General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - Vitamins? Herbal Supplements?

In response to Vitamins? Herbal Supplements? posted by colorfulcolo_50:
Hi,
I understand what you're saying and agree. Also, insurance companies often encourage what's quick and easy with less office visits.

Read the articles I wrote on L-acetyl carnitine and on natural therapies for Graves' disease. Diet is equally important. In children, especially, aspartame in Nutrasweet is a frequent cause of Graves' disease. I've heard from many moms whose children's GD resolved after eliminating aspartame. Excess dietary iodine in fast/processed foods is also a common trigger for Graves' disease. Adding goitrogens, foods like broccoli, almonds, peanuts, etc. that block iodine absorption can also help. Low selenium levels are another cause of autoimmune thyroid disease. A multivitamin supplement containing selenium but not iodine can be helpful.

Best to you, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by eyeseelinda:
Hi Linda,
Your blog is an excellent resource for anyone with a thyroid disorder. With the exception of smokers, most people who develop TED do not have recurrences. Some people may notice symptoms during periods of stress, and periods of stress can also cause relapses of hyperthyroidism.

One study from a few years back showed that many people notice a few hyper symptoms during the first six months after stopping meds. The experts warn that these are not signs of relapse so it's important not to restart therapy too soon. If you've made it through the first 5 months without meds, you're unlikely to have a relapse soon.

However, certain triggers, particularly stress, especially the stress of bereavement, and changes in estrogens for instance during the postpartum period, can (but usually don't) trigger relaspses. It's important to maintain all the healthy habits you developed while recovering from GD. Keeping up your blog should help you with this. Best, Elaine

» cybee - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by eyeseelinda:

Eyeseelinda,
I enjoyed your blogsite! Very interesting and informative and well done! I also have TED, but mine seems more mild in that most of my swelling seems to be in the tissues above my eyelid and below my brow...most predominately in the area between lid and upper nose! If I cry at all, those get edematous to an alarming degree and leave unsightly wrinkles. They get better slowly, but not perfectly. I am only borderline Graves right now...will be rechecked in August. I tend to have watery eyes esp outside. Did you get that too? I also wanted to mention i had muscle twitches that sound a lot like your back ones, and I know how unsettling that is! I don't know if they are from a bad rx to some meds I took (I don't just have them in the back) or from thyroid. I have read a few cases like yours re thyroidism and twitches. However, they seem to be slowly abating..I hope! So glad you got over yours!
If I do get full blown Graves, I do hope to go the route you did..just meds! Elaine has provided the good caveat as to RAI....certainly a person should not jump into that if not absolutely necessary!

-- posted by cybee

» eyeseelinda - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by cybee:

I never had watery eyes, but my eyes did become extremely sensitive to light such as a bright sunny day. I'm not sure if the light sensitivity was related to my Graves Disease, but the sensitivity did become noticeably more pronounced. The other twitching experience I had was with my eyelids. This was difficult especially if I was speaking to someone at close range, such as across a desk. It was very pronounced. Thankfully, the eyelid twitching is gone, so is the gritty feeling, and I no longer need the eye drops. Thanks for checking out my blog and good luck to you!

-- posted by eyeseelinda

» cybee - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by eyeseelinda:
Oh, btw, my sister had Graves too and she took meds and then went off..and has not had another symptom for eleven years now!
Yes, my eyes water especially in bright lights. Isn't that a sign of "dry eyes" though? So how did you know you had dry eyes then...just the gritty sensation? I had that , but it has gone away fortunately! That was when I used eye drops, and now I don't as much. I am hoping it is getting better, but I have been saying that ..hmm...for a while now! ha!

-- posted by cybee

» Elaine Moore - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by cybee:
Hi,
Just wanted to add that light sensitivity (photophobia) is a common symptom of TED. It's always been my worse eye symptom. Take care, Elaine

» eyeseelinda - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by cybee:

Thanks for the news re your sister. Let's hope I fall in that category too!! Yes, my eyes felt as if someone threw a handful of fine sand into them, so they had that 'gritty' sensation that felt very uncomfortable. In addition, I could feel my eyes drying out as it became difficult to blink without discomfort. I'd get immediate relief as soon as I put the drops in my eyes or at night when I used the gel. Then as the effect of the eye drops wore off the gritty feeling in my eyes would worsen, until I put more drops in. At one point I was putting drops in my eyes every 30 minutes. I used genteal gel brand in mild and severe formulas. I'm sure the eye protrustion contributed to the dry, gritty feeling simply because they protruded more than normal. Now that my eyes have started moving back, and the protrustion is lessening, the gritty sensation is completely gone. Thankfully!! But I never had watery eyes through all of it.

-- posted by eyeseelinda

» cybee - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by eyeseelinda:

Interesting, EyeseeLinda! Yes, I read that while "watery" eyes don't sound intuitively "dry"...it is the eye trying to compensate (overly so) for dry eyes! Curious. But yours actually felt dry. I did have actually gritty feeling eyes for a while, but happily that went away. I did use drops then! My worse eye is my left eye and I have to dab it yet...while my right eye barely waters! Oddly the skin under my eyebrows (the lacrimal ducts there) like to get full of water too...so that is my main visual thing...the lacrimal ducts (under eyebrow but above eye lid) like to fill up with water (become edematous) and then after the water leaves..I have saggy skin there (over time it gradually gets looking better)! Boo to saggy skin!
I do hope you are like my sister in being nicely resolved with meds only and no recurrance! I hope if I actually have Grave thyroid (I just officially have Graves Eyes) that meds is all I need too! Fingers crossed!

-- posted by cybee

» eyeseelinda - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by cybee:

Good luck. Meanwhile, are you trying anything on the nutrition-side to maintain healthy eating habits to fend off Graves Disease? I just started reading about nutrition and Graves Disease. Elaine provided some good information earlier, I've also heard aspartame is a definite NO. I've also been reading up on the amount of iodine in various foods, particularly prepared and processed foods, all NO-NO's for Graves Disease. So I'm making some (slow) changes in that area. Gave up all diet soft drinks and foods containing aspartame a year ago this July. Tough to do at first but now I don't miss it.

-- posted by eyeseelinda

» cybee - Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance?

In response to Graves Disease/TED--Incidence of recurrance? posted by eyeseelinda:
I had not known prior to your mention (and then I noted an earlier mention above posted by Elaine) as to the aspartame connection! Very interesting. I wonder is it primarily noted in children or applicable as well to adults. Needless to say, I will stay away from it regardless! I do try to include brocolli and strawberries more in my diet and try to eat a bit more healthfully. I had earlier been including flax seed too, but have done that less lately. Should revive that. Yes, I should study up a bit more on the diet aspect, but am makig some efforts. I certainly threw away my iodized salt and replaced it with regular salt. I never really drank pop anyway, but otherwise, sadly, I do have a sweet tooth! B^)

-- posted by cybee