is there a genetic link with thyroid conditions? sister hypothyroid, niece precancerous cells on thyroid? Please help! Thank you :-)

[ghana60]

Husband hyperthyroid and mother in law hypothyroid - surrounded by it! Thank you

[Starfish123]

Hi,

Have any of your blood relations been tested for thyroid antibodies? This could cause a genetic link, i.e. travelling through the female line.(most usually).

Another reason is are you in an area more prone to thyroid conditions, I believe the lake district is one such area?

I have autoimmune thyroid, after mine was discovered my mum was tested and she also has it, she has been treated for dementia for 6/7 years now she is also being treated for thyroid issues. Unfortunately for mum it may be too late but if hers was tested at the time of the dementia they might have actually been able to correct it, thyroid problems in the elderly look like dementia.

[ghana60 in reply to Starfish123]

Thank you very much for your reply - I will have to ask my sister about thyroid antibodies testing.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There certainly are links - but not always obvious. Not exactly rare for conditions to vary from one person to another - e.g. hypo has child with hyper which has child with hypo...

Sometimes different autoimmune disorders occur - i.e. not all thyroid related.

Looking back, people can often see what is what. But looking forward, it is impossible to know who will have what - or even that they will have anything to deal with.

[ghana60 in reply to helvella]

Thank you very much for your reply

[neen76]

myself and my mother has thyroid problems and her niece has too

i think it is im gettin my daughter tested

good luck

[ghana60 in reply to neen76]

Thank you very much for your reply

[jancoe]

I am hypo so is my son and so was my gran and my niece is also !!

[ghana60 in reply to jancoe]

Thank you very much for your reply - it seems very strong family links are there quite often.

[kashka]

Most of my family on my mums side have thyroid problems and my uncle and gran on my dads side also.I thought i'd got away with it as it didnt present itself in my case until i was 48.No such luck.!!

I do believe there is a strong genetic link.

[ghana60 in reply to kashka]

Thank you very much for your reply Kashka - suspect younger child might have it too . . .

[kashka in reply to ghana60]

Sorry to hear that.I hope it isnt but if it is hopefully they can sort it .xxx

[greenginger]

Hi if it is autoimmune thyroid then it is likely to be genetic as this seems to be the most common thought. However if it is not autoimmune such as a mulitnodular goitre then it may not be.

[ghana60 in reply to greenginger]

Thank you very much for your reply - did not know about this - thank you

[greenginger in reply to ghana60]

Hi I also have a parent and sister with hypothyroidism and I am hyper. In hindsight I would guess that my grandmother was undiagnosed hyper and she died young with heart complications.

If you have an autoimmune condition such as Hashimotos or Graves disease then you are more likely to get other autoimmune diseases. If you search for either on the internet or on here then you will see what I mean.

It is still not known what sets off these illnesses, there are some possible environmental factors but there does appear to be evidence of genetic/DNA issues.

Good luck with your research.

[ghana60 in reply to greenginger]

Thank you am trying to find out more as it would explain a lot of complications I have been living with over the years!