Can having lupus, cause your children to have an autoimmune disorder?

[petwoman]

I have been diagnosed with Lupus and my daughter who is 17 was having issues of not getting her period for months at a time (progressively longer and longer without)  Dr did blood work and have found out her thyroid is overactive--Low TSH ect--now like I said I have lupus, my sister has hypothyroid and our uncle had Scleraderma--is this something
that is from genetics do you think for my daughter or a fluke chance?  I feel horrible if I passed this awful gene onto her
she has enough issues without this one too!!
Thanks everyone for your help

[TrudieC]

I totally understand how you feel.  I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 21, hypothyroidism in my mid 30's and Lupus this past year.  My son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when he was 20.  I was physically ill and cried for days at the thought that he'd inherited it from me.  There is a genetic connection but it is very rare for a parent to pass it to their child.  Now with so many other things going on with me he asks if he has those to look forward to as well.  I have looked into the Lupus inheriting situation and there is only a 5% chance for him, may be a bit higher for a girl.  

Regardless, it does seem that the tendency towards auto-immune diseases does run in families.  And it seems we are seeing more and more of these conditions every day.  I actually really had to dig to find out some of my family's history.  

[karajo]

WOW, you're 108 and have a 17 year old daughter.  Just kidding!

You're not the only one that has lied up on this forum.  

I agree with Trudie.  There is a genitic connection in autoimmune diseases, but the chances of your daughter getting lupus is actually only 10% and a son is 2% (according to "The Lupus Book" by Daniel Wallace M.D. pg. 39)  It also says that the body may produce elevated levels of autoantibodies even though no specifice immune disorder is present.  For example, nearly half the first-degree relatives of lupus patients may have a positive ANA.  However, ANA is only one of the 4 criteria that must be present for a SLE dx.  

Hashimoto Thyroiditis (Grave's Disease) is different than lupus (if that is what she has).  Is that what they are telling you?  Do they feel her cycle inconsistencies are due to the high thyroid?  Although H.T. is an autoimmune disorder, it is different and can be treated fairly easily.  Celiac disease (glutten intollerance) sometimes goes along with that.  The symptoms w/ that is diarrhea.  

Praying for you
God bless, Kara

[petwoman]

I am curious now,because you have answered a post before about me being 108??  where does it show that??  lol  I am actually 43...but now I cannot figure out where it says I am 108???
Thanks to you both about your comments, I feel somewhat better that it is not totally my fault that my daughter is having problems now--maybe I can blame my husband for it instead!!  lol just kidding....He is the best
Have a good night everyone

[karajo]

When I let my curser rest on your name, it tells me how long you have been with medhelp and if you put the info, it tells me if you are male or female and what your age is.  There is one lady OldFatChick.  She has a ridiculous age because she doesn't want to attract any prospective prospects.  (don't know how to word that?!)  

But in reality, even if we do pass down genetics, there is nothing we can do about it.  Feeling bad doesn't change anything.  There is only ONE who can change things like that.  And that is the Father of our faith.  Almighty God!  So all we can do is give it to Him in faith and let Him do the rest.

Have a great night as well.  Glad we got to meet again.

You'll have to let me know what kinds of pets you have.  Our latest pet is a flying squirrel.  My nephew calls him a Swirl.  How cute!