Hashimoto/Autoimmune Encephalitis or Thyroid Disease?

[nonconventional]

I started on this site a number of years ago having found “stop the thyroid madness” (both a book & forum) and have gone on to join forums for Hashimoto/autoimmune encephalitis.

The commonalities in symptoms are frighteningly similar, as well as the MD’s responses including “it’s all in your head”.

So how do we know which it is? Or are these actually one in the same thing?

Even the symptoms & responses from MD’s of women advocating for a years supply of HRT have symptoms that are so relevant one might confuse them with individuals on this forum.

If we dig deeper would we realise a common root cause?

What I have learned is there are no definitive tests or treatments- perhaps because each body is so unique.

What are your thoughts?

Some of the tests for Hashimoto Encephalitis would include TPO & NMDA besides others.

HESA is one of the groups I follow.

[tattybogle]

'Hashimoto's Encephalopathy' = Steroid-Responsive Encephalopathy Associated with Autoimmune Thyroiditis (SREAT)

This is encepaphalitis, with positive TPOab 's, it can occur in isolation (without a hypo/hyper thyroid state), or it can occur when hypo/hyperthyroidism is also present......and is only 'diagnosed' by ruling out any of the other causes of encephalitis, and then trying steroid treatment ..... if the encephalitis is responsive to the steroids .. then it's SREAT.

~ A short course of steroids is usually given.

'Thyroid disease ' presumably you mean Autoimmune Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis)

This is Hypothyroidism that usually has positive TPOab , (but not always). There will be high TSH and low T4 levels, and symptoms of hypothyroidism.

~ The treatment is to replace the low thyroid hormones ...usually done with just Levothyroxine(T4) at first.

How can we tell the difference .. if SREAT is suspected, then a short course of steroids would be tried and if it worked to resolve the encephalitis and the fits/seizures/hallucinations (or whatever the presenting symptom was) improved .. then that confirms it was SREAT.

Did they ever try treating your mum with Steroids to see if she had SREAT ? (Hashimoto's Encephalopathy )