Well, it’s been almost a year now since my first OD surgery. Some have asked for a photo update, so here it is: 
You can see that the upper lids are a little on the droopy side, especially on my left eye….but that will be another chapter here some day 
You look beautiful.
You Look Wonderful!!!!!! I dont have to ask “If you would do it again… I think I know… This gives so many of us HOPE for the future… I for one can not Thank You enough for sharing your story. Millions of Thanks.
Rox and Amanda
Thanks for your encouragement and support. I am truly humbled to think that my lil’ ol’ blog is helping others, but I’m equally happy to let others know tht they are not alone!!
Looks great! My mother struggled many times after her surgery, but watching the amazing transformation happen was amazing.
Her disease was a little different than yours – she suffered from macular degeneration, but the results were the same.
Your blog has touched me so. I was diagnosed with Grave’s disease over 10 years ago. I have recently begun to experience problems with my eyes. The worst think is waking up in the middle of the night in pain because my left eyelid has flipped up and I have cut my cornea on my pillow. I remember how my eyes used to look before I got sick.
I went to the opthamologist for the last cut and I am scheduled for testing this Thursday. I thank you so much for this blog as I will know what to expect and what questions to ask.
BTW you look beautiful!
Jada;
Thank you for your kind words. I continue to be humbled by the positive reaction to my rampant ramblings. I was just thinking yesterday about how my protruded eyeballs used to rub against my sunglasses, or how many times I scratched my cornea by running my fingers through my hair, and a nail caught my eye!!
I truly think your quality of life will improve after TED surgery….please let us know how you are doing!!
Thank you so much for your decision to keep this blog “as-is” (with thyroid/Graves focus) and to keep it active – I just came across it and I am so thankful for the info. I was first diagnosed with Graves when I was mid-20’s (I’m now 42) and that immediately led to diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.
I had the radiation cocktail within a year of diagnosis, but my bulging eyes have saddened me ever since. I have Kaiser for insurance, and they’re usually so great, but they tell me that OD surgery would be purely cosmetic so they won’t cover it. It was great to see your “before” pics, and my eyes look just as bulged (if not worse) than yours did, with one eye slightly more protruded than the other. I look so “off”.
Your experience gives me the gusto to try again to get this surgery – may I ask on what grounds or basis that you were successful in getting insurance to cover it? I mean, did they only agree to it because you were experiencing vision loss or something? I have extreme dry-eye but no vision problems from the TED (though I’ve had TONS of vision problems from near-sightedness and retinal detachment in both eyes – not connected to my TED).
Thank you again for sharing. You are beautiful, and your eyes look great!
I’ve spent the last few hours googling graves eye disease surgery and I came across your site, and have been enjoying reading the entries relevant to my situation. I was diagnosed with graves at 17 and as far as I’m concerned, it ruined my life. Well, a year ago I thought the hard part was over. I got my thyroid completely removed and I’ve been feeling better, 90% of my days… however the other 10% I worry about the eye surgery that I am anxious to get, yet scared shitless at the same time, so I continue to put it off, when I no I shouldn’t. (There are some days I can hardly see.)
I was just wondering, cause I couldn’t find much when trying to navigate through your site exactly how long the process was for you. (not really the prep, unless there is important prep steps that you don’t take for normal surgeries) but the surgery itself, and the recovery process… I would love to talk to you more if you would like you could email me at ginamacdre@yahoodotcom. It would be very much appreciated. I have a bajillion questions I’d like to ask. hahahaha.
Hi again,
Yesterday was the second anniversary of my father’s passing and a very difficult time with this Graves eye disease. I am getting much closer on the waiting list (2months approx) to having the orbital decompression surgery…anxious/scared at the same time but know there is no other solution. Also glad to have both eyes done at the same time thinking of your ear piercing story…it was the same for me.
I keep coming back to your blog and keep thanking you for doing this blog and can’t tell you enough how encouraging it is to find out how you are doing. I also hope your daughter is doing well since you mentionned she has health issues. You are amazing considering all you have had to deal with and you deserve nothing but all the happiness in the world and I wish it for you and your family. I am glad for you that you have a wonderful family for support. You look fantastic in your pictures and I hope you are feeling the same.
I will be having two additional surgeries after the OD, the second will be to correct the double vision I have (unless it were to correct itself after the OD, don’t know if I will be so lucky) and the third to fix the skin around my eyes. Hoping to look normal and be able to see without this horrible double vision 24/7. Any other advice or warnings before the surgery. The arnica montana and bromelain are super. I used them this summer before having my wisdom teeth out and it did seem to really help. The Monavie I haven’t tried but have some other things that are similar (ie antioxidant properties).
Good luck to all the other people as well that have written on your blog and are going through the same thing, it isn’t easy.
So thanks again and take care please continue to let us know how you are doing. ….are you feeling a 100% now??
Thank you Thank you!!!!
:):):)
Sarah