graves disease and hyprothyroidism

[foragers]

My sister-in-law was just diagnosed with Graves’s disease and hypothyroidism.  For two years she has been going to doctors who have either thought she was bipolar or using street drugs.  With much persistence’s from my mother, it's been reviled that she has Graves’s disease and is hypro.  Can you have graves disease so bad that it would seem like bipolar and I thought Graves disease was an overactive thyroid, so how can you be hypro?  

[fun1046]

Love to hear more of your venture with graves disease.I was admitted to a mental unit due to bad mood marriage etc only to go into a thyroid storm and then was diagnoised with Graves disease.Gillian

[stella5349]

Graves disease is a form of an autoimmune hyperthyroidism. But your sister-in-law can show both TSI autoimmune antibodies and a high TSH which would classify her as having a primary and a secondary thyroid condition.

ANy thyroid condition left untreated for any period of time - (and the worse it is) can mock mental health problems. Many patients complain of symptoms like mood disorders - anxiety and depression.

Most doctors look for the qiuck Dx and in most cases will push anti anxiety or mood stabilizers down a patients throat just to get a quick fix and send the helpless patient on their way.

It takes persistant communication with the right doctor and for her to research her condition to (if needed) argue the facts with the treating physician. The more family that gets involved with learning the disorder the better.

Sometimes that works and real treatment begins - sometimes crazy notes get dropped in our files and it becomes a challenge to find someone who will listen.

Many patients with a thyroid condition go untreated for long periods (as I did) until you become so ill that it is hard to be the "good" patient and "behave".

There are good doctors out there. You need to find a real doctor with knowledge of thryoid/hormone disorders. It took my almost 10yrs with monthly complaining about my mood disorder to even get a blood test to find I had Graves. 10 yrs of high emotional episodes. Speculated I too have bipolar and was "stressed" - "bad marriage" anger issues" and the "baby blues" .......... my list goes on.

I was forced - if I wanted to live again - to learn all I could about this stuff. Now my doctor comes to me at times on other patients and "wants my thought" on what should be done with labs and other things to confirm his thoughts. He is an MD - but I now work with another MD specializing in bio identical hormones more.

It's freeky but true - I am only a secretary of a school. But it was in my nature to learn and when I got sick and realized noone would help me until I helped myself - then I had the proof and research backing on my condition to argue the evidence I know.

6yrs after my DX I now write my own blood work that i need and he signs the lab sheet to have it done. I show him my tracker information and TELL him the dosages I require to maintain optimal levels of hormones to keep me alive.  I schedule my own scans and he faxes his approvals. and I still pay him a heep of cash for this service. BUT I need him as a tool for my well being.

I haven't heard of too many other members here that have had to go to this extreme to get help.

I am not happy I had to go this far - but it sure beats feeling the way I did when my previous doctors almost killed me.