Graves Disease

Question: What is an actual, easy to understand definition of graves disease? I am a teen and when i tell people i have graves disease they never know what it is. Like yesterday, I went for an appointment and my crush asked my friends where I was and the dears they are told him I was at the hospital! And I didn't know how to explain to him my condition. Thanks in advance!

Answer: Graves' disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism. It occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland and causes it to overproduce the hormone thyroxine. The abnormal immune response can affect the tissue behind your eyes as well as parts of your skin. The higher thyroxine level in Graves' disease can greatly increase your body's metabolic rate, leading to host of health problems. Graves' disease is rarely life-threatening. Although it may develop at any age and in either men or women, Graves' disease is more common in women and usually begins after age 20. There's no way to stop your immune system from attacking your thyroid gland, but treatments for Graves' disease can ease symptoms and decrease the production of thyroxine.

Question: What can a person with Graves Disease do to lose weight? I am 16 and i have Graves Disease (hyperactive thyroid) and when i was first diagnoised, i was put on medication that made me gain 30 pounds in like less than 3 months. Now i am currently 40 pounds heaver than i was. I would like to lose at least 20 pounds. How can i do it the fastest way?

Answer: Im sorry to hear that! I would go on a low carb diet or weight watchers. Both of these have worked for my friends. I think w/ low carb you will lose weight the fastest. good luck!

Question: How long can you go with Graves Disease without being treated? I went to a specialist last week - she diagnosed me with Graves Disease. It makes sense, I have all the symptoms. I am not happy with the office's response rate. The doctor told me I should get the radioiodine this week and no one is calling me back. There is another endo in the area, but they are booked through April. Can I wait that long?

Answer: You should not. Find another doctor, one who is actually concerned for your health. The first doctor should have at the very least given you a beta blocker. A beta blocker is a temporary, emergency treatment for Grave's disease until the treatment kicks in. You should also have been given an anti thyroid drug. In the US, they give you methimizole. Once you have the methimizole, you don't need radioactive iodine. RAI is not a cure for Grave's disease. It only treats one symptom of Graves disease - the hyperthyroidism. Plus it gives you an additional disease - hypothyroidism. If you don't want this, don't have the radioactive iodine. So see another doctor. Any old GP will do, if they are willing. You don't actually need an endo. As long as you can get the right blood tests, (free T3 and free T4) and methimizole, you will be fine.

Question: Does anyone know of any alternative methods for Graves disease? Has this worked for anyone? I have Graves disease, my doctor is really rude and won't answer questions for me. I started this diet and I think that it is helping but I am still learning about ways to control the hyperthyroidism.

Answer: I'm sorry to hear you have Graves disease; I have Hashimoto's...the opposite autoimmune disease. Before trying any remedies, though, I think you'd be wise to read a little about it first from these sites: http://www.ngdf.org/faq.htm http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/grav… Good luck!

Question: Can a person with Graves disease be able to take medicine all their life such as PTU? Can a person with Graves disease (a very hyperactive thyroid) problem be able to take medicine all their life such as PTU or do they end up doing radioactive iodine treatment down the road anyway? I am 31 and I haven't been able to find an endocrinologist who won't go down this radioactive iodine treatment route before allowing me to take a medication called PTU. I haven't had any kids yet and I really don't want to do this radioactive iodine treament at all. I am really not into destroying my glands only to turn hypothyroid and thenhave to take a medication called Synthroid fopr the rest of my life. Any comments or opinions.

Answer: The Graves is not good for your body either. It is hard to control. On the other hand, hypothyroid has been successfully treated for many years. You will have to take have to take either synthroid or dessicated bovine thyroid for the rest of your life. I think this option is better than no treatment at all. There is a reason no doctor will prescribe the PTU. Perhaps there are too many side effects or it doesn't work well. Ask them to explain why they are reluctant to use this medication. You need to resolve this condition soon.

Question: What is a biochemical aspect of Graves' disease? I am doing a presentation in biochemistry on Graves' disease and I need to pick something out that deals with Graves' disease to focus on.

Answer: Biochemical aspects would be the mechanics of the disease and the effects the disease has on the body. This should be sufficient information to point you int he right direction and enable you to continue your research.

Question: how much money does it cost for radioactive iodine for graves disease? i have graves disease. i want to know how much money it costs for the radioactive iodine.

Answer: it usually costs a lot and after the medication you gotta have maintainance as well...check out the philippines

Question: Can someone help me understand and deal with Graves Disease symptoms and problems? I have graves disease and was diagnosed 5 years ago. I have been off and on PTU since. I never saw a specialist or got any treatment. Now 5 years later I finally got a specialist. Unfortunately because no records are available about my episodes my doctor has taken me off PTU and is letting me get sick. I am generally confused and a little anxious about alot of the things going on in my body and would like a little help.

Answer: Maybe you can elaborate a little on what you are feeling? That would help us to help you... The symptoms of Graves disease can be overwhelming at times, both physically and emotionally, but there are some ways to cope with it so that you can live a normal life. It affects so many areas of your general health, I wouldn't know where to begin unless you can explain how you are feeling. PS: I also have Graves'

Question: What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism or graves disease? I would like to hear from people who have some personal experience with this because i think i may be in the early stages of graves disease. my doctor wants me to have blood tests and an ultrasound of my thyroid, but i cannot do it right now because i don't have any health insurance. I have to wait until i have some way to pay for these tests and anything else if i do have the disease. my thyroid is definitely enlarged, and i have lost a lot of weight unintentionally.

Answer: I had Graves Disease (it's in remission right now), so maybe I can help you with this one. It's definitely something that you should get taken care of though, so maybe there's a way you can get yourself to a free clinic or something to get a simple blood test. Pretty much what brought me to the doctor initially was that I lost weight without really trying to. I also had a voracious appetite. Other symptoms that I only noticed later were dry skin, a dull headache above my eyes (I thought it was a sinus infection until I realized that it went away once my graves was under control), irritable mood swings (this is one of the main reasons you should get it taken care of asap- graves can affect your personality... it can trigger anxiety, irritability, inattention, etc.). Good luck and feel better! Luckily, graves is very treatable but unexplained weight loss can be symptomatic of other more serious illnesses, so you definitely need to get this taken care of.