The leading cause of hyperthyroidism,
Graves' disease represents a basic defect in the immune system,
causing production of immunoglobulins (antibodies)
which stimulate and attack the thyroid gland,
causing growth of the gland and overproduction of thyroid hormone.
Similar antibodies may also attack the tissues in the eye muscles
and in the pretibial skin (the skin on the front of the lower leg).
National
Graves' Disease Foundation
Thyroid Foundation of America
About.com re: Thyroid Disease
Graves' Disease Home Page
There
once was this lady, her body would quake,
Her knees were weak and her hands would shake.
She continued like this, for months she endured,
But when her eyes started to bulge, she couldn't take anymore.
Off to the doctor she went one day, to put her mind at ease.
After some tests, and a whole lot of stress, she found out
she was stricken with Graves' Disease!
Shannon, NGDF Warrior
Becky's Graves' Eyes
August 1996
July 1997 ~ after Botox injections to relax eye muscles.
from "Operating Instructions," by Anne Lamott
The
First Rule: You
must not have anything wrong with you
or any thing different.
The
Second Rule: If you do have something wrong with you,
you must get over it as soon as possible.
The
Third Rule: If you can't get over it,
you must pretend that you have.
The
Fourth Rule: If you can't even pretend that you have,
you shouldn't show up.
You should stay home,
because it's hard for everyone else to have you around.
The
Fifth Rule: If you are going to insist on showing up,
you should at least have the decency to feel ashamed.
(The
most subversive, revolutionary thing you can do
is to show up for life and not be ashamed!)
