How do you know if you have Graves eye disease?

How do you know if you have Graves eye disease?

Signs and Symptoms of Graves' Eye Disease Redness and pain. Puffiness around the eyes. Bulging of the eyes. Dry eye and irritation, occurring when the eyelids cannot close completely over bulging eyes.

What were your first symptoms of Graves disease?

Symptoms

• Anxiety and irritability.
• A fine tremor of the hands or fingers.
• Heat sensitivity and an increase in perspiration or warm, moist skin.
• Weight loss, despite normal eating habits.
• Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)
• Change in menstrual cycles.
• Erectile dysfunction or reduced libido.
• Frequent bowel movements.

How fast does Graves eye disease progress?

Eye symptoms most often begin within 6 months of diagnosis of Graves' disease. Very rarely eye problems may develop long after the thyroid disease has been treated.

What are the early symptoms of thyroid eye disease?

The symptoms that occur in thyroid eye disease include dry eyes, watery eyes, red eyes, bulging eyes, a "stare," double vision, difficulty closing the eyes, and problems with vision. Research suggests that the cause of thyroid disease and thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune disorder.

Does Graves disease shorten your life?

Graves' disease is rarely life-threatening. However, without treatment, it can lead to heart problems and weak and brittle bones. Graves' disease is known as an autoimmune disorder. That's because with the disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid — a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck.

Which celebrities have Graves disease?

Graves' disease affects about people in the U.S., according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA). Others who have struggled with it include rapper Missy Elliott, Olympic athlete Gail Devers, actress Faith Ford and former President George H.W. Bush, who was diagnosed in 1991.

Does Graves disease make you sleepy?

Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism Fatigue is also a symptom of hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid), and it commonly results from insomnia, anxiety, or disrupted sleep patterns.

Will my eyes go back to normal after Graves disease?

Most patients think once their medical doctor treats the body's thyroid problem the eyes will go back to normal. This is often not the case. In some patients the eyes worsen in the months and years after medical treatment despite the body being stabilized.

What is the prognosis for Graves disease?

Patients who develop thyroid storm have a 20 to 50% chance of dying. In general, if your hyperthyroidism is caught early and you control it well with medication or other options, experts say your Graves' disease life expectancy and prognosis is favorable. But detection as well as effective treatment is crucial.

Does thyroid affect sleep?

Thyroid imbalances have been linked to sleep problems. Hyperthyroidism (overactive) can cause difficulty sleeping7 due to arousals from nervousness or irritability, as well as muscle weakness and constant feelings of tiredness.

Does graves always affect the eyes?

• Graves' disease usually is associated with other symptoms of overactive thyroid. However, the classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism are not always present. In fact, Graves' eye disease can occur even when the thyroid is not overactive at that time. Graves' eye disease often improves on its own .

What are the symptoms of graves eye disease?

• Signs and Symptoms of Graves' Eye Disease. In Graves’ eye disease the tissue around the eye is attacked, and the result is inflammation and swelling, causing: Redness and pain. Puffiness around the eyes. Bulging of the eyes.

Why do people with Graves' disease have eye issues?

• About half of people with Graves' disease notice some eye issues, and some have severe vision problems. Experts think this happens because the tissues in your eyes have proteins like ones in your thyroid gland. The problem is known as Graves' eye disease or Graves' ophthalmopathy.

How can grave's disease affect your eyes?

• Sometimes, the immune system attacks tissues and muscles around the eyes. This is a condition called thyroid eye disease or Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Inflammation causes the eyes to feel gritty, dry, and irritated . This condition can also make your eyes appear to bulge out .