[Ski]

#1071425

Your sister’s story was certainly frightening ~ there’s no way we can guess what happened with her though. I’ve never heard of such a thing before ~ it’d be a great question for her pediatric endocrinologist, if you still have contact, or for any pediatric endocrinologist. It may be completely unrelated to everyone else’s conditions.

The only concern I can address is that no, you didn’t do anything specifically to be one who got Graves’, at least that we are aware of right now. The most recent research has found a genetic defect that is present in every person who has an autoimmune disease. It is present in people who do not have autoimmune diseases, but it is never missing in people who DO have autoimmune diseases. You could argue that those who have this genetic defect and do not have an autoimmune disease are simply those who are yet to acquire one. Within families, what passes through the generations has been proven only to be this particular likelihood to get ANY autoimmune disease. There was one on both sides of my family trees ~ one with Graves’, one with rheumatoid arthritis. There’s every chance I could have acquired either, or yet a third autoimmune disease. Right now, it isn’t clear to researchers why each patient ends up with their specific autoimmune condition. Theories abound ~ perhaps one area of your body was weakened by something else, perhaps the body part includes its own "trigger," perhaps stress plays into it, etc. etc. etc. None have been absolutely proven. One of our members’ doctors told her it was most likely a genetic predisposition, with one (or several) external triggers. That’s probably the best way we can describe it right now.

[Hopeful23]

#1019403

I was reading over posts about genetics. My younger sister at the age of four was diagnosed with hypo just in the nick of time. Her organs where shutting down an her reproductive organs were swollen and were ready to bust. Thank goodness they caught it. what i dont understand is her levels where showing with in normal levels. However the doc are saying she was born with a dead thyroid. If thats the case why would her levels show normal. anyway my point is. Why would i get graves and my sister just have hypo. No one in our family has either. We have a huge family too. i have Always been so active and athletic. Did i do something to get this form? i have only had a cold one time in my life. That includes the flu? i was wondering if that links my graves to anything. How does your immune system create anti bodies to attack a thyroid. Is that why i was or am never sick?

[Kaeljia]

#1071426

There was one on both sides of my family trees ~ one with Graves’, one with rheumatoid arthritis.

I’m interested in this..simply beacause at the age of 13 I was diagnosed with Rheumatiod Arthritis, and a few years later a DR told my Mom I never ever had it. I was in the hospital for a month with swollen joints raging feavers and then freezing cold.. I use to get this internal heat that made me feel as if I would combust. Now I know thats part of Graves Disease. I had been feeling that way all through my teens. Have I passed this on to my kids, my daughter has a high motabolism, and is very skinny, she is in the 33%tile for her age group in weight and 90% for height. My son is heavy and in the 100%tile for his age group on weight and height. I have had my daughter tested for thyroid disease, and none were found. I know that one test does not mean it does not exist. It took them almost 6 months to diagnose me before they caught it. I don’t mean to take away from Ski’s story, but do feel they may both be in relation to each other.

[Ski]

#1071427

Just keep an eye on them ~ since this is one you definitely know about, you can look for all the symptoms and hopefully catch it early if it comes on. Thyroid hormone tests are the only way to know for sure (as well as the uptake/scan to confirm GD patterns), but frequently changing thyroid hormone levels are something to consider as well, since it seems that we can have symptoms that come and go for years beforehand. A thin build doesn’t necessarily point to hyper, and a heavy build doesn’t necessarily point to hypo ~ look at other symptoms of hyper or hypo to add up before you worry too much. Heat intolerance, tremors, loose bowels, those would be pretty convincing for hyper. Lethargy, depression, lack of interest in things, those would be pretty convincing for hypo. Make sure you get copies of their test results and keep a file, because the levels could be staying in the normal range, but if they are moving much, it should be looked into further. The best advice we can give you is to recommend testing when you are really suspicious, and at other times, just ask the doctor to tick the box for TSH anytime they’re drawing blood for another reason. It’s easy to add on, and it’s an inexpensive test to run, for your own peace of mind.

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