Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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RA and thyroid

michigirl
michigirl
Hi
I'm having some trouble with my thyroid (about a zillion cystic nodules are covering it), and I was wondering if it could be the RA causing it or maybe the meds or just a coincidence. My endodoc says I'll probably have to lose my thyroid at some point. Is anyone else having thyroid issues? Thanks guys, I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found this website!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had thyroid issues 10 years ago before I had the RA. I had Graves disease and thyroid cancer. I say that is what started this whole mess with my body. Thankful I have been cancer free all these years but feel like the Graves disease predisposed me to RA. My opinion is that there is a definite link.
deleted_user
deleted_user
According to my Rheumy, other problems love to jump on the wagon with RA. Thyroid included. My Rheumy checks mine periodically.
mmztcass
mmztcass
I have had thyroid issues since about the age of 14. I am almost 48 now.

{{{hugs}}}
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have been hypothyroid (underactive) since age 21. It has an autoimmune cause - there are autoantibodies that destroy my thyroid gland. Thyroid, especially autoimmune thryoid problems, are very common with other autoimmune diseases such as RA, lupus, Sjogren's.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had my thyroid removed because of cancer about 1.5 years ago. . They also took out 7 lymph nodes with one infected with cancer. To the best of my knowledge, I didn't have RA before that, but it started with a vengeance. I also have had psoriasis all of my life which is also an autoimmune disease. Still having trouble with my throat and don't know if RA is causing those problems or not. At this point, I've realized that I have to take total charge of treatment and hound the Dr's to listen. It took 6 Dr's 7 months to even find the cancer, so I have gotten good at not taking "I don't know what's wrong with you" as an answer.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I got hypothyroid at exactly the same time I got RA. Not sure which influenced which, but if my levels get low, it always impacts the RA.

I have a strong genetic influence, and was expecting it though. My mom, and her mom, and maybe my great grandma, diagnosing through symptoms (they didn't have tests or meds back that far.)

My daughter got it at age 16, after much denial, and my sister a few years ago. So that is ALL the women in my family.
deleted_user
deleted_user
michigirl,
could be the RA because you have too much fibrin in your body. Too much fibrin can not only cause RA, but can also cause cysts and nodules. You might want to try either a raw food diet or a supplement, such as Serra-RX or other supplement with Serrapeptase which will reduce the fibrin in your blood stream, and also reduce your cysts and nodules.
hugs,
Sarah