Living with graves disease daily has been challenging since it does affect my every day tasks at times due to the draining symptoms it can cause. However, now knowing what the disease is and treatments that work best has helped keep this disease under control. When my disease is under control, I am able to live a happily normal life until it decides to flare up again and be ugly with me.
What is Graves Disease?
Graves disease is an autoimmune disease that causes the thyroid gland to be overactive by producing too much thyroid hormone. When this gland is overactive, it is also known as hyperthyroidism. The thyroid is responsible for keeping the metabolism working properly. When the metabolism is not functioning properly it causes weight problems and physically and mental weakness.
Who Gets Graves Disease?
Graves disease tends to affect women more than men and it usually starts to develop in between 20 and 30 years of age. However, the disease can start earlier or later in life, but this is rare. The disease is usually genetic, but other diseases as well such as lupus, diabetes, anemia, vitiligo and arthritis can cause it. Server traumatic stress can also cause Graves disease to develop as well as server infections in the body that are not treated properly. An unhealthy environmental filled with pollutions, toxins, chemicals and metals might be the cause of this disease as well. I developed Graves disease due to traumatic stress and an unhealthy living environment, which caused me to move to a healthier place that was cleaner and less stressful.
Symptoms of Graves Disease
Constantly hungry Irregular menstrual cycles Anxiety and panic attacks Weak muscles and body Irregular heart beats Weight gain or loss Insomnia Constantly sweating Constant bowel movements Eye watering and itching Difficulty concentrating Breast enlargement Heat intolerance Fatigue Respiratory problems Shaking Blackouts Poor skin Thinning hair Irritability Mood Swings Infertility
How Is Graves Disease Diagnosed?
Three tests are done by the doctor to help determine whether you have Graves’s disease. Those three tests are the thyroid function test, the antibody test and the radioactive iodine uptakes. All three tests are simple to take and pain free, but I was a little fatigued after them.
The Thyroid Function Test – This is a blood test for testing high levels of thyroid hormone and if the thyroid hormones are high, you most likely have Graves disease. The Antibody Test- This blood test checks the antibodies in the bloodstream for the disease. However, this test cannot always determine whether you have the disease because some antibodies look the same as the Graves disease antibodies. The Radioactive Iodine Uptake – This involves eating foods with high levels of iodine in them, which shows how much iodine the thyroid gland is able to hold. If the gland can hold high amounts of iodine this could possibly mean you have the disease as well.
Three Main Treatments for Graves Disease Radioactive Iodine Treatment – Involves taking a pill daily for the rest of your life possibly that contains radioactive iodine that helps destroy the thyroid gland by giving it radioactive iodine treatments so it is unable to product thyroid hormones. Anti-thyroid Medication – This is a medication that helps prevent the thyroid from creating too much hormone. Surgery – This involves removing the thyroid completely, which cures the disease. However, thyroid hormone treatments will be needed to replace the hormone that is needed by the body to keep the metabolism running properly.
My Herbal Treatments for Graves Disease
Now since I did not do any of the three above treatments for Graves disease for personal reasons. Instead, I do herbal treatments, which involves taking herbal supplements that help reduces the hormone being produced by my thyroid such as bugleweed, kelp, spearmint and lemon balm. I also eat a well balances diet of fresh green vegetables and drinking plenty of water daily. However, I work with an herbal doctor in my local area to help keep this disease under control naturally. Without proper treatment this disease can become life threatening.
Personal Experience with Graves Disease
Yes, Graves disease has been difficult at times for me to handle since it does like I mentioned prevent me sometimes from doing daily tasks. However, managing stress levels by taking soothing baths, doing yoga, getting massages, listening to peaceful instrumental music and talking to friends and family daily helps. I have also found sticking to a strict diet of fresh organic whole foods has helped a lot as well that consist of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, plenty of water and herbal treatments daily. I even make sure I get plenty of rest so I do not feel fatigued throughout the day. When I do not stick to my diet, manage stress and get good rest I find this is when my disease flares up with discomforting symptoms such as breathing difficulties, fatigue, anxiety attacks and irregular heart beats. So, I believe the best way to live with and control Graves disease for me is sticking to the diet, getting plenty of rest and managing my stress levels.