Guest guest Posted October 26, 2003 Report Share Posted October 26, 2003 Hi Cindy, I suspect you are very hypO right now, but before I say anything, I would like to see what your lab uses as the normal range for each test result. It is best to post these along with your numbers, because different labs use different ranges. At 09:30 PM 10/26/2003, you wrote: >THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RESPONCE! It finally gave me a quick breakdown >as to what all these numbers mean in a way I could understand it. I went >to the ER this summer with major swelling for not apparent reason. Blood >work was done and my family doctor sent me to an endo. Of course I was >not able to get an appointment till Aug, so I went all summer feeling like >crap with only being told to stay clam. How you can stay clam when >feeling like crap is beyond me. I've seen the endo twice, which I might >add, I am not getting real good feelings from my visits. The second time >when I asked a question, he told me it was all part of the disease. I >asked him what disease because I had never been told anything about any >disease. He just looked at me like I was nuts and said the graves >disease. I was totally shocked because I really thought I just had a mild >problem with my thyroid, not a disease! Now, I am trying to make since of >all this... > >June 26 lab results: T4 14.6 TSH .03 T3 241 >Aug 4 given 10mg methimazole once per day >Sept 26 lab results: T4 7.7 TSH 18.65 >Oct 4 taken off meds and ordered labs to be done in 4 weeks > >does it make since for me to be taken off all meds? I am really having a >hard time getting warm and our weather hasn't even been bad lately! I'm >falling off to sleep in the middle of the day, its driving me crazy! When >I visited the doctor I was telling him how my eyes were itching really bad >and tearing up all the time. He told me to use the artificial tears and >if it kept up we'd need to keep an eye on it. Now I'm reading how serious >all this is and I'm not sure what to do! > >Help! > >Cindy from MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 I thought each range was the same with every lab. T4 normal (4.5 to 12.2) TSH normal (.3 to 5.5) T3 normal (80-220) if each lab runs the same test, how can they differ on normal ranges? I agree I am hypo right now. thanks for your help, Cindy Re: Cindy's labs Hi Cindy, I suspect you are very hypO right now, but before I say anything, I would like to see what your lab uses as the normal range for each test result. It is best to post these along with your numbers, because different labs use different ranges. At 09:30 PM 10/26/2003, you wrote: >THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RESPONCE! It finally gave me a quick breakdown >as to what all these numbers mean in a way I could understand it. I went >to the ER this summer with major swelling for not apparent reason. Blood >work was done and my family doctor sent me to an endo. Of course I was >not able to get an appointment till Aug, so I went all summer feeling like >crap with only being told to stay clam. How you can stay clam when >feeling like crap is beyond me. I've seen the endo twice, which I might >add, I am not getting real good feelings from my visits. The second time >when I asked a question, he told me it was all part of the disease. I >asked him what disease because I had never been told anything about any >disease. He just looked at me like I was nuts and said the graves >disease. I was totally shocked because I really thought I just had a mild >problem with my thyroid, not a disease! Now, I am trying to make since of >all this... > >June 26 lab results: T4 14.6 TSH .03 T3 241 >Aug 4 given 10mg methimazole once per day >Sept 26 lab results: T4 7.7 TSH 18.65 >Oct 4 taken off meds and ordered labs to be done in 4 weeks > >does it make since for me to be taken off all meds? I am really having a >hard time getting warm and our weather hasn't even been bad lately! I'm >falling off to sleep in the middle of the day, its driving me crazy! When >I visited the doctor I was telling him how my eyes were itching really bad >and tearing up all the time. He told me to use the artificial tears and >if it kept up we'd need to keep an eye on it. Now I'm reading how serious >all this is and I'm not sure what to do! > >Help! > >Cindy from MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 Cindy, Different labs do have different ranges, and there are different " T " tests to complicate the matter. The best, most accurate tests for current thyroid levels are Free T3 and Free T4. Did you have antibodies tested? TSI and TPO-antibodies are the ones to get (TSI are the stimulating antibodies responsible for GD). If you haven't had this test, your diagnosis is still in question. Also, you should have received an ultrasound of your thyroid, to see if there are nodules. It seems that you started out mildly hyper. That is probably why you responded by going hypO with 10mg Tap, which is a fairly low dose to start (but high dose to be maintained on), but you were at that dose too long. Your TSH shot up, which seems that your thyroid was being blocked too much, and so TSH was trying to keep your thyroid levels from dropping dangerously low. This is probably why your doctor took you off the meds, but 4 weeks is a long time. It is not good for us to be yanked here and there, and from the dates you listed, you were, and still are, being undermonitored. With mild hyper T, you should have gotten labs in 3-4 weeks, and your dose should have been reduced. Is there any way you can get another thyroid panel (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH) and antibodies tested now (especially if you haven't had them tested already)? And an ultrasound, if you haven't had a one. That is what I would do. You may not even have Graves'; it is possible that you have a different process going on. For instance, some people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis have a hyper phase that precedes the hypO state. The TPO antibodies that attack thyroid tissue may cause excess release of hormone as the cells die, making someone temporarily hyper, and then hypO. At 06:19 AM 10/27/2003, you wrote: >I thought each range was the same with every lab. T4 normal (4.5 to 12.2) >TSH normal (.3 to 5.5) >T3 normal (80-220) > >if each lab runs the same test, how can they differ on normal ranges? I >agree I am hypo right now. > >thanks for your help, >Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 , my lab sheet has TSH and Free t4 circled. I go next week Monday to have these drawn. That is it. He " felt " my thyroid, but that was all, never even mentioned anything about an ultrasound. I wondered about his diagnosis - I didn't feel he " did " enough to be able to say it was graves. About 20 years ago I had the test where you drank iodine and was put on syntroid. I was on it for about 4-5 years and then went thru infertility and was told I didn't need it anymore. I've been tested at different times since then, always being told my thyroid was fine. So when this all started, I really didn't put much thought into it till he said it was graves and then I began researching. I agree that I don't think I really have graves as most of my systems have always been hypo. If I have a hyper stage, I'd really enjoy the weight lost as I am obese and have tried every diet you can image without loosing any weight. I really don't eat enough to cause this weight and what I do eat, is really quite healthy. thanks for all your help, Cindy Re: Cindy's labs Cindy, Different labs do have different ranges, and there are different " T " tests to complicate the matter. The best, most accurate tests for current thyroid levels are Free T3 and Free T4. Did you have antibodies tested? TSI and TPO-antibodies are the ones to get (TSI are the stimulating antibodies responsible for GD). If you haven't had this test, your diagnosis is still in question. Also, you should have received an ultrasound of your thyroid, to see if there are nodules. It seems that you started out mildly hyper. That is probably why you responded by going hypO with 10mg Tap, which is a fairly low dose to start (but high dose to be maintained on), but you were at that dose too long. Your TSH shot up, which seems that your thyroid was being blocked too much, and so TSH was trying to keep your thyroid levels from dropping dangerously low. This is probably why your doctor took you off the meds, but 4 weeks is a long time. It is not good for us to be yanked here and there, and from the dates you listed, you were, and still are, being undermonitored. With mild hyper T, you should have gotten labs in 3-4 weeks, and your dose should have been reduced. Is there any way you can get another thyroid panel (Free T3, Free T4 and TSH) and antibodies tested now (especially if you haven't had them tested already)? And an ultrasound, if you haven't had a one. That is what I would do. You may not even have Graves'; it is possible that you have a different process going on. For instance, some people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis have a hyper phase that precedes the hypO state. The TPO antibodies that attack thyroid tissue may cause excess release of hormone as the cells die, making someone temporarily hyper, and then hypO. At 06:19 AM 10/27/2003, you wrote: >I thought each range was the same with every lab. T4 normal (4.5 to 12.2) >TSH normal (.3 to 5.5) >T3 normal (80-220) > >if each lab runs the same test, how can they differ on normal ranges? I >agree I am hypo right now. > >thanks for your help, >Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 Cindy, You are right that he didn't do enough to make a diagnosis of Graves'. People with thyroid disease can have different expressions of it at different points during their lifetime. That is, at one point they can have Graves', another time Hashi's, etc. Only proper testing can help you determine your diagnosis, and point the way for proper treatment. While it might be uplifting to be able to lose weight with ease, Graves' is serious, and not something that you want to leave untreated. Being hyper can cause heart damage (including heart attack) and bone loss (osteoporosis), and I don't think you want to go there. Nodules, if they are present, may be suspicious and need further investigation. I hope that you continue to read and learn all you can, so that you will be in a position to be in charge of your health care, because as you're finding out, you really need to be. I also hope that the doctor will do the testing that must be done, in order to determine what is going on with you. At 12:12 PM 10/27/2003, you wrote: >, > >my lab sheet has TSH and Free t4 circled. I go next week Monday to have >these drawn. That is it. He " felt " my thyroid, but that was all, never >even mentioned anything about an ultrasound. > >I wondered about his diagnosis - I didn't feel he " did " enough to be able >to say it was graves. About 20 years ago I had the test where you drank >iodine and was put on syntroid. I was on it for about 4-5 years and then >went thru infertility and was told I didn't need it anymore. I've been >tested at different times since then, always being told my thyroid was >fine. So when this all started, I really didn't put much thought into it >till he said it was graves and then I began researching. I agree that I >don't think I really have graves as most of my systems have always been >hypo. If I have a hyper stage, I'd really enjoy the weight lost as I am >obese and have tried every diet you can image without loosing any >weight. I really don't eat enough to cause this weight and what I do eat, >is really quite healthy. > >thanks for all your help, >Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 , Thanks again, I should point out that I do realize graves is serious and the things that can happen with my heart. even though I would love to rid myself of this extra person I'm carrying around, I realize that being fat is better then being dead! Cindy Re: Cindy's labs Cindy, You are right that he didn't do enough to make a diagnosis of Graves'. People with thyroid disease can have different expressions of it at different points during their lifetime. That is, at one point they can have Graves', another time Hashi's, etc. Only proper testing can help you determine your diagnosis, and point the way for proper treatment. While it might be uplifting to be able to lose weight with ease, Graves' is serious, and not something that you want to leave untreated. Being hyper can cause heart damage (including heart attack) and bone loss (osteoporosis), and I don't think you want to go there. Nodules, if they are present, may be suspicious and need further investigation. I hope that you continue to read and learn all you can, so that you will be in a position to be in charge of your health care, because as you're finding out, you really need to be. I also hope that the doctor will do the testing that must be done, in order to determine what is going on with you. At 12:12 PM 10/27/2003, you wrote: >, > >my lab sheet has TSH and Free t4 circled. I go next week Monday to have >these drawn. That is it. He " felt " my thyroid, but that was all, never >even mentioned anything about an ultrasound. > >I wondered about his diagnosis - I didn't feel he " did " enough to be able >to say it was graves. About 20 years ago I had the test where you drank >iodine and was put on syntroid. I was on it for about 4-5 years and then >went thru infertility and was told I didn't need it anymore. I've been >tested at different times since then, always being told my thyroid was >fine. So when this all started, I really didn't put much thought into it >till he said it was graves and then I began researching. I agree that I >don't think I really have graves as most of my systems have always been >hypo. If I have a hyper stage, I'd really enjoy the weight lost as I am >obese and have tried every diet you can image without loosing any >weight. I really don't eat enough to cause this weight and what I do eat, >is really quite healthy. > >thanks for all your help, >Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 So true. And you should be able to continue weight loss efforts normally when you are euthyroid. Please let us know how you do. At 01:14 PM 10/27/2003, you wrote: >, > >Thanks again, I should point out that I do realize graves is serious and >the things that can happen with my heart. even though I would love to rid >myself of this extra person I'm carrying around, I realize that being fat >is better then being dead! > >Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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