Devers knows first-hand the difficulties that come with advocating for yourself.
She also understands the power of getting answers so you might get your life back on track.
She hopes others with Graves disease will find empowerment through accurate information and quality care.
I was already a record-breaking competitive athlete by the time I was in college at UCLA.
When I was 19 years old, I broke the American record for the 100-meter hurdles.
This was my moment to shinebut the bottom fell out.
Gail Devers is a retired track and field athlete and a three-time Olympic gold medal winner.
Ive never performed worse than I did during that Olympic semifinal.
I ran slower than I did during my first 100-meter hurdle attempt.
I didnt even qualify.
Instead of staying in South Korea, I flew home completely defeated.
When I got back, my health continued to deteriorate.
I was chronically tired.
I had regularmigraines, and I lost a lot of weight.
My hair fell out in clumps, and my fingernails became brittle.
I had trouble with my eyes, too.
Gail Devers is a retired track and field athlete and a three-time Olympic gold medal winner.
They were painful, bulging, irritated, and dryI couldnt close them fully when I slept.
I repeatedly heard, Its because you train too hard.
If Im honest, I felt like I was going crazy.
I knew I wasnt making it up.
My athletic career came to a screeching halt.
I felt like I had no idea who I was anymore.
I covered the mirrors in my house because I couldnt stand to look at myself.
When I met up with my friends, theyd ask if I was on drugs.
To avoid their questions, I stopped leaving the house.
For two-and-a-half years, I stayed inside completely depressed.
The long-awaited answerand more questions
One day, an old team physician came to see me.
I thought we were going to catch up, but she started to examine me.
Theres a serious problem with your thyroid, she told me after putting away her stethoscope.
Id never even heard of a thyroid, but she encouraged me to see a specialist.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
Still, I had no idea what Graves disease wasor what a thyroid was for that matter.
I learned very quickly: Thethyroidis a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck.
It produces hormones (triiodothyronine and thyroxine) that have an enormous effect on overall health.
Graves disease is a form of hyperthyroidism, which means the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine.
When that happens, it can lead to all the symptoms I was experiencing.
Now that I finally had a diagnosis, I started taking medication daily, and my symptoms subsided drastically.
It was almost unbelievable.
I will take medication for the rest of my life, but its a small price to pay.
Finally, I had enough stamina to start training again.
A major comeback
I spent two-and-a-half years after my diagnosis getting my life old back.
I started to leave the house and see my friends.
I started training with my coach, slowly regaining the speed I had lost.
Eventually, I started to visualize myself at the Olympic Games.
When I got there in 1992, I didnt falter.
Even though I qualified, I was not projected to win.
When youre expected to win, you get placed in lanes four, five, or six.
I was in lane two.
But something incredible happened: Ididwin.
After I crossed the finish line, I ran another lapa victory lap.
But Iwassavoring the moment.
I knew exactly what it was like to have all of this taken away from me.
I did not take a single step for granted.
Even now, when I think back to that moment, I visualize it in slow motion.
It meant so much to me.
I also tell peopleif you are at risk for Graves diseasefocus on your eye health.
For more than 30 years now, Ive been living with and managing my condition.
This is something I wish Id known all those years ago.
I still struggle with red, irritated eyes, pain, and light sensitivity.
To learn more, I recommend you visitFocus OnTed.
Overcoming Graves disease was the greatest hurdle Ive ever faced.
But you know what?
Ive caught up to the old Gail.
Now, I want to help others clear that hurdle.
As told to Emily Laurence
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