It occurred to me some time last week that it would be great if this blog was more than just me sharing my experiences, and you commenting back. If you would like to join a community of people with thyroid issues, let’s try this one:
Its a site I created on a whim: just to see if it takes flight. If not, I’ll take it down in a month or so, but it might be a great place for others to post their own pages/experiences/photos of living with Thyroid issues.
Of course I will continue to update this blog as well….we average 100 hits a day! I’m humbled to think that my story helps others 
I just read your blog…thanks for doing that. I have the option of decompression surgery in the new year and you’ve given me a lot to consider. Do you think the cosmetic avantage has outweighed the other problems you’ve had like numbness? I know I hate having to hide my eyes from cameras and behind dark glasses and it would be graet to have no aching eyelids….!
Jenni
Jenni;
Please know that this is my opinion and mine only, but I have to say that I would do the decompression surgery again in a heartbeat, if only for cosmetic purposes.
Thyroid Eye Disease made me self-conscious of my looks for the first time ever. I’ve never really thought of myself as a vain person, but suddenly I was avoiding social situations and hiding behind all sorts of fake frames/sunglasses….etc. By the time I had the surgery, I was having trouble finding sunglasses that were big enough to fit my bulging eyes behind!!
Many of my friends claim that they didn’t notice anything too bad, but I think they were just being nice. Bette Davis had beautiful eyes, but not on me!
Here, over a year post surgery, i am still numb on the left side of my face, and it hurts to put on eyeliner (feels like I’m tattooing myself)….but I can look in a mirror and recognize the eyes looking back at me.