid has made it worse. then i can decide if i want to be fat or have osteoporosis. any advice?
Sign Time: April 12 1999 at 23:47:46

Guest Name Sharon Henry
Homepage URL:
From: Las Vegas, NV
Comments: I was just diagnosed with Graves' Disease yesterday. Fortunately, this was first discovered on routine labwork before symptoms really appeared. I also have severe endometriosis, so this should be interesting. I am always interested in hearing from others.
Sign Time: April 10 1999 at 12:09:35

Guest Name Elisa Usher
Homepage URL: Tired of fighting GD
From: Fredericksburg,Va.
Comments: It's been one year that I found out I have GD.It's been a long road.I had all the typical symptoms.My daughter always teased me about my buldging eyes.I shook so bad I could hardly hold a drink.I had my thyroid uptake June 3,1998.Now I'm having recurring GD.I go in the morning for my next one; they will give me a double dose to make sure they kill it this time.I lost three quarters of my hair the last time.I'm so scared I don't think I can handle the loss again.I had to go and find a specilist; I felt I was going in circles. THe family is tired of my screaming at them.I hope some one can tell me what normal is .Ihave three girls starting at two.I know they would love to have a happy mom soon. was going in circles.M don't think I can handle the hair loss again ,if it starts again
Sign Time: April 08 1999 at 21:38:10