Questions for people with Graves Eyes Relapse

[PiperAnne]

I would like to start out by saying thank you for anyone taking the time to read this and respond, your knowledge is most appreciated. Fifteen years ago I had a severe case of Graves Eyes and received a bilateral decompression in both eyes. After the birth of my daughter 4 years ago, my right eye began to change, looking like it was falling south. It is currently 2 mm lower than my left eye. I went to Bascom Palmer and they eye surgeon said he believed it was strabismus and my eye muscle was pulling my eye down and back. He said it could be from either active Grave's eyes, scar tissue or my muscles just decided to tighten. My right eye can not look up and I have pain and migraines at the top inner corner. My option seems to be surgery. Which is not desirable. Here are my questions or concerns:

1. I took Armour thyroid successfully for 12 years. But when I was pregnant I had graves antibodies which is when my eye began to change. Could Armour be contributing to my eye problems?

2. I have researched acupuncture for strabismus and eye muscle tension and wondered if anyone has tried this.

3. Are there any supplements that I could take to support this condition.

4. Does anyone have success reversing this without having to go through surgery?

Any thoughts or ideas would be well appreciated.

Thank you,
Piper

[Red_Star]

No worries. :)

[PiperAnne]

Wow! That is a great start and excellent information that is well sourced. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer, I am going to buy a selenium supplement and see how it works as Brazil nuts are sometimes difficult to find where I live.

Thank you Red Star!

[Red_Star]

3. Selenium. Recommended supplement form is selenomethionine. 100mcg twice daily. Dietary wise the highest source of selenium is brazil nuts. Each nut contains 50 - 90 mcg of selenium depending on the soil.  

Excerpt from British Thyroid Foundation - Selenium supplements are helpful in patients with mild thyroid eye disease...

"A large European study performed by the European Group On Graves’ Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) has recently shown that the trace element selenium had a significant effect in patients with mild, active thyroid eye disease.

Six months of selenium supplements had a beneficial effect on thyroid eye disease and were associated with improvement in the quality of life of participants. These positive effects persisted at 12 months. There were no side-effects.

Selenium acts as an antioxidant and also has effects on thyroid autoimmunity, though the exact mechanism of its action in patients with thyroid eye disease is unknown.

Reference

Marcocci et al. Selenium and the Course of Mild Graves' Orbitopathy. New England Journal of Medicine 2011; 364:1920-1931"