[Bobbi]

#1066920

Hi, and welcome to our board.

I took a special class session on osteoporosis a few years ago, so I’ll share what I learned. Osteoporosis is a natural condition that occurs due to aging. We only build up bone in our early years, and sometime around our 30s we start to lose bone. So, if people live long enough, they will tend to become first osteopenic, and then to have osteoporosis. Genetics plays into things, as well, with some groups of people and some families developing it earlier than others. Eating habits play into it, especially early eating habits. If children drink lots of milk, for instance, that calcium goes into bone construction. They are "banking" bone for their later lives. The earlier kids start drinking sodas and other types of beverages, in place of milk, the less calcium they are depositing in their "bone bank" and the earlier they might develop osteoporosis.

There are bone-building cells in bone, and also bones that take away bone. As we age, the bone removing cells gain control. This latter group, the group that removes bone, is, for whatever reason, stimulated into extra activity by excessive levels of thyroid hormone. So, while we are hyperthyroid — however minorly we might be hyperthyroid — we lose more bone that we would if we had normal levels of thyroid hormone. Some of us must take steroids to control eye muscle problems (TED) and steroids cause bone loss. So, there are a couple of reasons why people with Graves might develop osteoporosis earlier than their peers, or earlier than they would have if they had never been hyperthyroid.

But all of this is NOT related to any autoimmune condition. It strictly has to do with too much thyroid hormone; antibody action is not causing your osteoporosis.

The antibodies for Graves do not attack other body organs. The known body sites where they have an impact are the thyroid, the eye muscles, and, in a very small minority of us, the skin on the lower legs. They do not cause leukemia, lupus, or any other autoimmune disease. But when someone turns up with one autoimmune disease, it is known that they are at a slightly higher risk of developing a second one, or more. And, a tendency to autoimmune diseases can run in families.

Taking supplements to boost the immune system will simply increase the symptoms of whatever autoimmune disease we might have. Our immune systems are working — they’ve just made a mistake and created an antibody to one of our own body parts. Our immune systmes are not weak, or compromised. They’ve simply "goofed."

[cotygh1]

#1066921

Dear Bobbi, thank you very much for your response. It helps. I wonder why my endocrinologist did not recommend that I take calcium to start with, and it worries me what you said that:

"Taking supplements to boost the immune system will simply increase the symptoms of whatever autoimmune disease we might have." – Why? aren’t these supplements supposed to help the CORRECT funcioning of the immune system?

thanks again.

cg

[LaurelM]

#1066922

My endo nagged me at every appointment to take a calcium/vit D supplement. The vit D is important for the absorbtion of the calcium. They are needed together. Because we are in a northern climate and one of my kids had a dairy allergy, we all take a vitamins together. I actually prefer the kids’ gummy bear version.

As Bobbie said, our immune systems are working normally except for the one part that is OVER working and produces the auto-antibodies. Taking a supplement that boosts the overall function of the immune system will also have the effect of boosting the OVER functioning part as well.

[ewmb]

#1066923

I found out last year that I have osteoporosis at age 45. My father and mother both have it as well. My father has Graves and my mother Hashimotos. My father and other Graves patients sometimes don’t process Vitamin D well. My father’s levels were very low and he has had to take large amounts to get his up to somewhat normal levels. I was told that that was probably part of the reason that I got osteoporosis so early too. I have started taking 2500 units of D3 per day with calcium and magnesium so that the calcium can be absorbed. I haven’t hit menopause yet officially so I can’t take any of the drugs you see on TV or in magazines as they don’t know if they would even be effective in pre-menopausal women. I was told my best advice for now is to keep taking the calcium, magnesium, Vit D and to get my thyroid levels under control. Then I can start to slowly build up my exercise again so that I can do weight bearing exercises to strengthen my muscles and bone. Family genetics do play a part so ask your parents etc. if they have osteoporosis, osteopenia (the precurser) or if they remember old women having hump backs in your family. It’s a good thing to keep on top of so that you don’t become a statistic later with a broken hip etc.. I have already lost .25" and think it’s from the osteoporosis.

I felt bad about another disease on my plate but have gotten used to it now that I am feeling better overall. Next stop is normal thyroid levels!!!!!!!!

ewmb

[cotygh1]

#1018760

Hi,
This is the first time I run into NGDF. I am happy it exists and happy to find people to share things with. I have had Graves for about 4 to 5 years, never thought of the illness beyond its name and the fact that it seemed to be an inherited disease. I had been taking medicine and fought against the idea of sugery for several years. I am doing fine although I continue taking a very minimal amount of (5mg/day) of Methimazole.
Recently, 2 issues have made me investigate more about my disease: my father is in his last stage of a horrible illness: Accute Lymphocitic Leukemia, and recently in a health fare I was found to have Ostheoporosis. I am 46 years old and I was told to take calcium immediately (I have never taken any vitamins). Of course I immediatly made appointments with my general doctor and my endocrinologist. My questions are the following: Since Gaves is an autoimmune disease, is it possible that it is now attacking my bones? can it attack other organs in addition to the thyroid? my Graves seems related to my father’s ALL, since both are autoimmune disorders. Is this true? Would natural treatments to boost the immune system (e.g. ACAI) help in any way?

Thank you very much for your help!

cg

[Bobbi]

#1066924

One word of advice about taking calcium and other vitamin/mineral supplements: If you are on replacement hormone be sure to take that supplement about four hours after you take your replacement hormone pill. Apparently, researchers have found (or suspect) that taking the supplements too soon can interfere with the absorption of our hormone meds. Again, this suggestion does not necessarily apply to those who are taking ATDs, but it may be a good idea to get into the habit anyway.

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