Curiosity question, does anyone know if you can have graves and hashimoto?

[survival]

[hooper]

Just been on another thyroid forum and a lady of 27 said she had both graves and hashimoto's. She was about to start on natural dessicated thyroid hormone. So yes, it appears you can!

[survival in reply to hooper]

Thanx for replying

[merissa]

yes you can, although if you have hashi, you will swing to Graves.

hope this helps

x

[survival in reply to merissa]

Thanx for replying

[helvella Administrator]

Agree with hooper - yes you can have both. Have a read of this extract:

The Syndromes of Thyroid Autoimmunity

The syndromes comprising autoimmune thyroid disease are three intimately related illnesses: (1) Graves’ disease with goiter, hyperthyroidism and, in many patients, associated ophthalmopathy (2) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with goiter and euthyroidism or hypothyroidism; and (3) primary thyroid failure or myxedema. Many variations of these syndromes are also recognized, including transient thyroid dysfunction occurring independently of pregnancy and in 5 – 6% of postpartum women, neonatal hyperthyroidism, and neonatal hypothyroidism. The syndromes are bound together by their similar thyroid pathology, similar immune mechanisms, co-occurrence in family groups, and transition from one clinical picture to the other within the same individual over time. The immunological mechanisms involved in these three diseases must be closely related, while the phenotypes probably differ because of the specific type of immunological response that occurs. For example, if immunity against the TSH receptor leads to production of thyroid stimulating antibodies, Graves’ disease is produced, whereas if TSH blocking antibodies are formed or a cell destructive process occurs, the result is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or primary myxedema.

Associated with autoimmune thyroid disease in some patients are other organ specific autoimmune syndromes including pernicious anemia, vitiligo, myasthenia gravis, primary adrenal autoimmune disease, ovarian insufficiency, rarely pituitary insufficiency, alopecia, and sometimes Sjogren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, as manifestations of non-organ specific autoimmunity. Of particular interest recently has been the description of pituitary antibodies and growth hormone deficiency in a around a third of patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism, implying the existence of a substantial reservoir of pituitary autoimmunity in these patients but further work is needed to confirm these findings and to understand the basis for the autoimmune response against the pituitary.

thyroidmanager.org/chapter/...

That tends to emphasise the similarities and overlaps but not quite state they can co-exist in one person at the same time.

Rod

[survival in reply to helvella]

Thanx for replying and the info. Tis never straight forward is it!

[Hidden]

I can't seem to get my head round the difference either, as Hashi swings from Hyper to Hypo, back & forth, but Graves is Hyper. I believe Dr Broda Barnes said this too (I started reading his book but lost it!) For me a nodule created havoc, now it's gone I do feel better but I still have both sets of symptoms like being cold with palps etc. (this is without any medication).

A recent poster also said they had both, and at my last visit to the ENT doc he wasn't sure if it was Graves or Hashi either - more tests. This is why it's such a minefield! Jane

[survival in reply to Hidden]

Thanx for replying, yes a minefield that we all seem to have to wade through with not much help from drs! I do have both sets of symptoms periodically, however not much interest from dr, just ooo that's unusual!

[Nicola-Jane]

In 1996 I was diagnosed with Grave's (over). That corrected on medication. In 2001 I again developed Grave's... along with Hashi's (hypo)! I was medicated with carbimazole AND thyroxine together Shortly after, thyroid eye disease made it's appearance (literally!) followed by a total thyroidectomy.

[survival in reply to Nicola-Jane]

Thanx for replying. Oooo sounds like u have been through a lot! I did start out with graves and a rubbish endo, had thyoid nuked and now recovering on meds. Don't know wot was actually tested for back then, was told once nuked that I wouldn't have graves anymore but since told I will always have graves just not the thyroid overproducing synptoms! Sometimes I feel over + underactive at the same time, have only read about hashis as usually hard work asking dr.

Hope u doing ok