New Labs -- Elaine or anyone

September 5, 2003

Hi Terri,

did they give you a normal or reference range for the FT3? If it's 230-420

and FT4 is 0.8-1.8, then your thyroid hormone levels are on the low side and can

cause symptoms of hypoT. And TBII measures both blocking and stimulating TSH

receptor antibodies. That they're elevated is causing your GO.

Having higher thryoid hormone levels would help because your thyroid gland

would be more suppressed (sort of asleep); this helps in lowering TBII

production. Also, anything that helps your immune system heal will help: like

avoiding

or controlling allergens and avoiding cigarette smoke, iodine, sugar,

saturated fats, etc and incorporating stress reduction. Because antibodies

persis for

2-3 months once produced, it can take a few months to see a decline. Take

care, Elaine

September 5, 2003

Got my most recent labs back today and they still seem pretty screwy to me.

My TSH is 1.2; FT4 1.1; FT3 280; TBII 32.2% inhibition (reference range under

10%). The sed rate is still high (reference range 0-20).

So as near as I can tell my antibodies are still enjoying free rein:-)

I am on Unithroid .075. I am still constantly fatigued; eyes still with

severe double vision. Pressure on the optic nerve, however, has apparently been

reduced with the radiation, but no improvement visually.

Is there anything they can do to slow down the antibody production??? This

has been going on for over a year now with no decrease and several increases in

the antibodies.

Terri

Graves disease 1979; treated with RAI; exothalmia 1982, treated with IV

steroids; since then on one or another form of replacement hormone. New flare

up

of TED with severe double vision, swelling in intraocular muscles and

inflammation in August of 2002. Currently hypoactive. Treated TED with

prednisone.

It worked while on prednisone, but TED came back worse after. Underwent

Orbital radiation June-July 2003. No change yet.

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