Any Graves Disease patients who've taken enbrel etc for PsA RA AS?

I hope this isn't bad form...
I think my question is more about Graves Disease, however it has to do with RA or psoriac arthritis patients.  I have notice over the years, that if a person suffers from one auto-immune disease there is usually other co-morbid auto-immune conditions.

I have psoriasis, psoriac arthritis, Ankylowsing Spondilitis, Thryoid Eye Disease, and Graves disease.  I feel like an auto-immune rainbow lol

We had put the idea of dmards/biologics on the back burner - mainly because when I am Euthyroid, in an interesting twist, I suffer chronic infections.  I'm no longer even remotely euthyroid (I've had active Graves since my teens but no one figured it out until I was nearly 30 - Euthyroid was Hellacious - normal for me has always been 'fast')
Anyway, I started to do research again recently, because my PsA has taken yet another dramatic and rapid turn for the worst.

What I am curious about is if there are any un-nuked Graves patient who have taken enbrel, humarin, etc, for another auto-immune disorder/disease like PsArthritis, RA, or AS and noticed an improvement in the Graves symptoms.

I'm not sure if this sound crazy however when I realized the fellow who started the ball rolling on the TNFa blocking, had intially been doing research on Graves Disease the little wheel in my head started spining.
I guess my theory is along the lines of if the pet.gland thinks the thyroid should be there, and it's trying to kick it out, and the thyroid is fighting for dear life not to get evicted, if there were a suppressed immune system, perhaps the thyroid wouldn't be fighting so hard, thereby reducing the symptoms?  Does that sound crazy?  I realize it would be a rather dramatic way to treat graves, however if you have a whole host of other auto-immune diseases, which you might take the enbrel for anyway, it would surely be better than nuking the thyroid.

Ducky said...
Hey BlackWidow - first off, welcome to healing well!  Great to have you.. I was reading what you wrote and OMG, we sound the same!  I am 33 years old.. I have/had Grave's.. TED.. Psoriasis.. Psoriatic Arthritis and Spondylitis.. I was diagnosed with Graves May 1998, I had a total thyroidectomy Sep 1998, and have been on Synthroid ever since (however my levels are still of and the docs think I now have Cushings)  Anyways- I also have TED, and have had 3 surgeries on my eyelids to try and "fix" the damage done.  However, they still don't look like they used to.  I am contemplating having Orbital Decompression to possibly "fix it" for good... I was diagnosed with Psoriasis in 1998 as well.. and diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and Spondylitis Mar 2005.  I am on Enbrel, and it has helped my PsA and Spondylitis TREMENDOUSLY, but since I have had  my thyroid removed, I don't know if it would have helped me or not.. hhmm... let me look some stuff up and I will get back with you.. Again, welcome to the site!

 

Duck

Thank you for the welcome.

As I think about this more, I suppose it could also have a possibly slight effect on RAI hypothyroid or Euthyroid from surgery or meds - if the theory holds at all, there may be a slight increase in the TSH level.  Graves doesn't go away because the thyroid is nuked/removed - the Auto-immune factor is still in play.

Before I left to see my dermo today I caught a quick glance at a post on another board, person was concerned about weight gain and enbrel - posted a TSH level of 4.60 pre enbrel and 7.78 6 months after starting it.  God - I can barely manage anything above -.05 I can't even wrap my brain around trying to function up in those ranges.  The first time I was 'treated' for GD I started taking meds in July, by September I'd gained 80lbs.  I know I'm at least -.5 now - doctors is going to have a fit on the next blood panel.  I can usually tell where I am before the needle pricks the skin, I've been in and out of 'remission' so many times.  I don't know if the 'new guidelines' have creeped up to Canada yet with a range of .3 to 3.   I feel like I am spinning my wheels sometimes, if I let them treat me to what thier numbers discribe as Euthyroid - I gain weight like crazy - which increases the strain on my joint, which I can barely manage now, I feel like crap, tired.. no not just tired boardering on lethargic, I get sick all the time, the broncitis always comes back when I'm Euthyroid. -.05 is the only level I have ever felt comfort at.  I don't balloon up and am as close to 'normal' as I ever want to feel.  My Endo is bound and determined to nuke my thyroid, says the weight gain isn't the meds however, he know, I know he's full of it.

The only time I gain that type of weight is when he's got me on meds and is trying to get my range above 0.  I  am bound and determined he isn't nuking it.  We haven't spoken in well over a year.  My GP is afraid to script tapazole - however - he's just going to have to suck it up and do it. :) 
I had undiagnosed but symptomatic Graves from about 12-30 ... that IS 'normal' for me. I don't like 'every' aspect of being hyper - however it beats out anything I ever experienced being med induced hypo then euthyroid. I do think about the heart strain, however that can be managed with beta-blockers.  At least that's what I tell myself ;)

Enbrel has, in some cases, improved TED.  They won't commit to comment on the possible effects on Graves itself because they haven't done research into it.

I can't help but wonder - did you have fairly stable levels after surgery, before starting enbrel.  You mention the levels are off at the moment?

Post Edited (blackwidow) : 5/10/2007 11:24:07 AM (GMT-6)