Diagnosis Story

---

I would say that my earliest symptom started to show in 2012 at the age of 13. My first diagnosis I was given was ADHD, as I was starting to have concentration problems in school. As time progressed, my symptoms became more apparent as I started high school. At my lowest, my symptoms were lack of concentration that resulted in poor grades, fast heart rate, fatigue, insomnia, tremors, diarrhea, nausea, irregular periods, dehydrated, couldn’t stand for long periods of time, goiter, bulging eyes, chest pains, especially long distance running in PE, short of breath, very weak, weight loss, big appetite, mini seizures and was really unbalanced. My aunt and mom noticed my symptoms Christmas 2013. I was taken to my family doctor in the new year.

On January 31, 2014, I got diagnosed with Graves Disease by my pediatrician and got put on methimazole. I got sent to the ER on February 3rd, 2014, I got admitted into the hospital with 'Thyroid Storm’. I was a sophomore in high school, and I was in denial the whole entire time as I did not believe that I was sick. That day in the ER was a blur and everything went ‘in one ear and out the other’ after the doctors knew what was wrong with me. I was immediately put on beta blockers and iodine on top of my methimazole. I was admitted to the PICU overnight, as well as 4 additional nights on the pediatric floor. Once I was on my feet again, I was told that I could have died, if I didn't get any treatment when I did. I would either have a stroke or a heart attack from my heart going so fast.

Fast forward to the present day, I am grateful that I'm alive today. I have achieved so much and have adjusted my life to live with Graves Disease. I have finished and passed my first semester of nursing school. Now looking back at my journey, I have led a completely different life now that I am feeling way better than before diagnosed. I’m going to continue in nursing school to become a registered nurse and to specialize in pediatric nursing. I want to help children like how I was treated as the nurses I had when I was admitted were amazing. The reason why I’m sharing my diagnosis story, as Graves Disease, especially in kids and adolescents, is so unknown. I want to put myself out to spread the world about this disease and hoping to have it better known in the future.