Re: Elaine - Endo visit Help!

May 23, 2003

Hi Aldyth,

You won't notice the maximum effect of your new meds for 6-8 weeks as far as

your actual thyroid hormone levels go. And TSH has a minimum lag of 6 weeks

from then to reflect your thyroid function. So you'll see changes, but not this

soon.

I think what your doctor is saying is that even if you stop producing TSI,

there's always a chance something could come along and trigger TSI production

again. Like childbirth or a high dose of estrogens or iodine. So having a low

titer doesn't mean you'll never have a relapse.

However, having a high TSI titer shows that you will most likely relapse and

quite soon if you stop ATDs totally. This is where it offers benefits.

There are several good abstracts, with one of the best being

Remission of Graves' hyperthyroidism predicted by smooth decreases of thyroid

stimulating antibody and thyrotropin-binding inhibitor immunoglobulin during

antithyroid drug treatment, Thyroid 2000, Oct;10:891-896 by Takasu N,

Yamashiro K, et al.

The TBII test measures both stimulating and blocking TSH receptor antibodies.

You should be able to find the abstract by doing a search at pub med,

if you use keywords, tsh receptor antibodies and graves remission, you'll

find several other article abstracts.

Usually, patients notice their own eye symptoms before anyone else does.

Everyone has days when their eyes are puffy from too much salt, other hormone

levels, etc. I wouldn't take his comment too much to heart. Best, Elaine

May 23, 2003

Hi Aldyth,

It's best to have blood tests every 4-6 weeks when starting out, but after

you've been on a stable maintenance dose, especially a low dose of ATDs, you can

be tested less frequently.

September does seem a long way off, but you may feel fine until then. I think

I'd see how things go. If you end up noticing progressive symptoms of hypo or

hyper you can then call and request an FT3 level. This is really a better

approach once you've been on meds for a while. Take care, Elaine

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