[j_rush]

#1070201

I believe there are a couple ways that they check. The first would be to check for the graves’ antibodies. The other should be an iodine uptake scan, if your whole thyroid "lights up" then it is your whole thyroid that is hyperactive. I think that is how, but i cannot be 100% sure.
Thanks,
justin

[runlacie]

#1070202

Thanks, Justin! My whole thyroid lit up, so I know I’m hyper now- but when they told me I had Hashimotos they didn’t do a scan. I guess what I don’t get is- how do the antibody results differ in Graves vs. Hashimotos? Are they similar and they just dx you with the disease you exhibit symptoms of?

[j_rush]

#1070203

I have to admit that i don’t really know anything about hashimoto’s, is that another autoimmune disease? if it is, I think it should be easy to tell the difference based on your free t4, high free t4 would indicate that your thyroid was hyperactive. i just googled hashimoto’s and it appears that it makes you hypothyroid, so yeah i would assume that symptoms and free t4 levels would tell the difference.

[runlacie]

#1019224

Several years ago I was told I had Hashimoto’s but was still euthyroid and would at some point become hypo. As far as I can tell by looking at my medical records, all that was used to dx this was an elevated Thyroglobulin Antibody test and a small goiter. I had testing yearly and remained euthyroid.

I’m a runner and had noticed my HR increasing and also not able to complete my runs, so went to my PCP last week. My TSH was .005 and 24 hr uptake high. Now they say Graves hyperthyroidism (this is a different dr.). I’m waiting for an endo appt next week. but am wondering why I was originally dx’d w/Hashimotos and how would they tell the difference between Hashimoto’s and Graves if you are still euthyroid like I was back then since from what I have read your TG might be increased in either disease.

Thanks for any info!

[Ski]

#1070204

The antibodies for Hashimoto’s and Graves’ act differently, but they actually can exist in the same person. Hashimoto’s is another autoimmune thyroid disease, and those who have both Hashimoto’s and Graves’ are VERY special. ” title=”Very Happy” /> The antibodies "take turns" being dominant, so you can find yourself hypo during one period of time, then spiking to hyperthyroid during other periods of time. For that reason, typically the advice for people who carry both sets of antibodies is just to destroy the thyroid and go on replacement hormone, so you avoid the constant fluctuations into the extremes. That can be just as dangerous for your body as long term imbalances in either direction.

Justin is right as far as Graves’ and the uptake ~ if your entire gland is taking up thyroid hormone, and taking up a high percentage, that’s a conclusive result for Graves’.

[irishfam]

#1070205

Graves disease and Hashimotos have different antibodies. With Hashi the antibodies are Thyroglobulin, and with Graves, it’s the Peroxidase antibodies. That’s how they determine which one you have. A few select people can have both and flip flop between the 2 diseases. The natural progression with Hashi is, you usually start out hyper and usually end up hypo. With Graves, you are hyper, and they usually talk you in to RAI, with many of the medical profession not discussing remission. Which is achievable. My aunt has been in remission for a good 30 years. They also don’t tell you, that the disease can do so much damage to the thyroid, that a lot of people (I have read anywhere from 30-50%) with GD will end up hypo somewhere down the line anyway. Good luck, with whichever choice you make.

[irishfam]

#1070206

Oh shoot, I should have mentioned that I was DX 6 years ago, and achieved remission 2 years ago…sheesh, that helps make more sense of what I just posted.

[kellygirl]

#1070207

Ok, I have TPO antibodies 870 and TgAb antibodies 962. (Hashi?) However, I also have TSI antibodies 126% (Graves?) What do I have? My resting pulse ranges between 90-105. My TSH is 0.01 -I am on armour thyroid 1.5 grains (90mg). I get really hyper rapid heartrate-bounce off the walls, cannot sleep. I had to go on Zoloft to contol the panic. Then there are times when I am tired and dragging all day. However, even when I am dragging my pulse is high. My blood pressure is normal to low 60/104 sometimes double digits on both. I have read on many sites you cannot have Hashi and graves both. However, I have antibodies for both. What is going on? By the way my t3 and t4 are normal mid to upper range. I used to enjoy an occassional glass of red wine. However, everytime I even have a half of a glass my heartrate goes even higher. Instead of calming me the red wine will speed up the heart. Therefore, I only have once in awhile. Also, caffeine makes me hyper as well. Please can someone help me. I do not want to kill my thyroid. I just dont know what to do. Sometimes I get so speedy I feel like the energizer bunny other times I drag through the day because of insomnia.

Thanks Kelly

[kellygirl]

#1070208

Irishfam-

I have antibodies for both Graves and Hashi. I have high tpo, tgab, and tsi. Do I have booth? Help

[ewmb]

#1070209

Kelly,
Try googling hashitoxicosis. Not sure I’ve spelled that correctly. There are some rare cases in which people have both antibodies. I think I remember reading about this before I was diagnosed in one of the books I have. I have tested negative for both types. I got the Graves diagnosis from my uptake and my scan results. My dad has Graves, my Mom Hashimotos, so I was very concerned about this. I’m still not sure that I haven’t been hypo at some points in my life.

ewmb

[runlacie]

#1070210

Since originally starting this thread, I did ask my endo the question and she said you could have both antibodies. I read that the Tg could be positive in either disease. Tg was what I originally tested pos for 5 hrs ago and I still don’t get why they told me to be alert for hypo symptoms and assumed I would be hashi’s. I have since gone full blown hyper. This time they checked the TSI and it was Pos. My Grandma has Graves’ and several first cousins have Hashi, so I guess having both might be possible, but I really think I just have graves’ and am still more than a little PO’d that I was ‘t fully and accurately informed in the first place.

[supercalif2]

#1070211

I have had both in which case started as Graves Disease which included swelling behind the orbit of my right eye and was misdiagnosed as orbital myositis and later Graves. Then I was told I have Hashimotos as well. My thyroid has been jumping back and forth for 5 years and still not stable. My Graves is kicked in right now so I am confused on how to get stabilized. Any ideas?

[runlacie]

#1070212

I opted for rai. I’m not very patient and just wanted it over with rather than chance bouncing back and forth and always worrying about symptoms. Figured it would be easier to just be totally hypo and hopefully be regulated quickly on replacement. It has been almost 2 weeks and I am starting to feel better.

[mthr_uv_2]

#1070213

Aren’t we special? …not too many of us have been ‘blessed’ with both diseases! I started out 12 years ago with hypothyroidism. I took synthroid and went on about my business. Simple. Three years ago my numbers started getting out of whack, not a lot, but just enough to drive my PCP crazy. She passed me off to an endo. It has gotten so much worse just in these last three years. I live with symptoms from both diseases. Every day is different and I can definitely tell which disease is dominant. And, I too have the racing, pounding heart. I can identify with you about the energizer bunny one day and completely exhausted the next. I have started showing more physical signs of each disease. I had an ultrasound a month ago. Now I know why it’s so hard to swallow and talk. It’s big, and one side is bigger than the other. I asked my endo about just removing it and taking HRT. He said that I can’t do that because it would throw me in a thyroid storm and possibly kill me. What to do ?

[Author]

Posts