Are autoimmune diseases particularly fatal?

A close acquaintance of mine has been diagnosed with some form of an autoimmune disease. I can't say I know which one, but I was wondering if the diseases could lead to death or some sort of crippling? Is it grave? Or should we lessen our worry..?

I believe it's been narrowed down to Graves and Hashimoto's..

There are several types of autoimmune diseases. I saw your note that it has been narrowed down to Graves or Hashimoto's Disease. These are thyroid conditions.
I had my thyroid removed at the age of 18 because for three years they could not get the levels to stabilize and I had this huge nodule and many cysts that were growing without stopping. I am now 27 and am still suffering from thyroiditis and having my levels constantly fluctuate. But I see the Endocrinologist frequently, have blood tests every 3 months, and take the medication every day for the rest of my life. It is managable as long as you do everything you are supposed to. You can't ignore it and hope it goes away. This isn't like that.
Without being properly treated, it can lead to very serious problems. Thyroid disorders, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, are autoimmune diseases, that is, conditions in the immune system that attack healthy tissue instead of fighting against invading bacteria and viruses. The doctor (Endocrinologist - thyroid doctor) will prescribe thyroid hormone to try to treat the hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's. This medication takes at least 4 weeks before it takes effect on the body. The symptoms of hypothyroidism (which means that the body is not producing enough of the thyroid hormone it needs to function) can be very daunting when the levels are too low.
One way for you to better understand what this friend is going through is for you to read up on thyroid conditions and these two diseases. That way you can better support this friend and also help them go through whatever treatment the doctor's prescribe.
Hashimoto's Disease @ MayoClinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hashimo...
What it is and how it is treated:
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/...

Grave's Disease @ MayoClinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/graves-...
A pdf file on Grave's Disease:
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochure...
WebMD, understanding Grave's Disease:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/under...

I really hope these help you and your friend. I hope he/she feels better really soon. You are so wonderful to be so concerned and supportive. I truly commend your caring heart.

Either condition will affect the thyroid gland. In Hashimoto's the gland is damaged and is unable to produce the hormone it normally produces. In Grave's it is inflammed and produces too much of the hormone. Both can be treated with medication, but sometimes in Grave's disease the thyroid gland must be removed and then medication is used to replace the hormone it normally produces. Death is not common unless it is left untreated and neither of these diseases specifically cripple people; however, this person would be more likely to develop other autoimmune disorders which could lead to more complications. It is importants to make sure this person follows up as recommended by the physician and takes medications as prescribed.

Any chronic disease is potentially crippling -- not just physicially, but emotionally and financially.

Your friend will be reeling with confusion.
It's very likely her quality of life will decline.
But most chronic diseases tend to be slow progressing toward death.

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they can be all kinds of things from type 1 diabetes. hypothroidism etc that are treatable with minimal or no impact on lifespan to something like lupus which can be fatal

it really depends on which organ system your immune system is damaging


Btw, I have Hashimotos Thyroiditis and it's treatable and not a life threating condition, you can live normally with this (as long as you take thyroid hormone).