Do you have a thyroid Disorder or ADHD?

[Polly_G]

In another thread, I was suprised by how many females came forward who were on this site who had either a hypo or hyper-active thyroid disorder. This is also a known cause of ADHD so was curious just how many have also been diagnosed with ADHD.

Where ADHD is often caused by a thyroid disorder, if you have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder there is no reason to answer yes for ADHD.

Ifyou could post your personality type as well it might be interesting to see the results.

Thanks!

Polly <---- Graves disease, hyper-active thyroid disorder and had my thyroid removed when I was 12.

[Joy]

what about people like ishy who have both?

[nobrainer]

I often have irregular or heavy menstrual periods.

[Polly_G]

Usually the thyroid is the cause for the other. So even though you are being treated for both, you wouldn't have ADHD unless you had the thyroid disorder.

I'm sure there are exceptions but...meh...close enough

[Joy]

*raises an eyebrow*

I'm sorry, I must disagree 100%

[Polly_G]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

"Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to have a biologic basis, but the precise cause is unknown. It is one of the neurodevelopmental abnormalities frequently observed in children with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone (GRTH), suggesting that thyroid abnormalities may be related to ADHD. We report a prospective screening study for thyroid abnormalities in 277 children with ADHD by measurement of serum levels of total thyroxine, free thyroxine index, and thyrotropin. Fourteen children with ADHD had thyroid function test abnormalities: six had a normal free thyroxine index and elevated thyroxine level (group 1); three had a high free thyroxine index and a normal thyrotropin level (group 2); and five had a low free thyroxine index with a normal thyrotropin level (group 3). GRTH could not be demonstrated in a detailed study of four of the subjects in whom it was suspected (groups 1 and 2). Although the prevalence of ADHD in subjects with GRTH has been reported to be 46%, the overall prevalence of GRTH must be less than 1:2500 because we failed to detect GRTH in the 277 children with ADHD studied. We conclude that the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities is higher (5.4%) in children with ADHD than in the normal population (< 1%)."

[diamond]

Entp, hyperthyroid, no ADHD.

I'm thinking - some might not know if they're hyperthyroid. How would you know unless you had bloodwork done?

You could have ADHD and not realize you have a thyroid problem.

[Joy]

I've had loads of tests done.

[diamond]

Did they test for TSH, T3 & T4?

[Joy]

pretty sure... they tested for a lot of things. I hassled the endocrinologists to do more and more tests.

[Creepy-pokeball]

Man I hate blood tests.

[diamond]

As long as I don't watch the needle go in, I'm fine.

*slaps her arm a couple times*

[Joy]

LOL

about a year ago I went to the ER and they stuck me with a needle SEVENTEEN TIMES trying to get a blood draw!

and then like in april they did this growth hormone test where they fucked it up and the blood went up the IV line and the nurses were freaking out. it was funny. and then they wouldn't let me leave when it was over because my blood pressure was 50/20. What a bunch of bitches.

they tested me for MS too...

turns out I was just too skinny and taking too much adderall

[Polly_G]

Just wanted to clarify, just because you have been diagnosed with ADHD it doesn't mean you have a thyroid condition. Its only when you have the dual diagnosis of both that studies indicate there is a relationship. So its possible to have thyroid disorder without ADHD and ADHD without thyroid disorder. But when you have both, they think there is some type of relationship.

I think for girls they do tend to test for thyroid disorder when there are ADHD smptoms. It would be more the boys that wouldn't be tested as much. Even though boys have it they tend to think of it more as a female disorder.

I was poked once a month from the time I was 5 until 12, then every 3 months until I hit my 20s. Needles don't fizz me at all, waiting in the blood clinic is torture though.

[Joy]

okay, that I will agree with

[UDP]

I think my eye sight is going, though. Not just bluriness, either


But no, no thyroid stuff

[Joy]

eye sight can be related to thyroid or blood sugar... or too many hours in front of a moniter

[Joy]

oops that was me

[UDP]

eye sight can be related to thyroid or blood sugar... or too many hours in front of a moniter

Probably the monitor. In m youth I had no real concept of time (infront of a monitor).

[Creepy-aurora_faerie]

Man I hate blood tests.

Okay...I love getting blood tests done. I don't know why. I like the needle and ...nvmd...>_>

[nobrainer]

eye sight can be related to thyroid or blood sugar... or too many hours in front of a moniter

UDP, don't you know if you jerk too much you'll eventually get blind?

[Cone]

Thyroid disease is genetic in my family, and I could possibly provide an argument for possible ADHD. But if I have ADHD, then everyone does.

[UDP]

eye sight can be related to thyroid or blood sugar... or too many hours in front of a moniter

UDP, don't you know if you jerk too much you'll eventually get blind?

It's not my fault your mom can only hold out for a few hours.

[Creepy-pokeball]

lol o m g hah, so bad lol.

[Slacker]

I was diagnosed with ADHD at some point when I was in school. I never took any medication - I refused and my parents backed me up because if I do have ADHD, which I will admit is possible, it isn't bad enough that it's ruining my life or anything and until it does I'll just keep things as they are.

Sorry for the terrible run-on sentence

I have no idea about the thyroid thing but I think I'm OK in that department.

[Joy]

yeah... nothing comes without a cost. Meds take a toll on our bodies, and we only take them when the benefit oughtweighs the cost.

[Creepy-]

OK.

I can't vote in the poll

I have (very bad) ADHD, since long before I had any thyroid disorder. I didn't have any thyroid problems until last year. I also have a bunch of other medical problems, but we won't go into that

They can be related, yes, but they don't have to be. I have both ADHD and autoimmune disorders in my gene pool, unfortunately it looks like I have both! (Also there are a lot of other things in my family gene pool and I happen to be extremely unlucky).

But anyway, IIRC Hyperthyroidism doesn't actually cause ADHD, it just produces ADHD-like symptoms. IIRC ADHD has something to do with dodgy genes related to dopamine, like umm..... damn I can't remember the name! It's nicknames the "thrill-seeking" gene and is related to hyperactivity and taking extreme risks to achieve PFC stimulation either because they can't release dopamine from the presynapse or because they need a much larger amount of dopamine to actually make a difference. One of the two.

[Polly_G]

Hey Ishy,

Dayum, you would have to be different hehe. Its not a very scientific pole so you can vote either or Its more to see how many on here have those common types symptoms and are diagnosed. A lot of people may think they have either or but you don't really know unless you are tested.

[Creepy-]

I voted "ADHD & female", because that's what came first and I'm still taking meds for it, so...

[Catholic Schoolboy]

Have you taken your placebo today?

[Joy]

taken?

(you were picking on me first! )

[Catholic Schoolboy]

THERE IS SOMETHING I'M NOT TELLING YOU JOY. :wink:

[diamond]

I start my uptake scan tomorrow to see whether I have Graves disease for thyroiditis. I'm preparing for Graves since thyroiditis is supposed to be rare.

Oh well, there could be many worse things to have!

[Raver]

I think my eye sight is going, though. Not just bluriness, either


But no, no thyroid stuff

Maybe too much time spent staring on the computer screen. It's not good for the eyes to stare at something that is close to your eyes for long periods. I might be wrong though, you probably don't spend that much time at the computer.

[diamond]

Got the diagnosis today, it is Graves disease.

[Polly_G]

Welcome to the synthroid club! I would throw a party but I'm hypo and tired today

Seriously though, I'm sorry to hear that but like you said it could be worse. The worst thing now is you have to take medication everyday. I try to resolve it by saying well birthcontrol is something people take everyday so why should I feel bad about this little pink pill.

If you ever need to someone to talk to you just give me a shout my entp sister

[Gilly]

Graves is a type of thyroiditus.

[diamond]

Graves is a type of thyroiditus.

Actually, no.

Graves disease has three symptoms: hyerthyroidism, eye problems, and skin problems. They treat the hyperthryoidism, but I don't think they can treat the eye or skin stuff. Not everybody gets all three symptoms.

It's an autoimmune disease. Your body starts producing antibodies that are chemically like TSH, which is a hormone which comes from your pituitary gland, which controls the amount of thyroid hormone your thyroid releases. The antibodies keep tagging your thyroid and the thyroid releases high levels of thyroid hormone. This results in the hyperthyroidism.

These same antibodies affect your skin and eyes.

They don't really know what causes it. In the 1800's there was a 50% mortality rate with Graves. I'm sure glad I live in the 00's!

@Polly: thanks for the support. Even though I know in my mind that this isn't really that bad, I'm still a little shocked and freaked out. Oh well, I'll get over it.

[Creepy-]

*more hugs and cookies for Blaze*

[diamond]

*feels a little better*