Question:
WHAT DO I DO ABOUT GRAVES DISEASE

I'M ALMOST 3 YEARS OUT AND HAVE BEEN "WORKING" WITH ATRIAL FIBRULATION FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. MY PRIMARY DOCTOR HAS DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE GRAVES DISEASE. I STOPPED LOSING AND HAVE ACTUALLY GAINED ABOUT 20 POUNDS (EVEN THOUGH I WAS 30 PUUNDS TO GO TO MY GOAL). ANYBODY ELSE WITH THIS DELIMA (SP)? DOC HAS SAID THAT THE GRAVES "MAY" CONTRIBUTE TO IT BUT HE ISN'T "SURE". HELP!!! HEART TACKING, THYROID "DEAD", WEIGHT GAINING!!!! JOANNA USED TO BE "THE LUCKIEST ANGEL"    — JOANNA S. (posted on April 18, 2003)

April 18, 2003
Graves Disease is an auto-immune disease and is sometimes triggered by a major life change or event. You had WLS - which is definitely a major life change. I have heard that some people experience an increase in appetite, but I was not aware of significant weight gain happening from it. Since it is affecting your heart, I would suggest contacting The National Graves Disease Foundation and find out everything you can about it. It will probably be with you always and it can affect other body systems as well. There are some very effective treatments out there - has your doc discussed your options with you? I don't know if the Foundation has a listing of support groups, but it might be advisable to check them out. The more you know, the better you will be at dealing with it. You have worked very hard to lose the weight that you have, it would be tragic to put it back on again. Take good care.......:)
   — Judy K.

April 18, 2003
Hi Joanna, I was diagnosed with graves disease about 16 years ago following the birth of my first child. At that time, I didn't notice anything abnormal until a dr. questioned me about my eyes being larger and my neck being thick. I attributed my eyes to family trait, and my neck to my size. I did however get tested and was definitely "graves". The treatment I received was "radio-active iodine" that quickly resolved the overactive thyroid but then resulted in an underactive thyroid which means that instead of my body producing the thyroid chemicals itself, I now take synthetic thyroid chemicals yo keep the levels correct. Graves can be dangerous if it is not treated as soon as possible, so depending on the level of the "overactiveness" a treatment should be implimented now. Once I became underactive and started the medications, things were fine. Now I just get period checks to ensure that the level of the meds. is adequate for thyroid function. Send me a note if you have any more questions.
   — Anne-Marie R.