My latest news and lab and test results

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I'm not going to go for very long this time (for me LOL), as I am still

rather upset from the news I learned at my doctor visit today.

Here are the numbers from my most recent blood work done on 5/23:

T-4 Free 1.6 NG/DL 0.8 - 1.8

T3, Free 434 H PG/DL 230-420

TSH w/reflex to FT4 0.01 L MIU/L

Prior to that I had my original test which was done by my GP on 5/13 and

started this whole ball rolling. He had tests done on the following:

T4, Free 1.9 H NG/DL 0.8 - 1.8

TSH w/Reflex to FT4 0.01 L MIU/L

Plus he did the following as well:

TBII - Thyrotropin-Binding Inhibitory Immunoglob 12.8 H % Inhibition

Reference Range: Children & Adults less than 10

Expected Values for TTBIIg less than 10% inhibition

Graves Disease Patients show an inhibition of 10-100%

Now the internist who I saw today, said that the values of this are not

anything to get too excited about, and in fact if it weren't for the rest of the

news I'm going to share in a bit, wouldn't really have done anything except keep

an eye on me by checking my levels every few months. She did say she would do

some mild drug therapy if I wanted to try to get the T3 level down a bit and

the TSH up so that I felt a bit better. She said she wasn't really worried

about the TSH, and said that it being low is because my T3 is slightly elevated

and that these 2 act like a balance beam.....when one dips the other rises.

I wish it had all stopped there, but unfortunately not. :-( I had taken the

Uptake scan, and almost all the results from that look normal (something that

she said was good and made her think that I didn't have classical Graves

Disease as it wasn't reflected in the uptake scan.) However the inferior right

lobe

had an irregular area of decreased accumulation. I learned this while she was

still out of town, and as a result of that I had to go get an ultrasound on

my thyroid last week as well. We just got the results of that today while I was

there for my visit and the upshot of that is, and I quote:

" there appears to be a small cyst (4mm) in the middle pole of the right lobe

of the thyroid. The thyroid gland is enlarged with heterogeneous echo pattern.

This is most prominent to the level of the lower pole of the right lobe. This

area demonstrates decreased uptake on the thyroid scan from 5/29/03. A biopsy

of this area would be recommended for further evaluation. (Further up on the

sheet I have a copy of it also had the scary phrase, " A discrete mass lesion

is not well delineated. "

So I have to go to an endocrinologist for another ultrasound, and he will

most likely do a biopsy. The internist was very reassuring (I must say I like

her

more the more I see her) and said that these things are typically benign, and

if that's the case she would be glad to work with me on some drug therapy to

get my levels better on the T3 and TSA. She did admit (once I asked what if

it's not benign) that cancer is a slight possibility, but that if one had to

pick a cancer to have, then the thyroid is the one to choose, as it's very, very

treatable. I guess my choices in that case narrow down to either the RAI or

surgery. Neither one would I be thrilled about.

So that's where I'm at gang. I am very freaked out right now, and have to

work really hard to keep a damper on my emotions or I'll dissolve in a bucket

full of tears. She did give my some Zanax to help with my anxiety levels, God

bless her! I'm going to try to think positive, and keep praying and hoping for

the best with this next doctor visit.....but any all encouragement in general

and help with understanding the lab numbers a little better would be

appreciated. Looks like I could end up on the other side of the spectrum of

Graves

Disease.....is there a board for that? :-) Thanking you all in advance for the

support and encouragement you've been to me so far and now. I see I broke my

word

about being brief in my first sentence....hope you all forgive my verbosity.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Wanted to reassure you that the phrase you quoted isn't as scary as it

sounds. When there's no clear delineation, the cyst is usually very small and a

small bit of tissue with a faster growth rate. It's good to have the biopsy to

be

on the safe side.

But with your TBII being elevated your diagnosis is still GD and the uptake

is often normal in people with T3 thyrotoxicosis (producing more T3 relative to

T4).

And it's not unusual in Graves' disease to have a cyst or nodule or two. Take

care, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Thanks for helping me understand my lab stuff a bit better Elaine. While I do

like this internist I'm seeing, and apppreciate her not wanting to rush me

into anything as far as treatment, it was rather strange that she wouldn't say I

definitely have Graves Disease or Hashimotos or anything else. I guess erring

on the side of caution couldn't hurt too much, and once I get the biopsy

done, I will certainly look into drug therapy if I can to regulate my numbers

better and get me into a normal zone. I'll be in touch once I get the results of

that back you can be sure as I value the input you can give as far as any

treatment options. Thanks again!

[Guest guest]

Hey :

It must be nerve wracking for you right now. I had a lump in my

throat that really worried me, it was not in my thyroid, but in my

salivary gland. I had to do a biopsy also, and was told it was most

likely benign. It was very hard to wait for the results, and I was

very scared. Fortunately for me it turned out to be a benign tumor

which I had removed. If the doctors are telling you it's likely a

cyst, then let that be and try not to extend the worry until you have

your test results. This is a really good time to be very kind to your

heart and your body.

Looking forward to hearing the results of your tests. Hang in there.

> Hi All,

>

> I'm not going to go for very long this time (for me LOL), as I am

still

> rather upset from the news I learned at my doctor visit today.

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Sounds like you are trying to have the best attitude. Have you or

your doctor considered beta blockers? I think they help a lot with

both heartrate and anxiety - it may even be that you would not need

the xanax.

Please let us know when you have more information, and hang in there.

> I think from reading the paper about my ultrasound, it sounds like

there is a

> cyst in the area of my middle pole on the right lobe PLUS some area

on my

> lower right pole on the right lobe that is showing a weird echo

pattern....it's

> hard to determine and my internist said it was something more than

just a cyst.

> I'll just have to wait and see.