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Did you have Autoimmune Thyroid Disease symptoms begin before or after your Myasthenia gravis?
I’m curious if anyone started experiencing autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) before their MG symptoms began or after. What is your experience?
Several studies suggest that individuals with MG may be at a higher risk of developing AITD and vice versa. This association may be linked to specific autoantibodies or genetic predispositions.
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13 Replies
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I was diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis a few years ago and then diagnosed 6 months ago with OMG.
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I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s several decades before I developed severe MG symptoms, although I had developed double image vision issues around the same time. Not sure if the double image was the start of my MG.
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Yes hypothyroid 10 years prior to OGMG
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I have had MG for over 8 years now and 3 months ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. I probably developed the disease almost a year before.
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My Hashimotos Thyroiditis started first, then a couple years later my MG started.
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Yes, Hashimoto’s 25 years before my diagnosis. 2 years after my MG diagnosis, I was diagnosed with Medullary Thyroid Cancer. I’ve also recently had my gallbladder removed & non-alcoholic fatty liver diagnosis. Somehow, I believe there is a connection between these diseases…just wish I knew what that is??? BTW, no one else in my family has thyroid (or any of the other) issues I have.
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Hello, I have a similar story. I was diagnosed with MG in 2014. I was diagnosed in 2024 with Papillary Thyroid cancer. At that time, I found out I had Hashimoto’s without knowing it. Who knows which one came first. MG symptoms always mask every other disease. I told my neurologist I am going to have a stroke and never know it! I don’t have fatty liver but I have two large (9cm) hemangiomas on my liver with unknown cause. I am also the only one in my family with any of these problems. There has to be some correlation. I am being watched closely for breast cancer. They keep finding abnormal things at each follow up. I have recently read there is a correlation between Thyroid and Breast cancer perceived to be related to hormones. I also have polycystic ovarian syndrome. There is definitely a correlation between thyroid and mg that I wished would be studied more.
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I was DX with Hyperthyroidism about 5 years before the MG DX…but I was probably undiagnosed regarding Hyperthyroidism…FOR YEARS!
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Hyperthyroidism yes 45 yrs ago, not 35.
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yes, 45yrs ago, 3/4 removes. double vision is my worse symptom, right now.
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I had 3/4 of my Thyroid remove 35 years ago, double vision started about 25 years ago. Was diagnosed w/Ataxia and then MG 10yrs ago. Still not sure if it’s MG or Ataxia but the double vision is a lot worse, more tests to come. I need help.
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Hello. I started having hypothyroidism in 2007, but a chest xray (to rule out pneumonia) showed my esophagus was bent at 90 degrees. I had an mri which showed I had a substernal (growing downward not straight out) goiter. This took a year to have surgery and by that time it had grown down to my vena cava and compressing sideways on my carotid and subclavian arteries. I had to have emergency total thyroidectomy so I have had to rely on synthetic hormone since 2008. Shortly afterwards I started having moderate to severe weakness which of course took another 2 years to get diagnosed. I often wondered if my thyroid issues had something to do with acquiring MG so I’m so glad when I saw this topic in the discussion! I have had gMG since 2011, going by the year I was diagnosed. Also I am seronegative as I don’t test positive for any of the known antibodies. When I got diagnosed I was told it was a syndrome, not yet recognized as a disease, and also told it wasn’t progressive, but let me tell you mine is really progressing into a much worse disease. Thank you for being there for all of us. We greatly need support from one another!! —Pam
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Pam, thank you for opening up and sharing everything you’ve been through. It’s completely valid to wonder about the connection between thyroid issues and MG. For some people, major stressors like surgery or certain medications can trigger or unmask MG symptoms.
You might find this article helpful, it talks more about potential triggers and associations with MG: https://myastheniagravisnews.com/myasthenia-gravis-causes/
It’s also not uncommon for seronegative MG to take longer to diagnose and sometimes be misunderstood. You’ve been through so much, and your voice is important in this community. Thank you again for adding to the conversation! -Jodi, Patient Advocate
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