For the past 11 years I have been suffering from "Grave's Disease", which results in hyperthyroidism or over-activity of thyroid hormone production (TSH). Today, my Endocrinologist has informed me of my recent tests, from my post's title, you already know the outcome. It's OVER baby.
Trust me, "Grave's" really SUCKS. George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, ironically both have this disease. They got it late in life, I got it in my 30's
At the onset of the disease, I was losing 15 pounds per month, and was shaky, nervous with my emotions wildly fluctuating (oddly enough, oppositely, e.g. sad on happy occaisions, happy on sad one...very strange). Anyway, shaky and nervous are not good qualities for a TV cameraman, which I was doing at the time. I had to stop working until I got treatment.Graves-Basedow disease is a disorder characterized by a triad of hyperthyroidism, goitre, and exophthalmos (bulging eyeballs).
Due to the many physiological actions of thyroid hormone, many symptoms and signs are linked to Graves' disease:
Cardiac: cardiac arrhythmias (especially atrial fibrillation), tachycardia (increased heart rate), collapsing pulse and widened pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic BP) and congestive cardiac failure with peripheral edema, ascites, anasarca.
Endocrine: weight loss in the presence of increased appetite, intolerance to heat, elevated basal metabolic rate. In premenopausal women, there may be a reduction in the amount of menses (oligomenorrhea).
Dermatological: profuse sweating, thyroid acropachy (clubbing) of the fingernails, onycholysis (fingernail destruction), palmar erythema, pretibial myxedema (3 to 5% of Graves' patients, not to be confused with the myxedema of hypothyroidism)
Neurological: tremor (especially noticeable on extending the arms), apprehension, weakness, headache, proximal myopathy (difficulty rising from a chair or squatting position), restlessness, and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
Gastrointestinal: diarrhea (common), vomiting (rare)
Ophthalmological: thyroid eye disease (TED) characteristic of Graves' disease include lid retraction (Dalrymple sign) above the superior corneoscleral limbus, lid lag (von Graefe's sign), exophthalmos (forward displacement of the globes), periorbital swelling and chemosis. Visual field defects may be present if periorbital swelling puts pressure on the optic nerve. The patient may complain of dry eye due to incomplete lid closure.
This got me a little bit, as my eyes are a little bulgier than they used to me. But not as bad as this guy.
Stomatological: multiple dental caries, periodontitis (rare).
Graves disease can lead to extreme hyperthyroidism which is life-threatening. This is called thyroid storm.
I had 3 choices:
1. Kill off the Thyroid with NUKE YOU LER drugs, RAI (radioactive iodine) and go on synthetic thyroid for the rest of my life (although my skull would glow for many half-lives thereafter).
2. Surgically remove the thyroid and go on synthroid for the rest of my life.
3. Take medication which is poisonous to the liver and bone marrow called "Methimazole", which has more side effects than syntrhoid.
Taking Methimazole was my choice, as remission from Grave's was a narrow possibility, but it was possible. In hindsight, looks like I made a good choice.
My Endo had me go off my meds about a month ago. 2 weeks ago I was tested. Today I found out the results:
NORMAL TSH LEVEL.
"Mr. Monahan, your Grave's Disease is in remission".
Now, excuse me while I go do the Snoopy Dance.
BAH BUM BUM BOP A BUM DUUUUH DUM...
DUM DEE DEEEEEEEEE
DUM DEE DEEEEEEEEE
DUUUUM DEE DEEEEEEEEE
Part of my plan for REBIRTH in 2007.
Thanks for your good wishes.
