Do I Have Grave’s Disease?

Are you a woman between 30 and 50?

Do you feel anxious and easily annoyed by the little things?

Do you have fine tremor (involuntary trembling) of your hands or fingers?

Do you have increased sensitivity to heat, sweat intensely and your hands are warm and moist?

Did you lose weight despite your normal eating habits?

Do you have a visibly enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)?

Do you have rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)?

Do you feel exhausted during the day just doing your daily activities?

Do you have bulging eyes (exophthalmos), redness and retracting eyelids (Graves' ophthalmopathy)?

Do you have gritty sensation, pressure or pain in the eyes or perhaps light sensitivity and impaired vision?

Do you have more frequent bowel movements than you used to?

Do you having trouble sleeping?

If you are a woman, have you noticed any changes in your menstrual cycles?

If you are a man, do you have erectile dysfunction or reduced libido (low sex drive)?

Do you have thick, red skin most often on the shins or tops of the feet (Graves' dermopathy)?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have Grave’s disease. Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disease and usually the main reason for overactive thyroid gland, but many other disorders as well may result in hyperthyroidism. The symptoms you experience are non-specific for Grave’s disease and can be related to other conditions. Please make an appointment whit your GP for further analysis.

Based on your answers it is possible that you have Grave’s disease. Graves' disease is an immune system disorder, also known as toxic diffuse goiter and it is a most common cause for overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). Thyroid hormones control metabolism; their overproduction can speed up every function in your body, and influence your overall well-being. The diagnosis of Grave’s disease can be difficult to set because there are many conditions with similar symptoms apart from ophthalmopathy. Please, make an appointment with your GP or an endocrinologist. Grave’s disease responds well to treatment which includes: medicine, radioiodine therapy, and thyroid surgery.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have Grave’s disease. Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid and results in an overproduction of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones control your metabolism, functions of the vital organs and help your body to use energy and stay warm. Graves' disease may affect anyone, but is 7-8 times more common in women than men. Please make an appointment whit your GP or an endocrinologist for further analysis. Grave’s disease responds well to treatment, but if left untreated can cause complications (osteoporosis, heart problems, or difficulty getting pregnant).