Family links.

[johare]

I posted a while ago about one of my sons (28) who had recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (Graves disease) and DVT with the possibility of other autoimmune conditions. He has also been an asthmatic since he was a child and epileptic from 16 and migraine from 11 years old. I have spoken about my eldest daughter who has had eczema and asthma since birth and anaphylaxis for the last ten years. My second son 25, (eczema) is having fatigue investigated, thyroid problems also suspected. My youngest daughter has aspergers. Now this sounds like a hardship story, it isn't just stating fact.

I have a grandson of 8 years and granddaughter of three months. My grandson also has aspergers and now we have just been told there is the possibility of him also having an autoimmune condition that is affecting his kidneys.

I know now that there is much more genetic testing, than when I was nursing but I wonder why children are not tested now routinely.

Why wait.

[Damaged]

I could not agree more. I had genetics done for me and my son immediately following my diagnoses. In fact I did not become aware of our families history with autoimmune disease until after direct questioning.

The problem lies with a lack of diagnoses. My sister has Graves' disease. She was not diagnosed until her mid thirties. She has never seen an Endocrinologist.

My father struggled with psoriasis, Pancreatitis my aunts all have RD an Elziemers. There is no clear genetic link. It is a combination of genetic predisposition, environment, hormones ....still unclear. Therefore prevention seems the only reasonable goal !

[johare in reply to Damaged]

My son in law has a history of different cancers in his family with both his father and uncle dying early. His grandparents both had environmental cancers. However, he is being fully screened with a view to this being passed to his cousins. I feel this is the way forward. This seems to happen now with cancer but auto immune conditions seem to be so far behind as you say because collecting symptoms is slow for a diagnosis. But if one person is diagnosed then screening will prevent problems with others and a waste of nhs money Win win.