RE: orbit scan for Graves

[Guest guest]

I know about the little contraption - I was measured at 22 at my worst.

Back down to 18 or 19. Also my Endo mentioned something about the eye being

behind the eyebrow bone. I know how lonely you must feel but these bulletin

boards are a tremendous help - you share your concerns with those with the

same problems. Friends and family find it difficult to relate to us when

often times the illness is not visible.

I am amazed at the people I know who have hyper or hypothyroidism. When you

let others know you have this problem the word gets out and eventually

people start coming to you seeking answers. There are two people on my

block with Graves who had RAI and another whose sister had the surgery years

ago. I also work with several folks whose family members have Graves or are

hypo. The wife of one man had major surgery several years ago to repair her

eyes....apparently her case was severe. Another coworkers daughter was just

diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism and came to me with questions. My

best friend just had blood work and has a low FT4 - we're going to get her

" smart " before her next visit.....it goes on and on. I also have a cousin

with Graves. Talk to friends and family if you can, look for support

groups in your area. Over a year ago I posted the city where I reside and

immediately met three new people (all with Graves). One in particular is

now a good friend.

It may seem you're never going to get better but you will. If at all

possible try to reduce your stress level, avoid fish, and reduce your iodine

intake. Increase califlower, broccoli - foods in this category...it will

help to slow down the thyroid. Keep in touch, Mona

orbit scan for Graves

Mona,

The orbit scan is like an x-ray of the entire eye area. They can see if

the muscles and tissues are inflammed or enlarged. This is apparently

something that could develop as the disease progresses.

Also they measured the protrusion with some sort of instrument. I'll

need to get that remeasured when I start with any treatment. My

protrusion was 22mm to 23 in left eye; 23mm to 24 in the right eye; normal

is

20 mm.

Glad you all are here. I really feel alone.

Pat

[Guest guest]

Mona,

You are so great!

I am avoiding fish which is so difficult since I love sushi! This has been

quite difficult to say the least but it has been almost 2 1/2 weeks so far

since I have enjoyed sushi. It's quite a social meal as well and I do

miss this. I'm sure my friends wonder what is going on so I will need to

explain to them.

Reducing iodine has been necessary for this RAI uptake which I have

next week to pinpoint the extent of the problem. At least by the doctor who

I first saw; he wants 2 weeks of a low iodine diet.

I have found a broccoli slaw and frozen cauliflower, both of which I

thankfully enjoy. I make cole slaw to eat almost every other day.

This is a new way of life to me, and I hope all I do will slow things

down.

Thanks again for your comments Mona. Your words add camaraderie

to this entire dilemma.

Pat

[Guest guest]

Hi Pat,

You might want to check out this site http://ithyroid.com/

and read the information about RAIU test --and RAI-- prior having

your RAIU test next week.

You may also consider visiting atomicwomen website,

http://www.suite101.com/myhome.cfm/atomicwomen

where you'll find information about RAI, and RAI vs surgery or

antithyroid-meds, as well as how the Radioiodine (RAI) contributes to

worsen eye problems, and to develope eye disease where it was not

previously present. The page " thyroid eye disease " has a link to an

eye CT scan. [Mona, are you hearing me? )...]

Your eye problems seem very mild to me, and hopefully as soon as you

have the thyroid gland under control, eyes will come back to normal,

within some months. My best advice to you is learn as much as you can

so that you can take informed decisions.

Best of luck!.

> Mona,

>

> You are so great!

>

> I am avoiding fish which is so difficult since I love sushi! This

has been

> quite difficult to say the least but it has been almost 2 1/2 weeks

so far

> since I have enjoyed sushi. It's quite a social meal as well and I

do

> miss this. I'm sure my friends wonder what is going on so I will

need to

> explain to them.

>

> Reducing iodine has been necessary for this RAI uptake which I have

> next week to pinpoint the extent of the problem. At least by the

doctor who

> I first saw; he wants 2 weeks of a low iodine diet.

>

> I have found a broccoli slaw and frozen cauliflower, both of which I

> thankfully enjoy. I make cole slaw to eat almost every other day.

>

> This is a new way of life to me, and I hope all I do will slow

things

> down.

>

> Thanks again for your comments Mona. Your words add camaraderie

> to this entire dilemma.

>

> Pat

[Guest guest]

Dear Pat,

Re the RAI uptake: I think those "in the know" on this board believe this test is useless, in that it doesn't really change the course of treatment, it just exposes you to radiation for no good reason and is very expensive (good for the doctor). I had it, and I'm sorry I did, as a good diagnostician can arrive at what he/she needs to know without it. I don't think it's really dangerous or has side effects, but you never know--I now try to avoid this high-tech stuff.

All the best,

AntJoan

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the sites . I've visited http://ithyroid.com/ and have it

bookmarked. I never had a reason to go to the Atomic Women site

until now.

I guess there's no use in asking that higher power, " Why me? What am

I supposed to do with this? " I'm asking it anyway.

Pat

[Guest guest]

Hi, ,

Would you share that slaw recipe, please? I'd love to try a new one.

Thanks!

Fran

RE: orbit scan for Graves

>Mona,

>

>You are so great!

>

>I am avoiding fish which is so difficult since I love sushi! This has been

>quite difficult to say the least but it has been almost 2 1/2 weeks so far

>since I have enjoyed sushi. It's quite a social meal as well and I do

>miss this. I'm sure my friends wonder what is going on so I will need to

>explain to them.

>

>Reducing iodine has been necessary for this RAI uptake which I have

>next week to pinpoint the extent of the problem. At least by the doctor who

>I first saw; he wants 2 weeks of a low iodine diet.

>

>I have found a broccoli slaw and frozen cauliflower, both of which I

>thankfully enjoy. I make cole slaw to eat almost every other day.

>

>This is a new way of life to me, and I hope all I do will slow things

>down.

>

>Thanks again for your comments Mona. Your words add camaraderie

>to this entire dilemma.

>

>Pat

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Good morning Pat......I also love fish so it has been tough! I still

indulge but on rare occasions...I particularly like salmon. We never know

where this disease takes us. As I said before I'm in remission but this

past weekend my eyelids swelled up and the corners of my eyes are swollen

and twitching....looks strange. Don't know what this is all about??!!

Could be allergy to makeup - don't know. Anyway, I'm definitely watching my

diet and need to check JOhn's website for supplement. I wonder if " eat

right for your blood type " book is worth looking at? My blood type is A-.

I'm a firm believer that stress is a major factor in dealing with Graves.

I've had to change my lifestyle considerably....primarily just learning to

say NO!! take care of yourself, Mona

RE: orbit scan for Graves

Mona,

You are so great!

I am avoiding fish which is so difficult since I love sushi! This has been

quite difficult to say the least but it has been almost 2 1/2 weeks so far

since I have enjoyed sushi. It's quite a social meal as well and I do

miss this. I'm sure my friends wonder what is going on so I will need to

explain to them.

Reducing iodine has been necessary for this RAI uptake which I have

next week to pinpoint the extent of the problem. At least by the doctor who

I first saw; he wants 2 weeks of a low iodine diet.

I have found a broccoli slaw and frozen cauliflower, both of which I

thankfully enjoy. I make cole slaw to eat almost every other day.

This is a new way of life to me, and I hope all I do will slow things

down.

Thanks again for your comments Mona. Your words add camaraderie

to this entire dilemma.

Pat

[Guest guest]

Dear Zoey,

I had heard that taking magnesium would stop eyelid twitching, and the last time mine started twitching I took extra magnesium and it worked.

AntJoan

[Guest guest]

Hi Mona,

My left eye occasionally twitches or spasms. Two of my women MDs (PCP and

Endo) tell me it happens to them too and is not thyroid connected. Some of

my women friends have had it happen to them as well. My men MDs just sort

of look past me like they don't know what I'm talking about. I believe it's

called either or both blepharospasms or benign eyelid myokymia. You can

probably do an internet search for " eyelid spasms " for information if you

are interested.

I wondering whether, in my case, the spasms might have something to do with

certain supplements, drugs, or stuff we put on our face. I recently started

using glycolic acid and various other facial preparations and it seems

possible they may be causing the twitch. Some of the vitamins I suspect -

but this is a totally wild guess, might be MSM, biotin, silica, and/or

chromium. They are all relatively new to me and I take generous amounts.

My eyes seem a bit drier then usual which might be caused by the vitamins,

the facial stuff, or too many hours at the computer. One of my MDs said she

noticed her eyelid twitching when she was taking Sudafed. Perhaps we can

all work together on this one to discover the triggers and possible ways to

alleviate it. So happy to hear of your healthy progress. With all my

best, Zoey

RE: orbit scan for Graves

>

>

>Mona,

>

>You are so great!

>

>I am avoiding fish which is so difficult since I love sushi! This has been

>quite difficult to say the least but it has been almost 2 1/2 weeks so far

>since I have enjoyed sushi. It's quite a social meal as well and I do

>miss this. I'm sure my friends wonder what is going on so I will need to

>explain to them.

>

>Reducing iodine has been necessary for this RAI uptake which I have

>next week to pinpoint the extent of the problem. At least by the doctor who

>I first saw; he wants 2 weeks of a low iodine diet.

>

>I have found a broccoli slaw and frozen cauliflower, both of which I

>thankfully enjoy. I make cole slaw to eat almost every other day.

>

>This is a new way of life to me, and I hope all I do will slow things

>down.

>

>Thanks again for your comments Mona. Your words add camaraderie

>to this entire dilemma.

>

>Pat

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Zoey, nice to hear from you. I agree that it also may have something to

do with what we put on our faces. One night this week both inside corners

of my eyes near the top of the nose bridge were red, itchy and swollen. It

seems to get better when I remove the makeup. An eyelid will also swell up

and look like a giant blister and itch like crazy!! It eventually subsides

but I think it's an allergy attack of some sort since this has happened to

me occasionally for many, many years. Lately though the inside of both

eyelids have been a problem. I don't wear too much eye makeup but can't

wait to take it off when I get home! My eyelashes have suddenly become very

sparse which means I have to put on more mascara in order to see the lashes

(lashes are blonde but I'm more of a reddish type hair color). My eyes have

been red and watery over the last two weeks - anyway I'll check the internet

for eyelid spasms and allergy attacks. Thanks for the info, Mona

RE: orbit scan for Graves

>

>

>Mona,

>

>You are so great!

>

>I am avoiding fish which is so difficult since I love sushi! This has been

>quite difficult to say the least but it has been almost 2 1/2 weeks so far

>since I have enjoyed sushi. It's quite a social meal as well and I do

>miss this. I'm sure my friends wonder what is going on so I will need to

>explain to them.

>

>Reducing iodine has been necessary for this RAI uptake which I have

>next week to pinpoint the extent of the problem. At least by the doctor who

>I first saw; he wants 2 weeks of a low iodine diet.

>

>I have found a broccoli slaw and frozen cauliflower, both of which I

>thankfully enjoy. I make cole slaw to eat almost every other day.

>

>This is a new way of life to me, and I hope all I do will slow things

>down.

>

>Thanks again for your comments Mona. Your words add camaraderie

>to this entire dilemma.

>

>Pat

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ant Joan,

I've heard the same thing about magnesium, however, every time I take it all it seems to do is give me diarrhea. I've tried all sorts of magnesiums including magnesium malate and 's suggestion of Solray's Cal/Mag 1:1. Any other suggestions - magnesium or otherwise.? I have never in my life used any kind of eye make-up and only rarely use anything including make-up on my face. The glycolic acid and night cream habit is about 3 weeks old. Thanks for your help and I love your name. Happy Valentine's Day, Zoey

Re: orbit scan for GravesDear Zoey, I had heard that taking magnesium would stop eyelid twitching, and the last time mine started twitching I took extra magnesium and it worked. AntJoan

[Guest guest]

Dear Zoey,

Hope you had a happy Valentine's Day too! When I took lots of magnesium it also gave me diarhhea, so I no longer take the cal/mag supplement--I just take the magnesium in my multi. However, when my eye starts twitching, I took a few cal/mags for a day or so, it stopped the twitching, and I didn't get diarhhea. Maybe you can take just a little extra for a short time if your eye starts to twitch? Even if that does bother your stomach a little, the problem shouldn't last and you can calm down your eye.

Good luck,

AntJoan