Hashimotos vs Graves

I've been a little baffled as to why there are two different names for this. The root cause seems to be the same- an autoimmune attack on the thyroid. This can lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. So why different names?

If your autoimmune attack lead to hyperthyroidism, it's Graves. Otherwise, it's Hashimotos. But since the attack can lead to fluctuations between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism over periods of name why not just say "x" leading to hyperthyroidism, or "x" leading to hypothyroidism? It doesn't seem to me that two different names are needed.

I can't help but think that there is little more do it. So far the only difference I can really find is that anti-thyroidperoxidase antibodies are more common in Hashimotos and that Thyroid Stimulating Imunnoglobulin antibodies are more common with Graves.... but both can be present with the other.

Someone forgot about her blog

Hello!

The current state of things: I'm still much better off than I was 3 years ago. Still less brain fog, more energy. The bad news? There are some unresolved issues. I can't pretend to be "cured". Notably, I still have chronic tingling in my hands and feet.

As of right now, I seem to have lost the will to continue visiting doctors to get shit fixed.

But... I'll get back there again. It is a must, while I still have decent health insurance.

You see, as soon as I did get some energy, I took it and ran. I've been more productive over all, and have managed to move along on some long many-year standing life goals.

I am 2 months short of graduating with a B.S.! (heh, heh, BS. That is, Bachelors of Science).

There are quite a few drafts for posts drifting about in this here blogger account. I will see about getting some of those out.

I'm sure there are new things to report. For example: I found out that I have an extra lumbar vertebrae!

Hmmmm?

During my latest appointment with the physicians assistant of the doctor treating my Lyme, I was quizzed on a few things that seemed odd to me. I get the feeling that they were expecting a... marked improvement, after 2 months on antibiotics.

My hands and feet are still tingling away, however, and I've had plenty of those odd shooting pains in the last day, week, and month.

I am left wondering about a number of things. I think I may have "given up" trying to understand, at this point. Either the antibiotics will help, or they will not. Either I do in fact have Lyme, or my troublesome symptoms have another root. For now I can only focus on summoning up my meager scraps of energy for what work I might get done on a given day.



This doctor also asked me to do a heavy metal test. I am quite full of Mercury. Really. It's... appalling. No more tuna from pick-n-save.

You know, I've seen a few stories on the news about mercury in fish. I did assume that, given eating 2-3 cans of tuna per week, maybe I'd have a bit more mercury in me than I ought to.

But after seeing the test result on just how full of mercury I am... I am shocked and appalled.