Grave Challenges

In 2015, Brenda felt that something was off. Her heart rate was too high. To others, she just didn’t seem like her usual self.  Her doctor diagnosed her with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid to make too much of a hormone called thyroxine. 

Her symptoms eventually subsided, but in 2018 she experienced new ones. This time Graves’ manifested in the form of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), an inflammation of the eye muscles, eyelids, tear glands, and fatty tissues behind the eye. Brenda now suffered from constant headaches and double vision, which made it impossible to read or watch TV. 

The first treatment Brenda tried involved 12 straight days of radiation which did little to improve her symptoms. The next option appeared to be surgery until the FDA approved Tepezza, a new treatment for TED administered through infusion therapy. Sage Infusion partnered with the drug’s manufacturer, Horizon Pharmaceuticals, to become a preferred site of treatment.  

Brenda made the decision to drive two-and-a-half hours each way from her home in Cape Coral to Sage Infusion Tampa, where she received Tepezza infusions. While it was a haul, it was worth it. Brenda has described the Tampa facility as “beautiful” and the staff as “wonderful”. Brenda’s friend would come with her to each appointment, and they could sit together in a private space while she received her infusion.  After completing 8 rounds of Tepezza infusions at Sage, Brenda experienced a significant improvement in her condition. 

“Patients love the facility,” says Brenda’s doctor. “It’s been a great experience for our office as well as the patients. It’s miraculous how well these patients are doing even after the first injection”.

Brenda hopes that she won’t need further treatment for Graves’, but if she does, she says “it will be at Sage”. With the opening of Sage Infusion Fort Myers, Brenda will have a much shorter drive on her journey back to health.