Vision disorders ~ Opthalmic Graves

[only1alphafemale]

Recently we were having a discussion regarding the excessive tearing of eyes, or what looks like were crying when were not.

In my case its known as Opthalmic Graves disease. Graves disease is an immune disorder dealing with the thyroid for the most part, which is where all of my health problems originated from, right down to the current heart problems I have.

DQ, you were diagnosed with this many years ago, and if I may, what types of treatments have you tried (if any) in the more recent years? You said you had the roto-rootering done on your skull like I need to have done, but you had to have it more than once? My doc hasnt said anything about the possibility of having to have it done more than once, so next time I see him? I want to ask him about this stuff..... lol...along with alternate treatments, besides the Prednisone and radiation I current have done?

Summer? You also had a problem with excessive tearing? and had surgery to your tear ducts ? ( I think DQ mentioned this also?) These surgeries havent been discussed with me ~ I think due to what my diagnosis is, and mine is from the increased fatty build up of tissues and swelling of tissues, behind my orbs...but I would like to have more information if you or anyone else here wouldnt mind sharing it with me. I have had no one to talk to outside of the doctor I see, and he is pretty tight lipped actually as he doesnt want to give me the eye surgery due to my other health issues...:(

[dancingqueen]

The "rotorrooter" surgery I had was not inside my skull, it was in my eyes. In fact before that I had artificial tubes put into my eyes. I also have silicone plugs in my tear ducks. Tubeculectomy, is the correct term for the surgery I had to replace the tubes in my eyes. My doctor explained it to me this way, that I have a congenital disorder of the optic nerves that make them swell. My mom says that from the day I was born she would look into my big brown eyes and know that something was wrong. My parents took me from one eye doctor to another throughout my childhood, at that time no one took a pressure reading on a child. I would complain of blurry vision, I can't see the chalk board, all of a sudden I can't read the words on a page. But, by the time I got to the doctor it was a good day and I could read an eye chard just great. The doctors would say oh, she just doesn't want to do her work. That did not make sense to my parents because I was a very good student and a very compliant child, I was a people pleaser, I wasn't trying to get out of doing anything. When my dad was in his late 60's he was diagnosed with glaucoma and his doctor suggested that all of his children be tested. That is the first time I ever remember having my pressure read and it was in the mid 30's and the doctor was alarmed to say the least and referred me to a specialist at Stanford. I have never had radiation, lots of laser, in fact, so much that they can no longer do it on my eyes. Because Stanford is a teaching hospital I was experimented on several times, brand new techniques lots of doctors and fellows where watching the operations. The fellows were wonderful because they were so interested in my condition and asked me so many questions and gave me lots of information. Of Course, it was the wrong diagnosis and NONE OF THEM CAUGHT THAT. I DO NOT think that anything that was ever done harmed me or made my condition worse and I have no anger against any of the doctors, they were all doing the best they could.

[only1alphafemale]

My *condition* was first diagnosed up here by the same doctors~ who them refered me down to Bidar in their office in Fresno. I had to wait to get my vision checked,until it was covered by my insurance company I had then, and when Feb came I was there first thing, and it was the internal pressures that alerted them to a problem...( that and the fact I was unable to read anything anymore! lol )
I have to have my prescriptions changed now about every 6 months for my eyes. Since its a medical condition and NOT a vision condition, my insurance now covers the new glasses along with the transition lenses as I am supposed to avoid bright sunlight also, so that works out for me financially anyway...and is a BIG blessing!

Just from what you have written here, I see the congential ties you spoke of. Mine isnt congental. Mine was caused by my thyroid undergoing an attack of my immune system and that spread to my heart, and eyes, and possibly even my liver ( more recently) ...but things still keep *erupting* in different parts of my body. I was under the mis-impression that when they were finally able to remove my thyroid, that all of these problems would also go away and I would be cured, but sadly, thats not how it works...... :(

I know that may sound like a lot, but I have had several years to adjust to the initial changes, and am very thankful for the state of health I am in and do have! :yes: but at times the continued deterioration of my sight gets kind of scary...

[MadScot]

I had my first thyroid storm when I was 12 or 13. I told doctors for decades there was something seriously wrong with me. I would not be diagnosed with Graves until I started passing out frequently at age 44. Then a couple years ago I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and diabetes. When I get real tired my sight starts to go. It flickers like an old silent movie or looks like I'm in a medium fog.

There was a real good support group for graves at mediboard but they had host problems. It was the best resouce for Graves info I had even seen. The same folks who ran that board have started up a Graves Wiki you can get there through http://www.mediboard.com/ there's not a lot of info there yet but I expect it will grow.

[only1alphafemale]

Thanks for the link MadScot, I wil check it out from time to time.
I know that most of the sites I had visited were regarding people who still had their thyroids and were dealing with helping them to balance out or heal and herbs and such.
Mine was finally removed Feb 2007, ( it was in very bad shape....the doctor even took a picture of it and showed my family just how bad it was, and emailed me the pic later on ). So I no longer have my thyroid, but I do still have Graves Disease...:confused: and it still is attacking me !!

I dont really understand it since its been removed, but my lack of understanding it, needless to say doesnt change it ~ .....:rofl: rolleyes:

[Yosemite_Wolf]

those pesky thyroids! Mine is attacking me too.. but on the opposite end of the spectrum. My condition is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis... where my body attacks the thyroid. I remember when I was first diagnosed.. .my vision would go dim on me... where i would see spots in my field of vision. now, 200 mcg later of Synthroid later..... im all good. It sure is scarey when you vision goes bonkers... so I can just imagine what you experiece Wolfie! Argh.

[only1alphafemale]

My condition has just gotten murkier as time has gone on YW. Since a lot of my health issues didnt clear up after my thyriod was removed, (I am also on the snynthroid since then) they have speculated that "What ever attacked my throid to begin with" is now responsible for the rest of the havoc thats being done. :( They havent used the word or even given/ ventured or offered any further diagnosis, like your Hashimoto's Thyroiditis though.

I DO recall however that many years ago, before I swapped ends and was diagnosed as hypo-thyroid, I was also told I was gluten intolerant!( They must go hand in hand!)

My vision is still an ongoing and ever changing big problem for me. I hope you dont experience any more of the vision issues with yours! :yes:

[Yosemite_Wolf]

Funny you mention that Wolfy, cos they say that glutens can cause Thyroid Disorders!!!!

[only1alphafemale]

Funny you mention that Wolfy, cos they say that glutens can cause Thyroid Disorders!!!!

It makes you wonder doesnt it, which comes first ? :confused: