Kristel has Graves’ disease: ‘I got scared of how fast my heart was beating’ Read also
Complaints
In addition to inflammation of the thyroid gland, Graves’ disease causes a similar inflammation in the eye tissue in a small number of patients. Timmers: “It can cause red or sore eyes. The eyelids may also swell, and in severe cases the eye position may change or the eyes may bulge.”
Patients may also experience mental complaints, such as anxious or restless feelings. In addition, many people have a bad night’s sleep because the engine in their heads does not turn off when they want to sleep. “And that in turn has an effect on their lives and relationships. Imagine always feeling tired and rushed: that hinders your social functioning.”
Medication
The disease is not pleasant for Kristel either. “Sometimes my heart would beat so fast that it would just scare me. It feels like you are constantly running. In addition, I have few external stimuli, I already have enough on my own. Fortunately, I always continued working. I have a very positive attitude, which has helped.”
After her diagnosis, Kristel ends up in a medical mill. “In 2011, I was given medication that would inhibit my thyroid activity and beta blockers against my rapid heart rate. When my levels became lower after a while, I was allowed to reduce the medication. The doctors knew that I wanted to have children, and pregnancy does not go well with medications that inhibit your thyroid.”
This is partly because the medication can have an effect on the child’s health. “The chance is small, but the medications can cause mild birth defects,” says Timmers. “Ideally you want to start a pregnancy without inhibitory medication.”
Karina literally worked herself to death and received the ultimate warning: Hashimoto’s disease. Also read
Radioactive iodine
Unfortunately, Kristel’s thyroid gland starts to function faster again when she stops taking the medication. Because she does want to have children, after taking medication for three years, she opts for a more drastic treatment method: a drink of radioactive iodine. The hyperactivity of the thyroid gland is then calmed down by blasting part of the gland. In addition to medication or having the thyroid gland surgically removed, this is the only treatment option.
“I chose the highest possible dose, so that I knew for sure that I was rid of the disease and could become pregnant,” says Kristel. “One risk of this was that my thyroid gland would function too slowly, but I was willing to accept that. My complaints immediately decreased. The rushed feeling was gone, just like that high heart rate. That was very nice.”
But the iodine sip does have a long aftermath. “You radiate something radioactive. I was allowed to ride home with my husband, but I had to sit diagonally behind him. We slept apart for two weeks and I wasn’t allowed to work. After that I had to stay away from children and pregnant women for a few weeks. But I didn’t notice anything myself, I felt really good.”
Pregnancy
As expected, Kristel’s thyroid gland works too slowly after the treatment. According to Timmers, a pregnancy with an underactive thyroid is also not ideal: “Having too little thyroid hormone can have a negative impact on the baby’s brain growth.” That is why Kristel keeps her hormone levels in balance by taking them.
“At first it was not possible to get pregnant,” says Kristel. “I eventually ended up seeing a gynaecologist. She advised me to lose weight first. Because my entire hormone system was in disarray, I had gained a lot of weight. I lost a lot of weight and got pregnant naturally in 2016, two years after taking the drink. My son, born healthy, is now seven years old. In 2019 I also had the pleasure of having a beautiful daughter.”
Think positive
Due to her underactive thyroid, Kristel is currently dependent on medication. “Every six months I have my blood tested to check whether my values are still good. Sometimes I notice that I am tired and lethargic, then I ask if it can be done a little earlier. Occasionally the dose of medication needs to be changed so that it better matches the amount of hormone that my thyroid gland produces itself.”
What Kristel still finds annoying is that Graves’ disease is often not the only autoimmune disease someone has. “For example, I developed the skin condition vitiligo. I have not yet developed the eye disease, but that could happen. I find that difficult. But for now I’ll just keep going, and above all, think positively.”
These are the symptoms of an overactive or underactive thyroid. Read also
2023-11-26 13:02:20
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