[Khadijah]

#1060102

Ugh, I found a white patch on my knee ( I hear it can spread). I swear it just happened overnight? Anyway, I happened to be at the dermatologist for an unrelated visit and sitting in the examining room waiting I saw it on my knee and it didn’t register as anything too abnormal. I thought it was from being in the sun. But, I figured what the hell I’ll ask the doctor since I just happen to be at the dermatologist. And she says oh, you have vitiligo. I was what??? Oh yeah, didn’t you say you have Hashimoto’s. I said no I have Graves disease. She then says you have that first then the Hashimoto’s and this is related, also another autoimmune disorder.

I have been feeling a bit blue lately but I thought it was just the usual stuff going on. I had to postpone my endo appointment from early July to the end of July so I still won’t see him for a couple of weeks. But, in hindsight I guess this is good.

I did get a RX for cream in the meantime. I have done some reading and I will get a B12 shot tomorrow or ASAP.

Does anyone else have this? Is it true it doesn’t go away!?

[Kimberly]

#1180399

Hello – Wow, sorry to hear that you are dealing with this curveball after getting Graves’ under control. Hopefully, you will get some additional responses, but in the meantime, here is some info from the Mayo Clinic:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitiligo/DS00586

I do believe that there *are* treatment options for vitiligo, but your dermatologist would be in the best position to give you further direction on this.

As a side note, some patients do have both Graves’ and Hashi’s, but this is not a given.

Hope you can get some relief!

[Talley]

#1180400

So sorry to hear this. I have vitiligo. Found out after my TT that I also had hashi in addition to graves…and cancer…

Any way, start the cream ASAP – it will help with spreading – hopefully. Stress will also cause spreading. Did the doc prescribe Protopic? I developed vitiligo around the age of 31. It spread last spring – when I noticed the graves symptoms.

Once you have one autoimmune disease more tend to follow. Please feel free to PM me for more info. I am on vacation with the kids at the beach so not online regularly right now.
Talley

[Khadijah]

#1180401

I am sorry to hear about your additional diagnosis of cancer and hashi. I definitely will PM you with more questions. I heard that one autoimmune leads to another but I didn’t believe it. I have always been so healthy and the shock of my health failing has been hard to accept, which of course, doesn’t help my stress level.

Thank you so much for responding it’s really comforting to know someone else understands.

[amosmcd]

#1180402

I also have vitiligo. It appeared last summer, right before I was diagnosed with Graves’. It’s like you said–it seemed to appear overnight! It’s on my armpits and abdomen. Luckily it’s nowhere that can really be seen, and in the winter when my tan fades, it’s not really noticeable.

I have also had psoriasis (it’s been in remission for decades.) My dad had that, my maternal grandmother had really bad vitiligo, where she lost all the pigment in her skin. And some maternal cousins have thyroid problems. So the whole autoimmune thing is absolutely genetic for me, although I’m the only one of 4 siblings to have autoimmune issues. I do not like being special in that way!

I think the severity of vitiligo varies from person to person. Once mine appeared, it never spread. I hope yours stays put, too!

Amy

[Talley]

#1180403

Amy – my vitiligo started around age 31 and didn’t spread until around 41…it is still mainly under my arms but has spread down closer to my elbows with spots on my wrists, knees and neck. Treatment of the spots while they are new is the best prevention of further spreading – I wish I had known this when I first noticed my vit.

I have no family hx of vitiligo, sporadic autoimmune diseases, but like you, I seem to be the “lucky” one in my family.

Best of luck that your vit does not spread further.
Talley

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