Asperger Syndrome Support Group
Asperger syndrome - also referred to as Asperger's syndrome, Asperger's, Aspergers or just AS - is one of five neurobiological pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and is characterized by deficiencies in social and communication skills, normal to above normal intelligence, and standard language development.
I have never actually been diagnosed with AS, but I have identified with autism since I first heard of it when I was 12. I remember having repetitious behaviors that my mom wanted me to stop, and always a sadness that I couldn't talk to other people in any meaningful way. I have learned some things that are helpful, even as recently as last week. I am 64 and always still learning.
I have had "brain fog" that everyone who has been hypothyroid has talked about on the forums. At first I thought, "With AS I can't afford having brain fog too," but then thought: Maybe the whole thing (for me) has just been hypothyroid problems my whole life long, and it has set me back in my mental/social development. Maybe I am not really AS, after all. With my thyroid levels down, it is easier for me to do rote repetition things--mindless activities, than to do more diverse things.
I have had "brain fog" that everyone who has been hypothyroid has talked about on the forums. At first I thought, "With AS I can't afford having brain fog too," but then thought: Maybe the whole thing (for me) has just been hypothyroid problems my whole life long, and it has set me back in my mental/social development. Maybe I am not really AS, after all. With my thyroid levels down, it is easier for me to do rote repetition things--mindless activities, than to do more diverse things.
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I find myself going places in the car and not wanting to get out of the car. I come back home and I don't want to get out of the car. I think it's the only time I spend reflecting. Chronic tiredness from Long Covid plus the immunosupressing meds for my Crohn's is slowing me down but everything just seems a massive effort. I am dealing with the paperwork following my father's death but it's not...
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Wow, it's the middle of the week already!Today is our 11 year anniversary, so we're going out to a nice dinner. I'm losing a lot of sleep these days, hence a wonky schedule and uncomfortable feelings. But I know it will pass, eventually.I hope all of you have a peaceful day, and may good things come your way!
Maybe you have both the thyroid and AS that have caused problems. Are you having a flare with your Graves that might be causing the brain fog? I have had brain fog before--not sure what caused it but it's not fun. Maybe you need to go have it checked out?
By the way, I am 52 and have had Strabismus since I was a child--never treated....I was told by one psychologist that this may be an autism related thing...I agree, we need to continue to learn....best wishes...
Moe
I've heard of some research that connected hypothyroidism to learning disabilities, but I"m not sure if the research was repeated and proven valid (one research study really doesn't prove anything.....because data can be abnormally high or low by chance on occasion ....like a family having 6 sons is unusual but not unknown....)
Graves Disease is an enlarged thyroid Gland....which can be due to hypothyroidism and your body trying to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more hormone, OR by a tumor making too much thyroid hormone....hyperthyroidism.
The common thought among doctors seems to be that hyperthyroidism, usually Graves' disease (autoimmune), is deadly; whereas you can live with hypothyroidism, so it is more easily ignored.
Often the TSH, the thyroid stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary, is the only one checked for thyroid problems. With Graves' disease, the TSH is so low it can't be measured so the FT4 and FT3 levels (real thyroid hormones) are checked. That is one reason I know when my levels are up or down.
I have been to two different endocrinologists for my condition, and have an appointment with the third one in two weeks. Endo #1 over treated me so that I was hypo, according to Endo #2 when I went to him for a second opinion. But even Endo #2 over treated me and I was hypo twice with him. Generally he was much better than the first, but now my TSH is in the normal range he thinks my thyroid is fine.
I am going to Endo #3 for another second opinion because she specializes in the thyroid and the pituitary and doesn't deal with diabetes patients that the endocrinologists usually deal with the most.
Before going off the meds 5 months ago, my FT3 levels dropped below the normal range and haven't risen significantly since, imo. My TSH is low-normal, which usually means the thyroid hormones would be high-normal which they are not.
There is a rare form of hypothyroidism where that happens--that both TSH and FT4 are low: Central hypothyroidism caused by the pituitary secreting inadequate amounts of TSH. I hope the real thyroid/pituitary expert will recognize this if it is my problem.
Brain fog seems directly related to being hypothyroid or having too much anti thyroid drug.
Moe, I had also heard that the strabismus could be autism related, but not from an eye doctor, whereas I was told that I had both "childhood strabismus" and "graves ophthalmopathy".
acuriousfish, you are probably right, the thyroid doesn't explain everything.
Patti, I know they screen for infant and maternal thyroid problems now, but I don't think they did that even when my children were born more than 24 years ago, certainly not when I was born. "Cretinism" caused by low thyroid hormones, by low intake of iodized salt in regions where there is little iodine in the soil, etc. is a cause of mental defects and stunted physical growth. But now, since the introduction of iodized salt, insufficient iodine is not thought to be a problem in the US.
Thank you all for being patient with me.