The struggle of living with Graves’ disease, a disorder in the thyroids, is a daily battle for the more than 3 million Americans who are diagnosed with it every year, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Among these people is 16-year-old Shelby Massey, a home-schooled high school junior. Massey was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in fall 2013.
In addition, she also struggles at times with hyperthyroidism — when her thyroid makes more hormones than needed. At other times she battles hypothyroidism, which is when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones.
Massey said Graves’ disease affects those who have it emotionally, as well as in physical appearance.
“It really affects everything,” Massey said, adding that her doctor told it is the next most important thing in the body behind the heart.
“It’s a lot more important than people realize,” she added.
Graves’ disease is a chronic illness that can affect a person for years. Women are most likely to be impacted by the disorder, which is a genetic complication that is a combination of hereditary diseases and environmental factors. Massey’s paternal grandmother struggled with thyroid problems and eventually had hers removed. However, Massey’s 20-year-old brother does not suffer from any thyroid abnormalities.
Graves’ disease can be treated with medication, as well as radiation treatments. Massey has undergone two versions of this treatment, and continues to take medication on a daily basis.
Like her grandmother, doctors recommended that Massey have her thyroid removed. Ultimately, Massey decided against it because removal comes with serious risks, including loss of the ability to speak and possible death. Massey added that even if she had her thyroid removed, she would be on medication for the rest of her life to replace the hormones the thyroid creates.
Hormones are not the only things Massey is missing since being diagnosed with Graves’ disease. She had to quit playing basketball, because her heart rate would increase to a level that, when combined with the effects of her illness, would become dangerous.
Graves’ disease also has impacted her studies. Massey said she had trouble focusing on schoolwork before being diagnosed, but now knows the inability to concentrate was a symptom of the disease. She initially fell behind in school, but through hard work and the proper medical treatment, Massey has been able to catch up in all of her classes.
“At first I was just struggling to pass my classes, and now I’m focused and actually understanding,” Massey said, adding she plans to pursue a career in journalism.
