The symptoms I experienced before being diagnosed with Grave’s disease are as follows:

• extreme fatigue
• weight loss
• restlessness
• tachycardia (rapid heart beat)
• heat intolerance, always warm
• heavier menses
• muscle weakness in arms and legs
• tremors, felt like I was vibrating
• increased sweating
• nervousness and irritability
• leg cramps
• disorientation
• dizziness
• graying hair which started in my early 20’s
• severe migraine headaches
• high blood pressure
• intolerant of stress
• inability to sit still
• heart palpitations
• restless sleep or inability to sleep
• distracted attention span
• loss of stamina
• memory loss
• carpel tunnel syndrome
• sore throat
• lost my voice for 2 months
• panic
• shaking hands and loss of dexterity
• difficulty concentrating
• proximal muscle weakness
• night sweats
• increase in temperature (fever)

On February 9, 1998 I was given a diagnosis of Hyperthyroidism and prescribed PTU.

At this point in my life I was so tired of feeling sick, that I embraced this diagnosis.   I was so relieved that there was a name and a solution for my symptoms.   I followed the doctor’s advice like a sheep to the slaughter.