In the last few months leading up to her husband's Presidential Inauguration in 1989, Barbara Bush had never felt better and was very pleased that she was losing weight. The week before the ceremony, however, her eyes began to bother her. Tests revealed that the First Lady was suffering from Graves' disease, which affected her thyroid gland and her eyes. Her hyperthyroidism was successfully treated with radioactive iodine, and she received both steroids and radiation for her Graves' eye disease. Throughout her ordeal, Mrs. Bush maintained a busy schedule; she is now euthyroid on levothyroxine and is enjoying life to the fullest.
"There are several physical signs in advanced cases of Graves' disease. I encountered puffy, tearing, swollen eyes, eyelids that didn't close, and double vision, while George experienced heart fibrillations. Luckily, I was blessed with wonderful doctors and an early diagnosis, so treatment was relatively easy and very successful."
7515 Main Street Suite 690 Houston, TX 77030-4599, Phone: (713) 795-5750
In the last few months leading up to her husband's Presidential Inauguration in 1989, Barbara Bush had never felt better and was very pleased that she was losing weight. The week before the ceremony, however, her eyes began to bother her. Tests revealed that the First Lady was suffering from Graves' disease, which affected her thyroid gland and her eyes. Her hyperthyroidism was successfully treated with radioactive iodine, and she received both steroids and radiation for her Graves' eye disease. Throughout her ordeal, Mrs. Bush maintained a busy schedule; she is now euthyroid on levothyroxine and is enjoying life to the fullest.
