[MRHabetz]

#1018839

I am 34, my half sister is 31 and my step dad is 56. Out of 6 people in the household I grew up in, this officially makes it HALF that have developed Grave’s Disease. We live in Louisiana around petroleum industries and my step-dad in fact has work for Citgo for more than 30 years. I was thinking the other day that…..I know that Grave’s can be hereditary but isn’t it kind of odd in this situation? The house was composed of my mom, my older sister and younger brother which to me are full brother and sister; in addition to my step-dad and my half-sister, which is his daughter with my mom. (Did I confuse you yet?)
So, I am blood related to my half-sister and she is blood related to my step-dad that has it but my step-dad and I obviously have no blood relation. Would you find that weird? We all 3 have been diagnosed with it in the last 3 years………I’m just wondering thoughts about checking into a possible link. I feel like it’s kinda like the Julia Roberts Movie where she works for the lawyer.

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions,
Sincerely,
Michelle Habetz

[Bobbi]

#1067417

The short answer: I don’t have a clue. Just something to think about, though: is it just your family? Or do your neighbors and friends living in the same area have a much, much higher rate of Graves? If it’s just your family, it is entirely possible that it is the familial genetic thing, even though your family is probably throwing off the "average" charts a bit. IF there is a whopping amount of Graves in the neighborhood at large, then you might be on to something. But family tendencies can be strong. My mom had Graves. And, when I began researching thyroid disease, I found out that my kids have at least a double whammy effect due to thyroid disease being on BOTH sides of the family. My husband’s family has it, too, along with other conditions (premature gray hair, etc.) that are often a harbinger of thyroid problems to come.

Sometimes, coincidences happen — take the first President Bush and his wife, Barbara. Both turned up with Graves. And their dog also got an autoimmune disease. Ultimately, it was decided that it was just a nasty coincidence.

[hyperm]

#1067418

Hi Michelle how are you? Haven’t had a catch up with you in ages on the board.

I know what you mean. I am one of 6 children and 3 of my sisters and myself have GD. My sister (the super thin skinny one which I am hoping happens to me lol) then me then her twin was diagnosed this year and then our elder sister. I think my parents are feeling a little out of sorts. I just pray my kids don’t have it – I have been thinking that a lot recently.

xxxx

[bluesky]

#1067419

Grave’s is not a rare disease.

I read that the prevalence rate in the US is about 1 in 89 people. That’s something like 3.5 million people.

There is a genetic component, but unrelated people who know each other or live together can both have it just because a lot of people have it, regardless of any common factors in their environment.

[Ski]

#1067420

The most interesting thing we learned at the latest conference was that Graves’ Disease is the most common autoimmune disease there is ~ as a family, autoimmune diseases are more prevalent than many "well known" diseases, but because there are so many different autoimmune diseases, it dilutes the attention of the scientific community. As a result, there is a LOT we do not know about how these diseases are triggered. We can have all kinds of suspicions, but the facts are very difficult to find.

[Author]

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