Thyroidectomy and Graves disease

[monalz]

My 42 yr. old son was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had his thyroid completely removed.  Some short time later he was diagnosed with and is being treated for Graves Disease. Since, as I understand it, Graves Disease develops as a result of hyperthyroidism, how does someone who is hypothyroid develop the disease?  
Thank you.

[tm514]

The eye problems associated with Graves Eye Disease (related to Graves thyroid disease) are frequent tearing, constant dry eyes, double vision in some cases, eyelid retraction and bulging of the eyelids out of the eye sockets.  All of these problems are caused by antibodies attacking the muscles and tissue behind the eyes, causing fat to be deposited in the muscles.  The muscles swell and since the eye is enclosed in the eye socket, they have no place else to go but to bulge out the front.  In very rare instances, pressure is put on the optic nerve, which can threaten sight.  For the most part, Graves Eye Disease doesn't cause actual vision problems like you describe.

[hopsing94]

i was reading your comments tm514 and was wondering what kind of eye problems you are talking about. My eyes burn at times and blurry vision and just cant seem to focus at times.

[tm514]

Graves Disease causes hyperthyroidism, not the other way around.  With Graves, the body produces antibodies that attack they thyroid gland causing it to overproduce thyroid hormones, which in turn causes the symptoms - heart palpitations, shaking hands, sensitivity to heat, etc. .

I'm not a doctor, but am guessing your son tested positive for the antibodies and that is why he has been diagnosed with Graves.  Even after a thyroidectomy, a person has Graves disease, because taking the thyroid out doesn't make the antibodies go away, they just have nothing left to attack.

If he does have Graves, be on the lookout for eye problems, which can occur in about 5% of Graves patients.