Weakened immunity

[Harry17]

I wondered if anyone knows the answer to this. I’ve been ill with proper flu /bronchitis three times this winter and wondered if the Graves desease (even though I had my thyroid out 5 yrs ago) might still be a factor in weakening my immunity or if that isn’t a thing once the thyroid is removed? As the Graves desease antibodies attack the thyroid I wondered if they get busy attacking other things once the thyroid is removed?!? Do you know if this is possible? Hypothetical question really ...

[Hennerton]

It is much more likely that you are not on the correct dose of Levothyroxine and that possibly you are not converting this well enough into the active hormone T3. In other words your entire body is running on less than it should be of necessary thyroid hormone. Please ask your GP for a copy of your latest blood test and put results here under a new post. Members can then advise. You should also ask GP to test iron, ferritin, B12, Folate and Vit D. These may all be low and this will also affect your general health. They are often low in thyroid patients. All of this is what I have been through myself after Graves and thyroidectomy. You will get better with the right treatment. Unfortunately you have to be your own doctor in thyroid matters, as most general doctors know very little about it.

[pennyannie]

Hello Harry

Graves is an autoimmune disease and as such you have it for life.

There is probably some generic predisposition, maybe a generation away, and I read it can be triggered by a shock to the system, like a sudden death or car accident.

The thyroid is the victim of an attack by your immune system and is not the cause.

The thyroid is a major gland so when the attack happens, the symptoms caused can be said to be life threatening, and therefore medical treatment is sort.

The Nhs doesn't know how to reduce the antibody component of the disease, so ultimately suggest either ablation or surgical removal of the thyroid.

The Nhs also believe it is easier to manage hypothyroidism than hyperthyroidism.

This is a somewhat simplistic approach, just removing the target of an autoimmune attack, but that seems to be what happens.

Living without a thyroid can come with it's own set of problems.

A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you daily with 100 T4 + 10 T3 -approximately.

I think it is only sensible that both these vital hormones should be on the prescription if there has been a medical intervention and the thyroid ablated or surgically removed.

Some people get by on T4 alone, some people simply stop, at some point in time, converting T4 to T3 and some people just need both these essential hormones dosed and monitored independently to bring them into balance and to a level of well being acceptable to the patient.

I think it would be a good idea to arrange for a full thyroid blood test panel together with the vitamins and minerals as detailed on this amazing site, and then post the results including the ranges, so people more able than me, will be able to advise you of any action you may need to take in order to recover your health.

You may like to take a look at:-

Graves Disease - A Practical Guide - by Elaine Moore - this lady has the disease and has now also set up a very comprehensive website on all things Graves related. USA based.

Tired Thyroid - from hyper to hypo to healing - by Barbara S Lougheed - another American lady with the disease, amongst other things in her book she debunks the over reliance of the TSH testing, especially for Graves disease patients.

Your Thyroid and How to Keep it Healthy by Dr Barry Durrant Peatfield - this doctor has hypothyroidism and his book is about all things thyroid. It's an easy read and though we

may not have a thyroid to keep healthy, we do need to know what we have lost and need to compensate for.