Elaine Moore's Grave Disease Education Site

About Elaine

My Story:
Updated June 20, 2008: I loved having Graves' disease. I had energy to spare. Of course, by the time I realized I had Graves' disease, most of my symptoms were gone and clinically, I only had a subclinical disorder. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is not usually treated since it can easily resolve on its own. It's no wonder that by the time of my diagnosis, the hypertension I was diagnosed with in my 20's had disappeared.

In retrospect, I realize that my symptoms peaked in my mid-20's after the birth of my children. Then, at 5'8" I weighed 115 lbs although I seemed to be eating all the time. After being diagnosed with hypertension in my late 20's, I changed my lifestyle...I quit smoking and started aerobics. By my late 30's when I was diagnosed with Graves' disease, my blood pressure was normal and I weighed 135 lbs. I was in excellent health except for occasional problems with allergies.

I was inadvertently diagnosed with GD shortly before I turned 40 when my allergist noticed my thyroid was enlarged. Working in a hospital laboratory, I ran my own lab tests and discovered that I had a low TSH indicating subclinical hyperthyroidism. Despite having no worrisome symptoms, I got caught up in the drama of having a disease.

At the time of my diagnosis my only symptoms were mild irritability and impulsiveness. In fact, I was a dynamo, working full-time, attending graduate school, raising a family, doing aerobics, and volunteering at a nursing home.

Considering my mild symptoms, I should have waited. However, the attention that accompanies a medical diagnosis prompted me to find a quick solution.

Consequently, I rushed into having radioiodine ablation. Since, I've never felt as good as I used to. I have severe hypothyroidism, and I have pretibial myxedema. In addition, in 2007, an ultrasound showed a solitary nodule, which I'll need regular follow-ups for. I've since found that nodules and adenomas are common occurrences in remaining thyroid tissue.

In retrospect, I likely had Graves' disease since early childhood. My predominant symptoms changed over time and I managed to keep them in line naturally without knowing what caused these symptoms. Up to 1/3 of GD patients go into spontaneous remission each year. I could have been one of them.

Elaine Moore is the author of Graves' Disease, A Practical Guide (McFarland, 2001); Autoimmune Diseases & Their Environmental Triggers (McFarland, 2002); The Encyclopedia of Alzheimer's Disease (Jan 2003); Thyroid Eye Disease, Understanding Graves' Ophthalmopathy (Sarahealth, 2003); The Encyclopedia of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (McFarland, 2004); and Hepatitis, Causes, Resources and Treatment (McFarland, 2006). Elaine is currently researching and writing a book on low dose naltrexone (LDN), which is scheduled to be released in October, 2008. Elaine is a Medical Technologist, MT (ASCP), with more than 30 years experience working in hospital laboratories.

The mother of two grown children, Elaine, her husband Rick, and their two boxers, Jasper and Tiger Lily, live in the mountains of Colorado.

Elaine"s Autoimmune and Thyroid Disease Articles at Suite 101