Introduction:
I am living with Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease and so I decided to share what I have learned in hopes that it will help others. I am not a Doctor nor to I claim to be, this is from personal experience and my own research and my personal Doctors. I went two and half months of thyroid storms, losing 75 pounds, I told my family I don’t know how much more my body can take before I die, and going from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I even went to specialists thinking it was from one of my forms of arthritis or medications causing it. I was told it was leaky gut, it was this cancer or that cancer, and even had one doctor tell me it was all in my head. I finally broke down and made an appointment for a colonoscopy, that was when the doctor said I am sorry, but I can’t help you, you need to have an ultrasound on your thyroid gland and see an Endocrinologist. What a relief! And he was right!
It was a long road and a lot of research, but you can do it! The treatment is scary, The diet is strict, but life does get better. Your body will use everything it has and then some. But with determination and sheer will power you can come out on top and stay there. I did. I am not a doctor, and I don’t claim to be, I have done my research, I found my information from the Mayo Clinic websites, Yale medical site, my Endocrinologist at University of Utah and my doctor at Elko Hospital.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is caused when your thyroid gland goes into over drive and produces to much thyroid hormone. It is also sometimes called overactive thyroid. This causes the body’s metabolism to speed up. It causes weight loss, hand tremors, rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Treatment:
If you are under 50, Surgery is the best option to remove the thyroid gland.
If you are over 50, Radioactive Iodine is used to kill the thyroid gland.
Then you are on Thyroid replacement pills.
Graves’ Disease:
What is Graves’ Disease?
Graves’ Disease is an autoimmune disease that attacks the healthy thyroid gland, causing it to produce too much thyroid hormone. You treat Graves’ Disease the same as you treat Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms:
Anxiety, Nervousness, Fatigue, Difficulty concentrating, Memory problems, Rapid or Irregular heartbeat.
Cause:
The cause of Graves’ Disease is not yet known, researchers believe it is a genetic predisposition to the condition after being exposed to one or more of the following external triggers: Viral infections, Bacterial infections, Having Iodine levels that are higher than normal, Changes in Hormone levels (women)
Discussion:
Graves’ Disease will go into remission, when you get it and your thyroid under control. You, will never be able to get rid of Graves’ Disease. It will always be with you. You can keep it in check with medication, regular Dr. appointments and blood tests and diet. It is definitely a life changing disease: it can be a devastating one if you aren’t careful.
Then comes Hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland does not produce of the thyroid hormone.
And then when us that have Hyperthyroidism get our Thyroid removed or killed, and get everything in check and think it’s all going to be okay, We figure out that we have no thyroid, so, there for our metabolism doesn’t work, and that the statement of : “you can drink water and gain weight” really is true! We are so lucky, we can breathe air and gain weight 🙂 So, then we have to figure out now what?
And we are all different! I survive on a 1500 calorie diet, walking 3 to 4 miles a day, no cruciferous vegetables, no night shade vegetables (arthritis), no dairy products, basically if it tastes good, SPIT IT OUT! very little red meat, a very boring diet! And guess what, yep I would lose 5 pounds, and the next week gain 6 doing the exact same thing.
I soon found out that my body had used up all of my hormones and stopped making them. So I had to start doing Hormone therapy. In 3 months, I am down 30 pounds and have 18 more to go, I have started getting some energy back, not being exhausted all the time, not having to stop and sleep through the day, and its been a few months since I have had to text my husband telling him, sorry I can do this today, I am going back to bed. I actually feel like I am starting to live again!
Just remember you can do it. Keep on track with your doctor appointments, blood work, get some exercise in, start small, get sunshine, keep a journal, get a support team if you don’t have one already. If you can’t find one reach out to me, I would love it. It is crucial! Mine was my daughter-in-law’s Mom, she is a nurse, and she was studying Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease, we learned a lot together and still are.
Results:
Studies published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Investigated the long-term outcomes of patients with Graves’ Disease 25 years after initiating anti-thyroid drug therapy. The study found that normal thyroid function was achieved in 34% of patients at the end of follow-up.
The remaining patients had either active disease (1%), spontaneous hypothyroidism (13%), or had undergone ablative treatment with radio-iodine (40%) or thyroidectomy (13%).
Factors such as age younger than or equal to 40 years, thyroid eye disease (TED), smoking, and elevated levels of certain inflammatory bio markers increased the risk of the relapsing disease. Additionally, 47% of patients had one or more autoimmune disease, including vitamin B12 deficiency (26%) and rheumatoid arthritis (5%)
Another study examined the long-term outcomes of patients with Graves’ Disease more than 20 years after their initial diagnosis and treatment. The study found that approximately 45% of patients experienced a relapse of the Graves’ Disease after stopping the anti-thyroid drugs. Only 11% of those who relapsed were able to maintain normal thyroid function 20 years later.
The study also explored the progression of the disease, the impact on quality of life, and factors that influence the likelihood of disease remission or relapse.
References: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, Clinical Thryoidology for the public, Yale Medical, and the Mayo Clinic.
