Puffy eyes

[trish58]

I had rai treatment two months ago for Graves and am now experiencing very puffy swollen eye lids.  Is this normal?  I am afraid this is the beginning of eye problems.  Does TED just effect your eyeballs, or is it your lids, too?

[alikat709]

I ended up with double vision from RAI, I regret ever having RAI done in jan 2005. I still don't have my levels regulated. I have been through 4 endos, can't seem to find a good one lol.They all want to just keep giving synthroid. (which I was on pre RAI for 14 yrs) I wanted to try armour and nobody would give it to me.  I finally found a D.O and he did give me armour this past june, it has made a huge difference.  I am also taking lugols solution , that has helped with the double vision(I don't know why) and also it totally took away my heart palps.  I was told 1/3 of people have eye problems after RAI 1/3 have eye improvement, and the other 1/3 is not afffected, the endo told me that. I didn't see an endo until after RAI. My pcp never told me all that was involved, she just said that I needed ,and that was the treatment , so I took her word for it.
I also have dry eyes, and damaged salivary glands from RAI.
definately get to the eye doctor asap, and maybe do a good detox..
                                                                           kathy

[wsteng]

After I had RAI, it took about 12 weeks and I became a "porky pig look alike".  My cheeks and eyes became swollen and were sprouting liquid constantly.  I also could not walk across the back yard with out having to take a nap.The last straw came when I had to drive over 2.5 hours and did not remember any of the trip.  Get in contact with your physician and have a lab draw.  

[gravelyill]

Keep an eye on your eye symptoms. Go on line and look up Thyroid Eye Disiase
or Graves Opthalmopathy to see what the symptoms are.
If you see noticable changes,  call your Endo and get a referal to an Opthamologist.

Have your levels tested too. This is important.

Best Wishes to you!!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

If you are not yet hypothyroid (need to look at TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 and compare to pre-RAI levels to determine if you are becoming hypo....remember, the TSH may remain low for months after RAI even with a lowish T4 and T3).

Would be concerned about TED and consider seeing an ophthalmologist unless the levels are clearly showing thyroid deficiency -- in which case thyroid medicaiton will likely help the eye swelling.

[trish58]

Thanks for your reply.  I just spoke to my doctors office, and they think that it is my thyroid dying off and that I need my bloodwork redone, although I just had it done two weeks ago.  I am not on any medication yet, as my levels haven't changed yet.  She thought that once I get on some medication the puffiness would get better.   I hope that's the case.  I look like I have been crying for days.

[gravelyill]

TED seems to be common with those predisposed to the disease. Not everyone gets TED but when you do, RAI seems to expedite it's appearance and or symptoms. I have had it for a year now. ATD's didn't help me with they hyper-thyroid so June this year I had RAI, then had to have it again late Sept. I have been on high dose of prednisone ( steroid) which seems to have helped keep it from getting worse up until a week ago. Now that I am weaning off of the Prednisone, I am noticing a change in my vision and swelling around the eyes.
Since you may be experiencing the beginning of TED, please speak to your doctor right away. Have him/her refer you to a qualified Opthamologist so that you can have some aids to make you more comfortable and be treated.
TED generally burns itself out, however the time frame that that happens varies greatly.

Best of luck to you!!