[Anonymous December 11, 1996 at 4:34 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166907

Short of suppressing, or killing off your immune system (which is NOT an alternative, in my book) there’s nothing at this point that they can do about the antibodies.

Part of the problem is undoubtedly due to the fact that Graves is rare. How much research money goes into rare diseases?

My own “take” on why they take out the thyroid involves this logic (which may be faulty). If the immune system is perceiving the thyroid as “alien” tissue (like in transplanted organs, etc.) and is producing antibodies to fight it, then if it is no longer there, the antibody production should go down, or disappear. There will no longer be a “trigger” for antibody production. The fallacy here may be that once the antibodies are there, they stay, but I don’t know.

The other reason that they sacrifice the thyroid is to prevent future recurrences of hyperthyroidism. Being hyperthyroid involves every other organ, cell in the body, and really isn’t good for us. So by eliminating the thyroid, we can only become hyperthyroid again if we take too much synthetic thyroid hormone, which is why we have to have blood work periodically from here on out to check it.

[Anonymous December 11, 1996 at 5:29 pm Post count: 93172]

#1166908

I have euthyroid Ophthalmopathy, sure glad they haven’t decided to remove the eyeballs to cure the problem.

I know, I have a terrible sense of humor.

Bruce

[Anonymous December 11, 1996 at 8:43 pm Post count: 93172]

#1057777

If GD comes as a result of antibodies attacking the thyroid, then why
are we routinely destroying the thyroid gland? It seems that this
important gland is an innocent bystander. It’s the antibodies that need
zapping. Is there nothing medical science can do or is doing about
the antibodies?

Just wondering.

Rosemary

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