Graves Disease (thyroid) Archives

Alternative to orbital decompression surgery ?

Hello, I am a 28 year-old female with graves' disease. I have been diagnosed with an overactive thyroïd about thirteen years ago. From the beginning I have been misinformed by my family doctors, the endocrynologists and the other specialists that gave me treatment and, up until the last five or six years, never took an active role in my treatment, convinced that I was that the doctors were in the best position to know what is best for their patient. At 21, I took RAI and in the following months my eyes started protruding. At this point, I was off medication because of the effect of the RAI and I could not understand why my eyes were bulging out despite the fact that I was in remission. I ended up accidentally reading about GO one day and that changed my perception of doctors in general. Anyway, long story short, a few months ago, my endocrinologist has suggested I undergo orbital decompression surgery. I find this extreme and it scares me tremendously. (I am now oscillating between 0.025 and 0.05 mg of synthroid. I have been taking medication again for two and a half years.)

My eyes are not very dry, I do not have to tape them during the night, they have not gotten bigger in the last three years and my vision is not at risk. However, I am afraid of the problem flaring up, which is a rare possibility, I am extremely sensitive to light and I feel pain when looking out of the corner of my eyes.

I have read in older posts about people naturally improving their eye condition but, either they never took RAI, or they have not waited as long as I have before doing something about their condition.

So, my question is this: Is it still possible for me to treat my thyroïd, along with the GO successfully with a proper diet and SR or is it too late and surgery is the only option for me?

Thank you,

Josée

Re: Alternative to orbital decompression surgery ?

Re: Alternative to orbital decompression surgery ? (Archive in Graves.)