Graves' Disease

Hi W.,

My friend has it. She was diagnosed when her children were preteens. I told her about my problem with gluten. She went gluten-free to see what would happen. Turns out she was able to cut back on her medication for her Grave's Disease condition until she was completely off. She did have to go back on it when she went through a very stressful situation. After that was rectified and she wasn't so stressed out, she was able to go off her meds again. Her endocronologist said her thyroid was fine and she didn't need to be seen for it. My friend does still get her levels checked to be sure thing are fine and is still on a gluten-free diet.

Good luck to you,
: ) Maureen

well, i have it (5 years now). i was diagnosed right after giving birth, when I was still breastfeeding. I had to stop breastfeeding so I can undergo radioactive iodine treatment. The first one failed, the 2nd (with double the dose) was done a year later. That one worked. I had to choose iodine treatment, although I hated it, but I was down to 82 lbs barely alive. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't deal with the heat (I was living in FL at the time), my mood was awful.
Please do extensive research before you decide what route will you choose. No one tells you this, but there had been a link between leukemia and iodine treatment. I now, for a year, have had elevated white blood cell count, and a lump on my throat. I am supposed to go see a blood doctor. I have obviously not been to see one yet because I am just afraid to hear what he has to say.
Hyperthyroidism is not the only symptom of grave's disease, and the iodine does not get rid of the disease, it just kills the thyroid gland. It is an exhausting disease, the thyroid level changes so often therefore the synthroid level has to be adjusted. I have blood work done every 3 months to keep an eye on the thyroid level. My graves diease shows always as present. Other symptoms are bulging eyes, or one bulging eye. Two years after the iodine I developed two bulging eyes, which stayed like that for a year. Then I had a few months break, then one of my eyes started bulging. This is where I am now. One bulging eye :). My vision hasn't been affected by it therefore there are no options for me in terms of surgery or anything of the sort.
Good luck and email me if you need more questions answered.
L.

My niece was diagnosed and was about to undergo the iodine treatment - she was pretty freaked out, and of course there are all kinds of problems with radioactive iodine, both during and after. Then she was about to undergo surgery. At the last minute, someone discovered that she had thyroiditis - an infection - and not Grave's, so she avoided all of this dangerous stuff. I would get a couple of opinions if I were you. There are also nutritional things you can do to stimulate your immune system so your body can do a good job of reducing this issue. Safe during breastfeeding. I've worked with people who have gone this route (met at a food supplement and nutrition conference) and have had phenomenal results.

Hi W.,
I was diagnosed with both Graves disease and hyperthyroidism several years ago. I have blood tests a couple of times a year now, and see the endochronologist (sp) every year- at first it was more frequently. My own doc. also monitors my condition. I was on medication, but at this point am not on any meds for the thyroid. I did not have the symptoms which are listed on the web sites. Today I do not have symptoms, but have been told in the future I will probably need to be back on the meds, and that I will again test positive for both Graves disease and hyperthyroidism. Like a previous writer said, one option I was told about for treatment was the iodine treatment. I was also told if I had the iodine treatment that I would then have to be on medication for the rest of my life for a thyroid condition. The docs have also said one can go from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism.
I did not have this condition when I had small children, so can not address the issue about nursing.
I also worked with a mom whose college age daughter had Graves disease. She had all the classic symptoms which are listed on the web sites. She was also treated with medications, and is doing well.
Good luck to you.