Graves Disease (thyroid) Archives

Thank you, Dr. Stoll! Graves testimonial.

I was diagnosed with Graves disease 3 mos. ago and yours was the only holistic-type treatment I could find on the internet. Thank goodness I found you before my appt. with my endocrinologist, because that guy wanted to shut down my thyroid with RAI, and we all know what a nightmare that can turn into. Since my syptoms were so severe, I did take PTU and Inderal to get me thru the past 3 mos., but I also adopted your 3-legged stool approach, cleaning up my diet, walking every day, taking up yoga and meditation and finding an SR approach that worked for me. I am currently seeing a terrific biofeedback therapist (Julie Weiner, at the Biofeedback Center of Riverdale (Bronx, NY). Though she had never treated a Graves disease patient before, she agreed to take me on. It turns out, I get into the targetted alpha state quite easily, but I also needed work on facial relaxation. Anyone with Graves will tell you how you almost can't help tensing your eye muscles into that hard squint, and biofeedback has definitely helped in targetting facial muscle relaxation. My latest blood tests reveal everything within "normal" range, except my TSH has caroomed in the opposite direction and now I'm hyPOthyroid! My doc can't believe that my numbers came down so fast! He had predicted that it would take 9 mos.-2 years. He's drastically reduced my PTU (from 21 pills a week to 2) and cut my Inderal in half. Walt, you always ask us to tell you what we've learned, so here goes:
1. The first few weeks after a Graves diagnosis are very frightening. Between the eye pain, and the fear of what's happening to you, you may have some sleepless nights. The truth is, you are going to be ok. You have to make a concentrated effort to calm yourself down. My SR essentially did away with the eye pain the first weekend.
2. Sleep with your head elevated on a couple of pillows. There will be less eye pain or pressure in the morning.
3. Cut out all caffeine. Period.
4. Read the Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook. Great tips here thatI will follow for life.
5. If you're too weak to work out, walk--everywhere.
6. Do not, under any circumstances, let anyone get your goat. Steer clear of anyone or anything that provokes you. Don't let anyone engage you in conflict or argument. You just can't go there anymore. Period.
7. If Graves is truly a grief disease for you, be really honest with yourself about the person or dream you've lost, and what they or it meant to you.
8. Whatever working method of SR you adopt, stick with it--forever!

Re: Thank you, Dr. Stoll! Graves testimonial.

Re: Thank you, Dr. Stoll! Graves TESTIMONIAL