Graves' disease history and symptoms

A broad spectrum of symptoms are expected in Graves’ disease based on the severity of disease. The leading symptoms are palpitation, weight loss and change in bowel habits.

A detailed history must be taken regarding weight changes, mood changes, sleep disturbances, bowel movement, hair and skin changes and daily performance.

Some of the most typical symptoms of Graves’ Disease are the following:^[1]

• Palpitations
• Tremor (usually fine shaking eg. hands)
• Excessive sweating
• Heat intolerance
• Increased appetite
• Unexplained weight loss despite increased appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle weakness (especially in the large muscles of the arms and legs) and degeneration
• Insomnia
• Increased energy
• Fatigue
• Mental impairment, memory lapses, diminished attention span
• Decreased concentration
• Nervousness, agitation
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Erratic behavior
• Emotional lability
• Gynecomastia
• Goiter
• Double vision
• Eye pain, irritation, or the feeling of grit or sand in the eyes
• Swelling or redness of eyes or eyelids/eyelid retraction
• Sensitivity to light
• Decrease in menstrual periods (oligomenorrhea), irregular and scant menstrual flow (amenorrhea)
• Difficulty conceiving/infertility/recurrent miscarriage
• Hair loss
• A non-pitting edema with thickening of the skin, described as “peau d’orange” or “orange peel”, usually found on the lower extremities
• Smooth, velvety skin
• Increased bowel movements/diarrhea

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