Re: graves disease

[Guest guest]

Dear Angie,

You don't tell much; like were you Dx w/ Graves?; or do you have

hyperthyroidism?; a goiter?, etc. I wonder what brings you to ask. But

since all I have here is a " generic " question, I'll try to give you a

good " generic " answer, and hope that it helps!!

There are several reasons for a person to develop signs of

HYPERTHYROIDISM (high thyroid hormone levels in the bloodstream*).

*[FYI: Another cause of hyperthyroidism is a supressed TSH (Thyroid-

Stimulating-hormone) but this is much less common, and has nothing to

do with GRAVES disease]

One cause of HYPERTHYROIDISM, to the point of THYROTOXICOSIS**

(which basically means the thyroid hormones in the bloodstream or so

high that they cause 'toxic' symptoms) is GRAVES disease.

**[FYI: Some scientists and/or MD's use the terms HYPERTHYROIDISM and

THYROTOXICOSIS interchangeably, but THYROTOXICOSIS is actually a more

specific term, denoting a series of clinical disorders associated

with increased levels of 'free thyroxine' and 'triiodothyronine'.]

The most common form of THYROTOXICOSIS is GRAVES' disease.

The hallmark signs of GRAVES' disease is:

1) Enlargement of the Thyroid gland. Usually this is seen by the

naked eye as a " lump " at the base of the throat. It can be small

(walnut sized) or as large as a cantelope half! (obviously in a

patient without treatment!). Sometimes this enlargement is felt from

the 'inside' before or after it can be visually detected, as the

person will feel " fullness " in the throat, have difficulty swallowing,

or become " hoarse. "

2) Hyperactivity of the gland. This just means what we've been

talking about so far - the increased thyroid hormones in the

bloodstream.

3) Presence of antibodies against it's own thyroid gland. It is this

particular sign that is the determining factor in the diagnosis.

Several diseases can have the signs of #1 and #2, but only GRAVES'

has these particular autoantibodies that bind to the TSH receptor,

causing the gland to hyper-function. These TSH receptor antibodies

(TSH-R Ab) are present in about 80% of patients with GRAVES'. Other

antibodies, such as ANA are generated in GRAVES' with antimicrosomal

and/or antithyroglobulin antibodies being increased in most patients.

[ I don't mean to imply that no other thyroid disease has

antibody " issues! " Some do -like " Hashimoto's thyroiditis which

involves autoantibodies as well, just not the same kind..]

OK...but you wanted the symptoms, right (sorry, it is one of my

weaknesses to make a long story even longer -or to give WAY more info

than was asked for ).

THE MAIN SYMPTOMS OF GRAVES' ARE:

1. Hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis:

Sweating, weight loss (sometimes gain), anxiety, loose stools,

heat intolerance, irritability, fatigue, weakness, menstrual

irregularities.

2. Tachycardia (clinically dx as 'resting' heart rate of greater

than/or equal to 100 beats per minute. This is a very " generic "

definition, and needs to be dx'd by an MD),warm/moist skin, stare,

tremor.

3. In GRAVES'disease there is a goiter (enlarged thyroid) and often

ophthalmopathy (enlarged eyeballs)

Angie, there is more (there's always more...!)but this is the basics.

Hope this helps, you can always email me with " confidential "

questions. Just remember, I am not an MD, only a nurse - but a very

experienced, curious, and motivated nurse -who can no longer work in

a " physical setting " due to my own diseases! So I love the occasional

challenge of a good question! Thank you!

Love,

> Does anyone know what the symptoms of graves disease are. Thanks

for

> any information.

>

> Thanks

> Angie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your answers. I haven't been diagnosed with it but was

told by the nurse this is one of the things they are thinking it may

be. I do have a goiter and lots of nodules they found on the

ultrasound I have to have a thyroid scan, the uptake and a fine

needle biopsy. I was just trying to find out some stuff as I really

don't know. She said it could be graves desease, cancer, or many

other things including nothing. So i just want to do some research

as I have learned it helped greatly with me knowing what to talk to

the doctor about the RA

THanks

Angie

> Dear Angie,

> You don't tell much; like were you Dx w/ Graves?; or do you

have

> hyperthyroidism?; a goiter?, etc. I wonder what brings you to ask.

But

> since all I have here is a " generic " question, I'll try to give

you a

> good " generic " answer, and hope that it helps!!

>

> There are several reasons for a person to develop signs of

> HYPERTHYROIDISM (high thyroid hormone levels in the bloodstream*).

>

> *[FYI: Another cause of hyperthyroidism is a supressed TSH

(Thyroid-

> Stimulating-hormone) but this is much less common, and has nothing

to

> do with GRAVES disease]

>

> One cause of HYPERTHYROIDISM, to the point of THYROTOXICOSIS**

> (which basically means the thyroid hormones in the bloodstream or

so

> high that they cause 'toxic' symptoms) is GRAVES disease.

>

> **[FYI: Some scientists and/or MD's use the terms HYPERTHYROIDISM

and

> THYROTOXICOSIS interchangeably, but THYROTOXICOSIS is actually a

more

> specific term, denoting a series of clinical disorders associated

> with increased levels of 'free thyroxine' and 'triiodothyronine'.]

>

> The most common form of THYROTOXICOSIS is GRAVES' disease.

> The hallmark signs of GRAVES' disease is:

>

> 1) Enlargement of the Thyroid gland. Usually this is seen by the

> naked eye as a " lump " at the base of the throat. It can be small

> (walnut sized) or as large as a cantelope half! (obviously in a

> patient without treatment!). Sometimes this enlargement is felt

from

> the 'inside' before or after it can be visually detected, as the

> person will feel " fullness " in the throat, have difficulty

swallowing,

> or become " hoarse. "

> 2) Hyperactivity of the gland. This just means what we've been

> talking about so far - the increased thyroid hormones in the

> bloodstream.

> 3) Presence of antibodies against it's own thyroid gland. It is

this

> particular sign that is the determining factor in the diagnosis.

> Several diseases can have the signs of #1 and #2, but only GRAVES'

> has these particular autoantibodies that bind to the TSH receptor,

> causing the gland to hyper-function. These TSH receptor antibodies

> (TSH-R Ab) are present in about 80% of patients with GRAVES'.

Other

> antibodies, such as ANA are generated in GRAVES' with

antimicrosomal

> and/or antithyroglobulin antibodies being increased in most

patients.

>

> [ I don't mean to imply that no other thyroid disease has

> antibody " issues! " Some do -like " Hashimoto's thyroiditis which

> involves autoantibodies as well, just not the same kind..]

>

> OK...but you wanted the symptoms, right (sorry, it is one of my

> weaknesses to make a long story even longer -or to give WAY more

info

> than was asked for ).

>

> THE MAIN SYMPTOMS OF GRAVES' ARE:

> 1. Hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis:

> Sweating, weight loss (sometimes gain), anxiety, loose stools,

> heat intolerance, irritability, fatigue, weakness, menstrual

> irregularities.

> 2. Tachycardia (clinically dx as 'resting' heart rate of greater

> than/or equal to 100 beats per minute. This is a very " generic "

> definition, and needs to be dx'd by an MD),warm/moist skin,

stare,

> tremor.

> 3. In GRAVES'disease there is a goiter (enlarged thyroid) and often

> ophthalmopathy (enlarged eyeballs)

>

> Angie, there is more (there's always more...!)but this is the

basics.

> Hope this helps, you can always email me with " confidential "

> questions. Just remember, I am not an MD, only a nurse - but a

very

> experienced, curious, and motivated nurse -who can no longer work

in

> a " physical setting " due to my own diseases! So I love the

occasional

> challenge of a good question! Thank you!

> Love,

>

>

>

>

>

>

> --- In , " along302003 " <along3@c...>

wrote:

> > Does anyone know what the symptoms of graves disease are.

Thanks

> for

> > any information.

> >

> > Thanks

> > Angie