I do not normally talk about it amongst my friends or colleagues but I felt that it was important to share my own experience with all of you. Perhaps it is the fact that you do not know me personally…..Or perhaps putting it in writing makes it easier for me to express myself, rather than talking to someone face to face. You see, I am a grave disease patient since 2002. Being ignorance of the disease, I did not realize that I had a very serious thyroid problem. I had all the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, that is, insomnia, heat intolerance, weight loss despite increased appetite, palpitations (rapid heart beat), hand tremors, heavy sweating, light menstrual flow, high metabolism rate, anxious, restless, irritating, hair loss and worst of all bulging eyes.
Grave disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by a metabolic imbalance resulting from over production of thyroid hormone known as hyperthyroidism. The body produces antibodies against itself that attack the thyroid gland. In addition, the eyes of people with grave disease may appear enlarged because their eye lids are retracted and their eyes bulge out from the eye sockets.
Friends and family members who seen me every day did not see the difference in my eyes. I was travelling outstation and my colleague who had not seen me for months alerted me that I might be having thyroid problem when he see my slight bulging eyes.
Back from travelling I went to a private clinic and have my blood tested. The blood test result was devastating; FT4: 56 pmol/L (Normal: 9-25), TSH: <0.10 mIU/L (Normal: 0.4-4.7) and FT3: 31.8 pmol/L (Normal: 3.6-6.5). The doctor immediately prescribed me with Propranolol to treat my rapid heart beat that is above 100 pulse per minute and Carbimazole to control the production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland.
After 4 months on medication, I went for another blood test; FT3 and FT4 level were normalized but TSH was still abnormal. I continued the medication for another 2 months without going for any further blood test. It was then in October 2002 that my friend introduced me to Homeopathy treatment.
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine which states that a disease can be cured by a substance that produces similar symptoms in healthy people. Homeopathic remedies are mostly derived from natural substances that come from plants, minerals or animals. Believing that natural substances were better than the conventional medicines that might cause side effects, it is the reason that I had decided to revert to Homeopathy.
After a year on Homeopathy my condition did not improve; my bulging eyes became more prominent and blood test result is more devastating; FT4: 72.2 pmol/L, TSH: <0.01 mIU/L and FT3: >30 pmol/L. Then I met a doctor at a fellowship gathering, she told me that I am risking my life for not taking the conventional medicine and advised me to see her at the public hospital as soon as possible. It was weeks after that I made the appointment to see her and since then I have been taking Carbimazole. Until today I am still on the medication; my protruding eyes have improved and FT3 and FT4 are in the normal range.
Besides the medication, I am also taking supplements to help maintain my body health. The supplements that I am taking are multivitamins, calcium carbonate to prevent bone loss and glucosamine for maintenance of healthy joint.
My advice to those who have these similar symptoms as mine, do not use alternative treatment as a replacement for the proven conventional care or to postpone seeing a doctor. To me, homeopathy treatment is a slow process and thyroid problem could not wait and the condition would get aggravated.
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