Re: Graves WITHOUT SYMPTOMS - part 2

[Guest guest]

I don't get it. Why would this person have Graves?

Did you get a freaking TSI test??

Go get one.

Jae

> Dear all,

> Finally got my labs - you all asked for them to assess my situation

> (see original below):

>

> Thyroxine (T4): 9.5 [4.5 - 12.0]

> T3 Uptake: 32% [24-39]

> Free Thyroxine Index: 3.0 [1.2 - 4.9]

> T4, Free(Direct): 1.45 [0.6 - 1.7]

> TSH: 0.012 [0.350 - 5.500]

> Triiodothyronine (T3): 229 [85 - 205]

>

> My I-123 uptake and scan led to a " mildly elevated 34 hour uptake of

> 38% " ; homogenous distribution of radioactivity through a normal size

> gland. The uptakes were 29.5 and 37.9% respectively at 4 and 24

> hours. The images demonstrate homogeneous activity through both

> thyroid lobes without evidence of discrete nodularity. The gland did

> not appear to be significantly enlarged. "

>

> All your thoughts are much approeciated - I still feel fine ;-)

>

> Pieter

>

>

>

> > I was recently diagnosed as new Graves patient, but I'm hesitant

> to

> > proceed with meds. Please let me know whether I'm overly

> optimistic:

> >

> > I had a general checkup early this yearat 35. My father had died

> > unexpectedly at 59 due to heart failure. HIS father had heart

> > problems at 60 as well, so I'm trying to be prudent here... Please

> > note that I have NO SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND.

> >

> > Apparently my GP included some thyroid component in the general

> > bloodwork that was done. Elevated levels led me to more detailed

> > bloodwork, and to an endocrinologist. More bloodwork and RAI-U

> > showed elevated levels of T3, about 10% over the high end of

> normal.

> >

> > The endo pronounces me hyper and Graves. What's funny is that when

> I

> > first saw the endo, he noted I have NO symptoms of any kind, and

> he

> > pretty much ruled out Graves. According to him, Graves is usually

> > pretty acute, with weight loss as prime indicator.

> >

> > I still have NO SYMPTOMS besides heat sensitivity is something

> that

> > runs in the family (and no, they're not all hyper) - the only

> > possible symptom that may apply. Nonetheless, the endo prescribed

> > 10mg Tapazole/day.

> >

> > My elevation is so small that I'm hesitant to take anything.

> > Needless to say all these thought arose after I left the endo and

> > read up on this thoroughly. Is there anyone out there with a

> similar

> > diagnosos? Any advise from seasoned patients? Any help is

> priceless

> > to me.

> >

> >

> > Pieter

>

>

<image.tiff>

>

>

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>

[Guest guest]

Pieter may have subclinical Graves', given the suppressed TSH. Both TSI and

TPO-Antibodies should be tested.

At 09:49 PM 9/18/2003, you wrote:

>I don't get it. Why would this person have Graves?

>

>Did you get a freaking TSI test??

>

>Go get one.

>

>Jae

>

>

>

>

> > Dear all,

> > Finally got my labs - you all asked for them to assess my situation

> > (see original below):

> >

> > Thyroxine (T4): 9.5 [4.5 - 12.0]

> > T3 Uptake: 32% [24-39]

> > Free Thyroxine Index: 3.0 [1.2 - 4.9]

> > T4, Free(Direct): 1.45 [0.6 - 1.7]

> > TSH: 0.012 [0.350 - 5.500]

> > Triiodothyronine (T3): 229 [85 - 205]

> >

> > My I-123 uptake and scan led to a " mildly elevated 34 hour uptake of

> > 38% " ; homogenous distribution of radioactivity through a normal size

> > gland. The uptakes were 29.5 and 37.9% respectively at 4 and 24

> > hours. The images demonstrate homogeneous activity through both

> > thyroid lobes without evidence of discrete nodularity. The gland did

> > not appear to be significantly enlarged. "

> >

> > All your thoughts are much approeciated - I still feel fine ;-)

> >

> > Pieter

> >

> >

> >

> > > I was recently diagnosed as new Graves patient, but I'm hesitant

> > to

> > > proceed with meds. Please let me know whether I'm overly

> > optimistic:

> > >

> > > I had a general checkup early this yearat 35. My father had died

> > > unexpectedly at 59 due to heart failure. HIS father had heart

> > > problems at 60 as well, so I'm trying to be prudent here... Please

> > > note that I have NO SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND.

> > >

> > > Apparently my GP included some thyroid component in the general

> > > bloodwork that was done. Elevated levels led me to more detailed

> > > bloodwork, and to an endocrinologist. More bloodwork and RAI-U

> > > showed elevated levels of T3, about 10% over the high end of

> > normal.

> > >

> > > The endo pronounces me hyper and Graves. What's funny is that when

> > I

> > > first saw the endo, he noted I have NO symptoms of any kind, and

> > he

> > > pretty much ruled out Graves. According to him, Graves is usually

> > > pretty acute, with weight loss as prime indicator.

> > >

> > > I still have NO SYMPTOMS besides heat sensitivity is something

> > that

> > > runs in the family (and no, they're not all hyper) - the only

> > > possible symptom that may apply. Nonetheless, the endo prescribed

> > > 10mg Tapazole/day.

> > >

> > > My elevation is so small that I'm hesitant to take anything.

> > > Needless to say all these thought arose after I left the endo and

> > > read up on this thoroughly. Is there anyone out there with a

> > similar

> > > diagnosos? Any advise from seasoned patients? Any help is

> > priceless

> > > to me.

> > >

> > >

> > > Pieter

> >

[Guest guest]

Oh, and a Free T3 test (as opposed to the other less useful T3 tests) would

be helpful as well. Perhaps it is a case of T3 toxicosis.

At 09:49 PM 9/18/2003, you wrote:

>I don't get it. Why would this person have Graves?

>

>Did you get a freaking TSI test??

>

>Go get one.

>

>Jae

>

>

>

>

> > Dear all,

> > Finally got my labs - you all asked for them to assess my situation

> > (see original below):

> >

> > Thyroxine (T4): 9.5 [4.5 - 12.0]

> > T3 Uptake: 32% [24-39]

> > Free Thyroxine Index: 3.0 [1.2 - 4.9]

> > T4, Free(Direct): 1.45 [0.6 - 1.7]

> > TSH: 0.012 [0.350 - 5.500]

> > Triiodothyronine (T3): 229 [85 - 205]

> >

> > My I-123 uptake and scan led to a " mildly elevated 34 hour uptake of

> > 38% " ; homogenous distribution of radioactivity through a normal size

> > gland. The uptakes were 29.5 and 37.9% respectively at 4 and 24

> > hours. The images demonstrate homogeneous activity through both

> > thyroid lobes without evidence of discrete nodularity. The gland did

> > not appear to be significantly enlarged. "

> >

> > All your thoughts are much approeciated - I still feel fine ;-)

> >

> > Pieter

> >

> >

> >

> > > I was recently diagnosed as new Graves patient, but I'm hesitant

> > to

> > > proceed with meds. Please let me know whether I'm overly

> > optimistic:

> > >

> > > I had a general checkup early this yearat 35. My father had died

> > > unexpectedly at 59 due to heart failure. HIS father had heart

> > > problems at 60 as well, so I'm trying to be prudent here... Please

> > > note that I have NO SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND.

> > >

> > > Apparently my GP included some thyroid component in the general

> > > bloodwork that was done. Elevated levels led me to more detailed

> > > bloodwork, and to an endocrinologist. More bloodwork and RAI-U

> > > showed elevated levels of T3, about 10% over the high end of

> > normal.

> > >

> > > The endo pronounces me hyper and Graves. What's funny is that when

> > I

> > > first saw the endo, he noted I have NO symptoms of any kind, and

> > he

> > > pretty much ruled out Graves. According to him, Graves is usually

> > > pretty acute, with weight loss as prime indicator.

> > >

> > > I still have NO SYMPTOMS besides heat sensitivity is something

> > that

> > > runs in the family (and no, they're not all hyper) - the only

> > > possible symptom that may apply. Nonetheless, the endo prescribed

> > > 10mg Tapazole/day.

> > >

> > > My elevation is so small that I'm hesitant to take anything.

> > > Needless to say all these thought arose after I left the endo and

> > > read up on this thoroughly. Is there anyone out there with a

> > similar

> > > diagnosos? Any advise from seasoned patients? Any help is

> > priceless

> > > to me.

> > >

> > >

> > > Pieter

> >

[Guest guest]

Pieter,

Good job on the labs. Easy to read too.

_____________________________________

Thyroxine (T4): 9.5 [4.5 - 12.0]

* This incudes other things that bind to the protein, but looks good.

______________________________________________

T3 Uptake: 32% [24-39]

* This is an old test, which is not a thyroid hormone, but it was needed

before FREE T tests were available, to help them estimate how much was bound

and how much hormone was free for the body to use.

_________________________________________________

Free Thyroxine Index: 3.0 [1.2 - 4.9]

* I am going to cheat on typing here, :-)

FREE THYROXINE INDEX

Specimen: 5 mL blood in plain tube.

Method: Total T4 - immunoassay. T3 uptake - radiometric assay.

Calculation of Free Thyroxine Index = Total T4 x T3 uptake.

All three results are reported.

Reference Interval: Depends on method of measurement and calculation. Refer

to laboratory.

Application: The free thyroxine index has generally been replaced by

THYROXINE (FREE) in the assessment of thyroid function, but is occasionally

useful when a free T4 result is suspected of being anomalous. The total T4

is occasionally used when thyroxine (free) results are suspected, on

clinical grounds, of being anomalous. See THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE ,

which is the preferred test for assessment of thyroid status.

Interpretation: The calculated Free Thyroxine Index “corrects” for changes

in total thyroxine caused by increases (eg pregnancy) or decreases in

thyroxine binding proteins, which influence the protein-bound fraction. This

gives an indication of free thyroxine levels, being high in hyperthyroidism

and low in hypothyroidism. The test lacks specificity; low results may occur

in hospitalised patients with non-thyroidal illness.

Reference: Birkhauser M et al. Lancet 1977; 2: 53-56.

__________________________________________

T4, Free(Direct): 1.45 [0.6 - 1.7]

* This is the main one we can always count on when judging our dose of

medication. Keep watching this one.

______________________________________

TSH: 0.012 [0.350 - 5.500]

* Here is your problem. This is not normal, BUT since you are subclinical

hyper, you are very smart to stay on top of this entire situation.

__________________________________________

Triiodothyronine (T3): 229 [85 - 205]

* Too bad they did not do a FREE T 3, as the money wasted on the out dated

tests could have paid for a GOOD FreeT3.

T3 is the thyroid hormone that we FEEL. This speeds up our heart, and causes

us to become too warm and become anxious.

The total T3 test you have here can be falsely elevated my other substances

in the body.

__________________________________________

My I-123 uptake and scan led to a " mildly elevated 34 hour uptake of

38% " ; homogenous distribution of radioactivity through a normal size

gland. The uptakes were 29.5 and 37.9% respectively at 4 and 24

hours. The images demonstrate homogeneous activity through both

thyroid lobes without evidence of discrete nodularity. The gland did

not appear to be significantly enlarged. "

** Great... no nodules to worry about.

What was their normal range ? Is it about 30 or 33 ?

So it seems what ever led you to get serious about this, was not all in your

head. Ya got proof right there.

Next question is WHY ?

The proper antibody tests would now be on my list. Are you in the early

stages of Graves', or Hashis or ?

Knowledge is power.

In the mean time it is your choice on meds or not. To take the 10 mg. is

going to be too much real fast.

Many find that with honest focus, they can turn things around naturally at

this early point.

More to learn !

Start with lower iodine diet, NO processed foods, and learn new ways to view

normal stress. If you have physiological issues in your past, if it were me,

I would finally drag them out and deal with them... with HELP. And none of

this is going to happen over night.

But to avoid autoimmune thyroid disease, which is for LIFE, and also creates

a situation for multiple auto immune diseases... well perhaps this is your

final warning bell.

You obviously have the genetic factor here, and any changes you make must be

ones you can live with forever. To not do so, and possibly scrape by this

time, does not make this go away. It only puts it on the shelf, until the

next unavoidable stress comes along, and you do finally have a really big

problem, that can not be so easily dealt with.

There are many autoimmune diseases and cancers that stem from these same

risk factors. Please take good care of yourself. I would not wish this

disease on my worst enemy.

I really say all of this from deep in my heart, and hope desperately that

you do not pass my accumulated experience off as some odd woman on the

Internet with weird ideas. It is not often that we have a chance to help

some one in the spot you are at right now.

If some one could have told me these things years ago, and I had listened,

my entire life would be so very different, and so too, those people I have

hurt during my illness.

Best of luck and health to you,

-Pam L -

3 1/2 years Graves', TED, and PTU. Remission due to SLOW reduction of PTU

(despite an incompetent endo ! ), improved lifestyle, excellent nutrition,

herbs, and looking at the big picture.

Pills alone only help the symptoms. We must help our bodies to heal.