I'm just 16 and i have Graves disease. Is there anyone in the same condition like me? What about my future?

Question

I've been having treatment since Dec 2005 and right now i'm like in the hyper phase. I'm fully aware about all the medication&treatment stuff and the alternatives. But i have no idea if this disease is cured, will there be any hard conditions in future when i wanna have baby etc? also my doctor says that it is not common to have Graves in my age. is there anyone in the same situation and wanna give me soeme advice? what does your m.d. tell?i'm just too curious..

Answer 1

Hi! Onset of my Grave's began at 15 but was asymptomatic (to the doctors) until age 22, when I demanded a blood test (I thought I was dying). You see, I weighed 85 lbs. on my high school graduation day and looked anorexic. Grave's had developed when I first menstruated, so I never had a steady period. That, my weight, and my althleticism led the docs to think I was just slow to develop or too athletic for regular menstruation.

Anyway, upon a blood tests they found massive Grave's, gave me the meds, and all went well. I went into remission about 1 year after the diagnosis at age 23. I grew an inch taller and developed breasts (what a wonderful concept) that year as well. I finally developed fat cells, long awaited, at age 25 and looked a healthy weight from then onward.

Yes, you can have children, but please wait until you are in remission from the Grave's. You really don't want to be playing with Grave's when you are pregnany, since that's an additional factor which must be considered.

My advice is be patient with the whole process. They have to first determine the best treatments ... I say treatments because for me it was PTU, which turned out not to work, to tapazol, which did work. Had that not worked, we would have got to the subpartial thyroidectomy or radioactive iodine procedure. You'll have monthly blood tests, enough to know your phlebotomist by name each time.

No, it's not common to develop Grave's at your age. I'd never met anyone (until I just talked to you) who had developed it like me. BUT ... I have to tell you, be very thankful it has been found! I went through 7 years of thinking I was going crazy, stupid doctor-prescribed weight gain diets, being forbidden from any exercise whatsoever (I'd lose too much weight), and unexplained emergency room visits for malnutrition (and I ate like a horse). So, knowing what it is is half the battle. Now you just have to figure out how you'll manage the next year being patient. You will get better ... you're not "cured" but you can go into remission.

I went into remission at age 23, had monthly blood tests for a while (still in remission), then graduated to six months (still in remission) then went to yearly (still in remission). About 8 years later, my doctor didn't want to do the blood test, since he said I was fine. I insisted, since I have an abiding fear of Grave's, and it's a good thing I did. I now have Hashimoto's, the exact opposite of Grave's. I am hypo and take replacement thyroid hormone.

According to the research I did on Grave's, the docs aren't sure where the Grave's antibody comes from, but it looks like thyroid disorders can run in families, which was my case (I have 4 maternal aunts and my mother with thyroid issues). Further, there is some indication that the thyroid comes with a shelf life, which is what I think is occuring with me. With the way it went unchecked for so long (I was almost in thyroid storm, my numbers were so high -- the doc didn't know how I was alive), my thyroid really went into overdrive. What if it can operate that way for only so long? Anyway, that's the premise I operate on today, that the Grave's is gone forever and Hashimoto's is here to stay. My endocrinologist told me not to make such absolute statements, but I think the thyroid I have is dying slowly ... I'd much rather this than Grave's since Grave's is so insidious with me.

Anyhow, I am now 38 and that's my story. I hope it makes you feel a bit better that it can happen to teens. You also need to be vigilant from now on, telling docs you need that blood test just to be safe, etc. You WILL go into remission, one way or the other, and there are no real bad effects later on from this, as long as you keep on top of it. You'll want to continue drinking milk and exercising, since the latest studies have shown that being hyper puts you at greater bone loss risk later on ... maybe even add a calcium supplement (2 Citricals for me a day).

Good luck -- I hope all goes well -- and stay positive. You, too, will overcome this!!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hi there,

Because of your young age, I'm going to assume you are on antithyroid drugs, since RAI (radiation) is not normally used since ATDs produce an 80% remission rate for kids. My son is 12 and is now in remission after taking anithyroid drugs (ATD) for 4 years. He doesn't take any more medications now and his antibodies are now negative.

What I've seen is that many pregnant women who are taking ATDs will go into remission during pregnancy, or go to having just milder HypER and dont need to take much ATDs. The body does this naturally (reduces antibodies) as a way to protect the baby.

The dangerous part of being pregnant with a thyroid problem is if you dont have enough hormone for yourself and for the baby -- this can cause birth defects. You want to make sure your doctors are tesing actual FT4 hormones, and not TSH which can be suppressed by the antibodies.

Go to www.thyroidmanager.org which is a journal built by endos for the medical community to learn the latest about thyroid diseases. They have an entire chapter on thyroid disease and pregnancy. (See Chapter 14)

Take care!

Answer 4

Hi Deni

Here are some ideas on how to help the healing process.

Cause
Abnormal immune response is believed be a possible cause of hypothyroidism. The exact cause is not known, but certain antibodies from the immune system will launch an assault on the thyroid, disturbing hormone production. Lumps or tumors that form on the thyroid also disrupt hormone production. Temporary hyperthyroidism can be caused by infection or inflammation, and certain prescription drugs.

Hyperthyroidism is less common than Hypothyroidism, yet for both diseases, women appear to be more susceptible than men. Be aware that a malfunctioning thyroid may be the cause of recurring illnesses.


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Natural Cures

Diet: Eat an organic, whole foods diet, emphasizing foods that naturally suppress excess thyroid hormone production. Such foods include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, rutabagas, spinach, turnips, soybeans, peaches, and pears. Eliminate dairy products, over consumption of wheat products, coffee, tea, and caffeinated soft drinks.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.

Homeopathy: The homeopathic remedy Thyroidium is very helpful in assisting in proper thyroid regulation.

Juice Therapy: Drink carrot, celery, spinach, and parsley juice; or juice made from a combination of cabbage, watercress, and spinach.

Nutritional Supplementation: The following nutrients can help regulate thyroid function: vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, choline, trace minerals, iodine, kelp, and thyroid glandulars.

Alternative Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating hyperthyroidism: Acupuncture, Biofeedback Training, Homeopathy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Qigong, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Best of health to you

Cheers

Answer 5

http://www.ngdf.org/ is the site for the National Graves' Disease Foundation. Across the top of that home page are tabs for various kinds of information.Down the left hand side are links to reputable health information sites. They also have links where you can email people directly with questions. This might be helpful to you. In case you did not know, Barbara Bush has Graves. Graves is one of about 80 autoimmune diseases. I have lupus, a different autoimmne disease. These diseases are very complicated, so I ask you to please look for reliable sources of information.

Take good care of your general health, paying attention to nutrition, exercise and stress. Your immune system is already stressed, so don't give it any more stressful things to handle.

Good luck.

Answer 6

yes! I have it!
Does your eyes PUFF OUT! have you gained or lost the weight?
I'm 51 yrs old now...I've had it for Oh! my....a good twenty some years now,IF not more!
Its a Thyroid thing.
I've been on meds for as long...I take a thyroid pills every day of my life for the rest of my life.
It effect alot!!!!! Nails,HAIR, skin. I use to have beautiful hair and everyone would say my hair was ALWAYS prefect! I say WAS...because now it won't hold a CURL and has got sooooo THIN..life less EVEN perms won't hold in my hair! You can even see my head as the lost of hair? Its real bad! Skin is soo DRY! I have used everything under the sun..even Extra Virgin Oliver OIL!
Baby oil,and every cream or lotion out there.
Nails chip and split... on and on!
I've gained weight and LOST it all...but now at my age, I've gained again! I think this is a OLD AGE thing mostly! LOL
I use to loss weight ...and i mean 30 lbs at a time...and then like over night gain it all back....it goes on and on!
Mood swings !!!!! thats what really got me down!
I actually turn RED from my thyroid,and shake!!! I could hardly even write???? I was a waitress at the time....and my boss had come too me more then once, Asking if I had some kind of problem..as my writting was so shakey, then i would break out in this RED sweat! and almost actually passing out! I would go out in the mist of WINTER anywhere with NO Coat! It was that bad.
Thyroid/Graves is something that effects almost everything !!
Bowls are VERY loose..
go on all the SITES you can find ......
and GOOD LUCK!
all I know is the doctors blame everything on The Thyroid now..no matter what i have or get...thyroid had something too do with it...

Answer 7

Try these links for help.

http://www.thyroid.org/

http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/disorders.html

Answer 8

Once they adjust your medication, you should be OK. By the way, there is no cure, just control.

Answer 9

http://www.gravesdisease-guidebook.com/guide_detail.asp?gid=ND004&a=a&assoc=Google&keyword=gravesdisease
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/gravesbook.htm
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/alternativehelp/tp/alternatives.htm
You probably have done alot of reading already but here are a few sites that discuss alternative treatments.

Answer 10

Please see the webpages for more details on Hyperthyroidism and Graves disease.