Accident related Hashimotos?

[Fuel1212]

Hi there everyone. I have an important question that I am hoping someone has knowledge of. Here is my short story.... Back in November, I was in a major accident and rear ended at 60mph from a full sized truck(see pics in profile) Shortly after I started having weird symptoms, come to find out I have Hashimotos, and a small nodule on my left lobe. I had a FNA biopsy that showed suspicious, but am getting a second opinion.

Has anyone seen any research that there is a correlation between whiplash/stress and Hashimotos or any autoimmune disorder? I have no thyroid issues that run in my family, and was healthy before the accident?

Thanks!
Fuel

[Fuel1212]

None taken, however if you read some of the books like "Living well with Hypothyroidism" states that there are many different types of trigger for autoimmune disorders. I don't think anything is clearly documented at this time though?


Thanks
Fuel

[Barb135]

Sorry - we sometimes get off subject - no offense intended..  

I really don't think you are going to find "accident related Hashimoto's".  As I said originally, Hashi's is an autoimmune condition and being in an accident would not cause you to suddenly get antibodies.  That's not to say that the added stress couldn't have contributed something to the situation.  

Most likely, you've had the antibodies and it's just taken a while for the "attack" on your thyroid to become noticeable (as in symptoms and/or blood work).  I also think I'm pretty safe in saying that the accident did NOT cause the nodule on your thyroid.  I think the timing with your accident was most likely coincidental.  

[Fuel1212]

Am I missing something here?  I am lost, I thought we were looking for "accident related hashimotos, or other autoimmune disorders"? Anyone have any comments on this topic?
Thanks in advance

Fuel

[goolarra]

Euthyroid is "normal" (I almost can't even use that word anymore), neither hyper- nor hypothyroid.

I'm not seeing my endo for another six months, so write your questions down!  I don't let on why I want to know...just curious!

[Barb135]

That's a great doctor you have - I wonder if he had any inkling that he was "treating" so many patients?? ............lol

I suspected that it took a long time for symptoms to develop with Hashi's - it stands to reason that the symptoms would show up after the antibodies have "whittled away" at the thyroid for a while.  I suspect that I've had it for many years, as well.  I've always been very sensitive to cold, constipation has always been a problem and for the past 10-15 years, I've either been way underweight or about 20 pounds overweight......And it seems like fatigue has always been my constant companion.........

That's interesting about stress though, but I guess even that stands to reason.  If we are under a lot of stress for long periods, our immune system can become weaker and we can no longer fight disease as well.  

Lots of good information there.  Do let us know when you go back to the doctor again - we might have some more questions for him..............lol

[TamraW]

BTW - What is euthyroid?

I thought I was going to pass out yesterday when it was 99 outside. Last week it was 103, and the heat didn't bother me. I guess I'm supposed to swing in this stage of Hashi's?

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

Wow! Thanks so much for this post. Now I do realize that I've been Hashi for many, many years. I thought that once you get it, it destroys your thyroid for a few years and then you rely on replacement drugs.

I always slept through my third period class in high school, despite the fact that I went to bed on time. I've always struggled with weight. Either I was skinny or 15-25 pounds over weight. When I was in college, my boyfriend took me to see a popular stand up comedian in Vegas. I slept through his whole act. My boyfriend was so mad at me. Sometimes I would get so tired, and couldn't stay awake.

But what I'm feeling now is a train wreck. Really, I think my Hashi hasn't destroyed my thyroid yet. I wish it would hurry up.

Thanks for clarifying!
:) T.

[goolarra]

I saw my endo today, so I got to ask a bunch of hard-to-google questions.

He was quite adamant that we are not born with Hashi's...it develops.  However, he also said that it's quite possible that I've had antibodies for the past twenty or thirty years, and it took until a few years ago to cause symptomatic hypothyroidism.  Sometimes the destruction of the thyroid goes like gangbusters, sometimes the antibodies just slowly eat away at the thyroid for decades.  So, there's no predicting.

Also, the antibodies usually do go into remission after the thyroid is completely "dead", even if the thyroid tissue is still present.  As he added, they don't really test antibodies on a regular basis since the results (after initial diagnosis) add no useful clinical information, just cost.

Ahhh, and stress?  He has become convinced that stress is a major factor in triggering all autoimmune disease.  I know stress is powerful stuff, but I am surprised to hear this.  He did say no one knows for sure, but he has to have seen a lot of autoimmune disease, so I have to respect his opinion.

Tamra, I think I've had a somewhat underperforming thyroid all my life, too.  I was a chubby kid (back when kids weren't couch potatoes, but spent all day outside running around), my mother always said my temp was below normal, I've always been sensitive to cold, etc.  Except now that I'm euthyroid, it's 101 outside, and I can't stand it!!!  The antibodies slowly destroy your thyroid.  It often takes years for them to destroy enough for you to develop symptoms.  I think, in the last couple of years, you've just reached that critical point.  Before that, you still had enough thyroid function to keep you going.  Now you no longer do.

Oh, and the really good news (it's all relative when it comes to thyroid!), he agrees with me that my thyroid has probably given up the ghost...dead, but not gone.  I think this is good because it means I am now on total hormone replacement, and we should no longer be chasing a moving target.  My labs have been consistent since January.  No more ups and downs.  Party time!  ;-)  

[TamraW]

Goolara, and Barb, I am still learning all of this Hashi stuff. My Anti-TPO was a 221 and my Frees are low. I just found this out Wednesday.

I have always been a tired child. I have always had constipation. Also, my temps as a child were in the low 97s. The doc said that must have been my norm. Nothing about Hashi was mentioned then.

Have I always had Hashi? Why do you think the symptoms have been so much worse over the past few years?

Thanks,
:) Tamra

[Fuel1212]

Thats interesting stuff. Maybe it was just an odd timing thing? I am going to keep looking into it. Goolarra thanks for your help and I will wait to hear back from you.

Thanks!

[goolarra]

I believe postpartum thyroiditis is a different thyroiditis and is often temporary.  I doubt the stress triggers the autoimmune response, but it may precipitate symptoms that might otherwise have been at bay.  I see my endo tomorrow, and we really don't have a lot to talk about since not much has changed since my last appointment...I'll see what he says (need to get my money's worth anyway!).  Anything else I should ask him?  He's pretty responsive, although I do on occasion see him giving me the "look" when I start asking about thyroid disorders not even remotely related to what I have!

[TamraW]

I thought that a major stress could trigger Hashi and that pregnant women get it after delivery. Am I wrong? I was just diagnosed Hashi yesterday, so I'm learning here, too. My symptoms did begin after I birthed my daughter.

Take care...
:) Tamra

[Barb135]

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease and I would doubt that an accident of that nature could cause it, however, I'm not a doctor;  being the first in your family to have an autoimmune is not unheard of - I have a son who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes (another autoimmune) at the age of 10 and we had absolutely NO diabetes in either my or my husband's families.  Alas - over the past 5 years, MY family has had 5 more members come up with diabetes and 2 of us with hashimoto's, plus my 34 yr old daughter was diagnosed with lupus last year and *I* also was diagnosed with pernicious anemia a couple of years ago.  All of these things are autoimmune diseases............

All of that said - the pituitary gland is located at the base of your skull and I would suspect that an accident such as you had, COULD cause pituitary problems, so you might want to get your pituitary function tested........

Maybe some of the other members will have some info............hm -- interesting thought.