Guest guest Posted July 4, 2003 Report Share Posted July 4, 2003 Thanks for the info, ! I see Yoga in my future ;-) Have a good holiday, At 10:09 AM 7/4/2003 -0400, you wrote: >Hi Ron and , > >What I neglected to mention about the article was the researchers' point >that stress reduction can make us healthier. In terms of their study, >exercise, eating and sleeping well, and refraining from smoking decreased >levels of the presumably harmful chemical. I'm certain yoga and a host of >other energy and relaxation techniques would work as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2003 Report Share Posted July 4, 2003 In a message dated 7/4/2003 9:10:29 AM Central Daylight Time, nbalant@... writes: > My endocrinologist, who's quite savvy, told me Graves' was caused by > stress. >> I've always understood it was hereditary and can be set off or aggravated by stress, among other things, but not caused by stress. Terri Graves disease 1979; treated with RAI; exothalmia 1982, treated with IV steroids; since then on one or another form of replacement hormone. New flare up of TED with severe double vision, swelling in intraocular muscles and inflammation in August of 2002. Currently hypoactive. Treated TED with prednisone. It worked while on prednisone, but TED came back worse after. Undergoing Orbital radiation June-July 2003. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2003 Report Share Posted July 4, 2003 I think the answer is that we don't know the answer. Graves' (like many autoimmune diseases) seems to have multiple triggers and scientists, researchers and patients alike have not been able to identify a strict and ALWAYS repeated series of incidents or chemical reactions that set Graves' off. I personally have been obsessed with trying to find THE CAUSE of Graves, particularly when I was first diagnosed; I still believe that somebody might come up with a single answer and a pill to fix it (like they did with stomach ulcers and the helico bactor pylori but which causes them and can be wiped out with a course of strong antibiotics). But the annoying conclusion I have come to for now, is that there might be mulitple trigger factors and that we come to the point of active Graves' disease through a series of incremental changes in our lives and our body chemistry. If you will forgive the abuse of the analogy - there are many paths to Graves' Disease! Even so, if scientists are able to identify one factor that is common to all Grave's cases, they could still intervene at that point (a point before it develops?) and wipe out the illness. The most generally applied and succinct theory that I have understood about what triggers Graves' is: Only a percentage of peole who have the genetic predisposition for Graves', go on to develop active Graves'. This suggests that a triggering factor in the life of the individual, or a series of triggering factors must be present for Graves' to be set off. suspected triggers that I have read about An undiscovered retro virus Other infecitons like the bug Yersinia Iodine dye injections for X rays Change in diet (I for instance ate loads and loads of seaweed soup before I became ill) Mineral imbalance particularly copper deficiency. There appears to be a stress factor in that people who have Graves' have often recently been through a time of great stress (bereavement, an accident, moving house, changing jobs - extreme change). But this does not apply to everyone with Graves'. For people who HAVE been through a stressful time, or who are addicted to stress in their lives this information can be a godsend and give the person a sense that they can claw back power over the illness by de-stressing their lives (and this is very true, reducing stress can only help) However, for people who have not been through a stressful time and who are laid back by nature, it can be very annoying (and actually, stressful) to be told again and again that you are suffering from stress when you have searched your heart, and your life and found that you are at peace with everything in it. It also increases your feeling of powelessness because you can't see how you could have led a less stressful life. It makes you feel like you are being judged as being out of touch with yourself and paranoid that your sense of reality is not what everyone else is seeing or hearing. Grave's itself when it is active, does make you stressed. So when I was ill, I found myself in this very curious position where I was getting incredibly anxious and stressed about all the people who were saying that I was ill because I was a stress head - and I would tell them angrily that I was not a stressed out person and they would say " there you go, see, there you're doing it now " . DAWN ROSE From: TrayExo@... Reply-To: graves_support To: graves_support Subject: Re: OT: Stress Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 21:19:44 EDT In a message dated 7/4/2003 9:10:29 AM Central Daylight Time, nbalant@... writes: > My endocrinologist, who's quite savvy, told me Graves' was caused by > stress. >> I've always understood it was hereditary and can be set off or aggravated by stress, among other things, but not caused by stress. Terri Graves disease 1979; treated with RAI; exothalmia 1982, treated with IV steroids; since then on one or another form of replacement hormone. New flare up of TED with severe double vision, swelling in intraocular muscles and inflammation in August of 2002. Currently hypoactive. Treated TED with prednisone. It worked while on prednisone, but TED came back worse after. Undergoing Orbital radiation June-July 2003. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2003 Report Share Posted July 5, 2003 Well said, Dawn. Being newly diagnosed, I relate to your message, especially about wondering about what triggered this disease for me, and wondering " what stress? " I am at the most peaceful, relaxed point in my life thus far, having a rather easy time of things, so I found it baffling to think that this was brought on by stress. Thinking I needed a reality check, I several times asked my dear husband " was I stressed? " and he decidedly says no. I don't doubt that stress can play a role in this, and perhaps all diseases, and it is possible I would have had a rougher time if I were under stress (my case is currently mild). The fact remains that we don't know the answer, and more research needs to be done. I too believe that a remedy can and will eventually be found. Since I have been diagnosed, I have become aware that so many people are afflicted with various auto-immune diseases, and that is very curious to me--seems almost unnatural. At 01:56 AM 7/5/2003 +0000, you wrote: >I think the answer is that we don't know the answer. > >Graves' (like many autoimmune diseases) seems to have multiple triggers and >scientists, researchers and patients alike have not been able to identify a >strict and ALWAYS repeated series of incidents or chemical reactions that >set Graves' off. > >I personally have been obsessed with trying to find THE CAUSE of Graves, >particularly when I was first diagnosed; I still believe that somebody might >come up with a single answer and a pill to fix it (like they did with >stomach ulcers and the helico bactor pylori but which causes them and can be >wiped out with a course of strong antibiotics). > >But the annoying conclusion I have come to for now, is that there might be >mulitple trigger factors and that we come to the point of active Graves' >disease through a series of incremental changes in our lives and our body >chemistry. If you will forgive the abuse of the analogy - there are many >paths to Graves' Disease! Even so, if scientists are able to identify one >factor that is common to all Grave's cases, they could still intervene at >that point (a point before it develops?) and wipe out the illness. > >The most generally applied and succinct theory that I have understood about >what triggers Graves' is: > >Only a percentage of peole who have the genetic predisposition for Graves', >go on to develop active Graves'. This suggests that a triggering factor in >the life of the individual, or a series of triggering factors must be >present for Graves' to be set off. > >suspected triggers that I have read about > >An undiscovered retro virus >Other infecitons like the bug Yersinia >Iodine dye injections for X rays >Change in diet (I for instance ate loads and loads of seaweed soup before I >became ill) >Mineral imbalance particularly copper deficiency. > >There appears to be a stress factor in that people who have Graves' have >often recently been through a time of great stress (bereavement, an >accident, moving house, changing jobs - extreme change). > >But this does not apply to everyone with Graves'. For people who HAVE been >through a stressful time, or who are addicted to stress in their lives this >information can be a godsend and give the person a sense that they can claw >back power over the illness by de-stressing their lives (and this is very >true, reducing stress can only help) > >However, for people who have not been through a stressful time and who are >laid back by nature, it can be very annoying (and actually, stressful) to >be told again and again that you are suffering from stress when you have >searched your heart, and your life and found that you are at peace with >everything in it. It also increases your feeling of powelessness because >you can't see how you could have led a less stressful life. > >It makes you feel like you are being judged as being out of touch with >yourself and paranoid that your sense of reality is not what everyone else >is seeing or hearing. Grave's itself when it is active, does make you >stressed. So when I was ill, I found myself in this very curious position >where I was getting incredibly anxious and stressed about all the people who >were saying that I was ill because I was a stress head - and I would tell >them angrily that I was not a stressed out person and they would say " there >you go, see, there you're doing it now " . > > > >DAWN ROSE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2003 Report Share Posted July 7, 2003 Hi Aldyth, I wonder why she thought it was OK at first and now she wants you to get a scan...perhaps it seemed like a cyst? Maybe she's just being thorough at this point, since it's been a couple of months. At any rate, it is good that they are looking into it, and you don't have to wait toooo long to get checked out (though I'm sure it seems like a long time). Nothing is going to change between now and then, so best thing to do is to do what you're doing--trying to think positive and stay calm. I will be thinking of you. Please let us know how you're doing. At 06:59 AM 7/7/2003 -0700, you wrote: >Hi everyone, > >I'm going to put my 'trying to stay calm' abilities to the test this >week. I found a bump in my boob a couple of months ago and the Dr didn't >think it was a problem, but now after seeing the same GP with a problem >with my daughters foot she remembered about my problem and is now >insisting I have a scan and mammogram! How scary is that!! I only went to >see her about a wart on a foot!!! > >So I'm deep breathing and trying not to think about it too much until the >appt this Wednesday. > >Please send positive, calming thoughts my way! > >Anxious Aldyth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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