Graves Disease (thyroid) Archives

Grave's linked to stress?

Dear Dr. Stoll and fellow Grave's suffers;

I am currently going through a very large Worker's Comp case. At this point the case has been based on a fractured left ankle and contusions of the left knee and shoulder (took place on 4/02). I am trying to link the discovery of my Grave's with this accident.

After the accident I was in and out of the hospital. My job threatened to fire me because I missed so much work from the accident. I was not able to pay for many of my bills because of all the medical bills piling up. These things were VERY stressful. At home I was not sleeping, nervous, anxious, worried... I was hot all of the time, extremely sore and eating anything I could find. My friends and family could not understand why I was always frustrated.

I went to the doctor and decribed my problem. I have had a history of depression and she prescribed anti-depressants right away. I asked her to do blood work because I was uncomfortable "just taking" something. A week later I was diagnosed with an extreme case of Grave's.

My question- is Grave's induced by stress? Can the symptoms be amplified by high stress levels (caused by injury?)? If the symptoms are amplified by stress, can this be negative for the patient (will it cause the patient additional harm if the condition already exsists?) If so, where can I find documented studies linking Grave's and stress?

Thank you!
Carrie

Follow Ups:

• Re: Grave's linked to stress? (Archive in Grave's.) Walt Stoll 09:44:37 10/16/01 (0)