Hi goolarra,
Thank you so much for your response. I had also posted another question about this problem on this thread & got a couple responses from Barb135. I thought the first post was to a doctor, then realized it wasn't, so I reposted it again in another thyroid area thinking it was the doctor area, but found out that there are no doctors monitoring this forum. Sorry, I was confused & that's why I had made the 2 posts.
You need to have TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 tested on a regular basis. TSH is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid. Free T3 and Free T4 are the actual thyroid hormones that the body actually uses. When FT3 and FT4 are high, TSH should be low and when they are low, TSH should be high.
On what grounds were you diagnosed with Graves Disease? Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin is the definitive antibody test for Graves, so if they didn't do that, you may not have it.
thanks for all the help.iam gonna try to apply for some health insuarance through the state.i dont have an appointment until july,but i can wait that long.so when i make an appointment i ask to do the free t3/t4/Hashimoto's disease and graves disease testing?
m more inclined to think that you DO have Graves Disease which at the moment isnt causing your FT3 and FT4 levels to rise.
One thing you have to watch and monitor is that the anti-thyroid meds may put you into hypo mode and thats not a nice feeling.
Ask that you be tested and evaluated every 2 weeks for a while.
In Graves Disease,those who still have a thyroid can have a low TSH for years.
Sometimes the TSH may NEVER come up......so dont expect miracles with the anti-thyroid meds.
I was diagnosed with Graves disease 11 years ago. My endo prescribed Methimazole, which I was allergic to, so he told me he didn't want to prescribe me anything else because sometimes the allergy kills the thyroid. It apparently did, because all of a sudden I was hypo and I had to go on synthroid. Since then, I lost my health insurance and got handled by my PCP instead of the endo (cheaper).
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I have since been to an endocrinologist am taking 20 mg of Methimazole. To clear up the confusion, I posted an incorrect value for my TSH--it should have read <0.03, hence the diagnosis of Grave's.
My free T3 was 8.00. Good catch.
Hello,
Unfortunately, I have a question about yoour question, do you not want to have RAI/surgery...or you do want to have it and your doctor is just unwilling to do that? I might have misinterpreted what you said. I thought it was standard for doctors to suggest RAI, at the least. If that is something you want to consider and your doctor won't listen, then find a new doctor!
On the other hand, if you don't want to have RAI or surgery...
I am due to go back to the doctor tomorrow and would like to know your thoughts so that I can ask the right questions, and make sure I get the right subsequent test. My symptoms currently are: tremors, shaky legs, palpitations, insomnia, hoarsness and recently a bit of trouble swallowing my food down. Am a bit concerned.
Thank you.
this could be a symptom of Graves' disease or the combination of the medication and the Graves' disease.
Has your doctor told you, you have Graves Disease? Yes, your TSH is extremely low and your FT4 is extremely high, indicating that you are hyper, but your antibody tests indicate Hashimoto's. TSI is the definitive test for Graves Disease and I don't see that listed.
Have you been put on antithyroid med?
Should I be a lot more aggressive in pushing for higher doses of synthroid? Would I be inviting a return to Graves disease if I did so? Although I had heart palpitations, had to go the bathroom constantly, was anxious, and crashed to sleep for 14 hours on Saturdays with Graves disease, it still seems preferable to this sluggish, every-day tiredness of this existence with excess weight to carry around. Anyone else every been in this boat?
I have been on Tapazole for 3 weeks, I broke out with horrible hives a couple days ago. My doctor first told me to stay on the Tapazole and take Benadryl, but it was so severe I could barely function. So finally she said to take a break form the Tapazole. I don't know what to do switch to PTU or try the Tapazole at a lower dose. I have also read that the breakout of hives could mean my levels have come down or are to low. Any advice would be appreciated.
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