Okay, so I've gone back and forth a few hundred times on whether or not I was going to post this video.
It's so personal and it's been such a battle but I feel like I have to do it, if only to get the information out to one person. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease about a year ago. I suffered from Hyperthyroidism and didn't realize I actually had it. Once my doctor informed me, he immediately put me on tapazole to slow down my Thyroid. Which then threw me into Hypothyroidism.... Yeah! So welcome to my journey.
I've been seeing an amazing endocrinologist Dr. Handlesman, for the past 2 years and we've been trying regulate my Thyroid with the tapazole by going up and down with the dosage and checking my blood levels every six weeks, with no luck. So we (yes together) decided to just keep my thyroid inactive with the tapazole and he prescribed a synthroid to give my body back the thyroid that I need. I know it seems counterproductive but so far it's been working for me. My blood levels are good, I don't feel off... Most days. Although I'm experiencing hot flashes more frequently, which could be a result of the graves or maybe I'm just premenopausal... Oy my life!
At any rate, all of this has brought on TED, Thyroid Eye Disease, a condition that effects the eyes and causes pain, swelling, itching, redness, impairs my vision and bulging eye effect. Now that my eyes and thyroid have stabilized, I have decided to have the surgery to correct the problem.
Again, I've gone back and forth on whether or not this is the proper platform to broadcast something so personal, but I figured this is my website and it should reflect all aspects of my life. I will try and chronicle this journey as best and often as I can and if you have any questions, please feel free to inquire and I will answer as quickly as possible.
Until next time...
Leah