by Kim Sharpe

Created on: February 02, 2009

I have dealt with Graves Disease for twenty four years of my life. It has been filled with various ups and downs. Over half of those years the disease has been in remission but during times of high stress it will raise its ugly head and I will be faced with treatment options.

Graves Disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects not only the thyroid but also other parts of the body. No one knows exactly what causes it. There is some speculation that it may be hereditary and in a few unlucky people it will kick on during times of stress. Whatever the cause the immune system goes into overdrive and begins to attack the body. The hardest hit is the thyroid gland which begins to overproduce thyroid hormones and the patient becomes affected with hyperthyroidism. This will present itself in a wide variety of symptoms.

1) Heart Palpitations (racing heart beat)

2) Heat Intolerance

3) Anxiety and Agitation

4) Frequent Bowel Movements

5) Tremor

6) Fatigue

7) Sleep Disturbances

8) Increased Appetite

9) Weight Loss

10) Increased Perspiration

11) Brittle Hair Or Loss Of Hair

12) Light Menstrual Cycle

13) Infertility

14) Irritability

A person will often suffer from all or only a few of these symptoms. Often the symptoms get progressively worse over time. Graves Disease can even eventually result in what is called a Thyroid Storm where the patient is faced with severe symptoms that will progress often into coma and death.

When the symptoms go untreated the person will often suffer severe heart conditions such as heart failure and brittle bones because calcium is affected when it is bombarded by thyroid hormones.

Graves Disease also often has eye involvement which is referred to as Graves Ophthalmopathy. This will cause the eyes to bulge forth. The tissue behind the eye is under attack by the immune system which causes often extreme swelling. Often the eye will bulge so far past the eyelids that the patient is unable to close their eyes. This can cause ulcers in the eye, double vision, a feeling of constant grit in the eye, light sensitivity, and diminished vision ability. This condition is often treated with steroids to alleviate the symptoms but often there is no cure.

Often people will also be afflicted with a skin disorder on their shins. This looks like a dimpling and thickening of the skin. This is also a result of the immune system attacking.

There are really only three treatment options for people with Graves Disease. One is medication. There are two drugs commonly prescribed, propylthiouracil

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