That is a very good question. I asked this question and my doc explained it this way....In order for you to develop Graves Disease you have to be born with the antibodies. Its an inherited thing. It lays sleeping until something triggers it awake. Usually its an event that generates intense stress, a birth of a child or a change in hormones like menopause. This causes the immune reaction to go into overdrive and cause us to become hyper...hence Graves Disease. Once this vicious cycle starts things like diet and stress aggravates an already compromised immune system. That's why we eliminate those things so it will lower the effects of our immune system gone wrong. The more the aggravations the worse the symptoms. This allows us to focus on working at lowering the antibodies through the use of ATD's. You reach your sweet spot and maintain...this aids in lowering your antibodies. As your antibodies lower...the closer you are to remission...This explanation satisfied my curiosity.

I'm sure someone else will come along with a better explanation...meanwhile here's an explanation from Elaine Moores site...Big Hugs...Kathy

http://elaine-moore.com/Articles/AutoimmuneDiseases/WhatisAutoimmuneDisease/tabid/62/Default.aspx

ps...all that Halloween candy...not a good idea...but...its something I've done myself. Hey...you cant let them go to waist...right?

Here's another article written by Elaine Moore...this ones a bit better than the other one I posted

http://elaine-moore.com/Articles/GravesDisease/ThyroidDiseaseTriggers/tabid/183/Default.aspx

Thanks Kathy. I have read Elaine's book and was under the understanding of what you posted. So in a nut shell, it appears that as long as the antibodies are "active" on some level things can trigger the symptoms inspite of the atds and it will become less apparent as the system heals? I don't notice things as much but definitely have noticed certain food triggers - while I can eat some sugar - 2 days in a row, I paid the price. BTW you cracked me up with the "waist" comment - work too hard to keep it off there so glad these moments don't happen all the time. I do believe I've had episodes all my life, just undiagnosed - and I think most of us
can look back and see other times in our lives. I think part of my
not feeling great this week had to do with the stress of my elderly mother having a fall and not knowing the out come. She is doing better - figure she had a stroke deep in the brain, but she is recovering and that is a blessing.


Hugs Back,
Cindee

I do believe I've had it longer that what was diagnosed as well. When I think back there has been many times where its flared up but just not to the degree it did this last time. There has been many times in my past where I would gain weight and then loose it suddenly. One time in particular I went as high as 200lbs and then lost it in just 3 months. I think I've swung back and forth for most of my adult life. On this last flare up I was going through divorce for the 1st time...same man as the 2nd time...the stress was incredible and to boot I lost my mom in the middle of it all. This lasted for about 5 years...its no wonder my immune system went crazy.

What makes me sad is...I've pasted on my immune problem to my children. My daughter has Eczema and my son has Asthma. The likelihood of them developing Graves is considerably high. I've made them both have there thyroids tested so they know what is normal levels for them. They get it done every 5 years. If I had known what was normal for me...I would have saved myself a lot of time trying to figure it out. Since its common to develop more than one autoimmune health issue...I also have Sarcoidosis, that showed up about 3 years before my Graves flare up...I wanted them to have that advantage. This is something we should all do for our children. Big Hugs...Kathy

Kathy,
Great point about our children. I have advised both of my grown sons and one has had his thyroid checked. I understand its not as normal in males as females but want them to be educated.

So that brings me to my next ? My Endo made the comment the first time I saw her that I had autoimmune disease and it didn't matter if it was Graves or Hashi's - hmmm, are the antibodies and reactions different for both diseases? I have not been checked for any other autoimmune disease so that was another good point.

Thanks and have a blessed day.
Cindee

Its not as common for men to develop Graves Disease but when they do...it tends to be way worse for men than women. The same goes for TED...men seem to get it worse.

We have members here with both. Its wise to get tested for both. That way there's no surprises and when things switch from one to the other you know how to deal with it. I would insist on getting tested for both antibodies. I did get tested only it was a year after being on ATD's. I tested negative for Hash.

As far as testing for other autoimmune diseases...there are so many different ones that can develop. Doc's my be resistant to test for specific ones unless you are displaying symptoms. Big Hugs...Kathy