How to Support a Family Member Who Has Graves' Disease

If someone in your family is one of the 13 million Americans affected by Graves' disease each year, offer your support as he or she struggles to deal with the uncomfortable symptoms.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Yellow Pages

1. Realize that Graves' disease often occurs following a period of intense emotional stress.
2. Do what you can to make life easier for the family member who is affected.
3. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of Graves' disease so you can understand what the person is going through.
4. Be patient if he or she is experiencing mood swings or emotional distress. These are normal symptoms of the disease and can be frustrating both for the patient and for the rest of the family.
5. Research the treatment options to help your family member decide which one makes the most sense.
6. Give moral support by accompanying the patient to the doctor's office.
7. Ask the doctor lots of questions to be sure you understand the results of the blood tests and what they mean.
8. Encourage the patient to seek a second opinion before making any final decisions.
9. Help find a support group online so the victim can connect with others who are going through similar experiences and can provide moral support.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a positive attitude through the ordeal. Remember that although the symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, this is a common disease that's easy to treat and is not usually life-threatening.