[Anonymous April 27, 2000 at 9:46 pm Post count: 93172]

#1126988

I have both Hashimoto’s and Grave’s. When I had my first abnormal blood test (hyperthyroid), my doctor thought that it was Hashimoto’s — he explained that right before the thyroid burns out in Hashimoto’s, there is a period of hyperactivity, while your thyroid dumps out all its got to try to defend itself (something like that.) After that, the thyroid dies.

Although my doctor thought that my hyperthyroidism was a sign of Hashimoto’s, my next tests (uptake and scan) indicated Grave’s. It was only later that I had an antibody test that indicated that I also have Hashimoto’s.

I don’t know if this helps, or makes it more confusing, but the bottom line is that there is a hyperactive phase of Hashimoto’s, just before the thyroid dies.

[Anonymous April 27, 2000 at 11:04 pm Post count: 93172]

#1126989

should I not allow the doctor to shut down my thyroid….
what side affects will occur if I do
and what side affects will occur if I don’t

thanks for any responces

[Anonymous April 28, 2000 at 12:54 am Post count: 93172]

#1039133

Hi everyone! Thanks to anyone who had replied to my message on my thyroid scan results. I have been checking books that I have on the thyroid and most of them and sites on the internet go into Hashimoto’s related to Hypothyroid. But my situation is Hashimotos related to hyperthyroid. They say this is more rare. My endo stated that it might be temporary, but that he feels I will have it back again and that it will eventually be hypo in the end. Does anyone know of anyone or any book that has more info on the Hashimotos/hyperthyroid condition?
Thanks to all for your help!
Rose

[Anonymous April 28, 2000 at 6:39 am Post count: 93172]

#1126990

There is a section about four pages long on Hashimoto’s (also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis) in YOUR THYROID: A Home Reference, by Drs. Cooper, Ridgway and Wood. There are a few pages on it in THE THYROID SOURCEBOOK, by Sara Rosenthal as well. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune problem of the thyroid, like Graves’ is. There is also a section on it (small) in the Merck Manual of Medical Information, which is a general medical info book for the layman, which talks about specific diseases, causes and treatments. In short, you should be able to find information on it in just about any book about thyroid disease. I have never found a specific book on Graves’ disease, and only Graves’ disease, so I suspect you won’t find a specific book on Hashimoto’s either. That’s a guess, but what I’ve found is that thyroid diseases are usually lumped together, forming different sections of chapters on thyroid disease in medical texts, and in general information books. So, you just need to explore the index in the back of books and look for Hashimoto’s and you should be able to find information that will help you.

Sara Rosenthal does speak (briefly) to the condition you have where you are hyperthyroid, but diagnosed with a disease that is associated with hypothyroidism. I’ll quote it for you. (p-.55,56) “Rare still, some people with Hashimoto’s disease experience hyperthyroidism as well as hypothyroidism. This ‘combo platter’ happens because there are sometimes two forces of antibodies at work: those that attack and destroy the thyroid cells, and those that stimulate the gland to overproduce thyroxine, exactly like the antibodies involved with Graves’ disease….Anyone suffering from this somewhat paradoxical condition would FIRST experience all the symptoms of Graves’ disease. Usually, after a few months, the antibodies attacking the thyroid cells overpower the Graves’-like antibodies, and the hyperthyroidism cures itself. Then as Hashimoto’s disease progresses, you’d eventually end up hypothyroid unless replacement hormone was prescribed.”

Bobbi — NGDF Asst. Online Facilitator
Bobbi@ngdf.org

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