New member looking for help!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I am so glad to have found this group and hope that someone can look over my

labs etc and comment or make suggestions…(note I have typed up the results

followed by the normal range in commas after the result.)

I am almost 39 yrs old right now and I was diagnosed with Graves disease in

June 2002 when I was 37. It runs in my family (maternal aunt who had RAI 30 yrs

ago). It followed a stressful immigration and my first pregnancy (daughter

born nov 2000 when I turned 36).

First labs before any symptoms at all - just a routine blood check for liver

functions:

12/28/2001 (routine blood drawn) (general doctor)

T4:3.29 (0.76-1.79)

TSH: <0.05 (0.35-5.50)

It was never followed up but I started to see significant eyelid retraction

and redness in my right eye. Could not fathom why.

Initially I saw an osteopathic doctor (DO) who tried to treat it

alternatively using supplements and dietary changes. One of his remedies was to

give me

iodine drops. I did get my hormone levels in the normal range but TSH remained

suppressed.

Here are the labs with DO:

March 02 - right eye starts to change (eyelid retracting, redness and dryness

- noticeable to others)

6/13/2002 (osteopath first visit and labs)

Eye clearly noticeable to me and others now.

T3: 721 (230-420)

T4: 2.3 (0.8-1.8)

TSH: <0.01(0.40-5.50)

Thyroid peroxidase: 9 (<2)

ThyroGlobulin AB:<2 (<2)

White blood Count: 10.7 (3.8-10.8) - had a cold and sinusitis

6/20/2002 bone density (ordered by osteopath)

Results: bone loss demonstrating moderate osteopenia

7/8/2002 MRI (ordered by Osteo to investigate right eye changes)

Results: no intracranial abnormality. Minimal mucosal thickening of both

maxillary sinuses, right greater than left.

10/9/2002 - started selenium 200 mcg

10/11/2002 - stopped all gluten

10/22/2002 (osteopath)

T3:431 (230-420)

T4: 1.4 (0.8-1.8)

TSH: <0.01 (0.40-5.50)

Thyroid peroxidase: 7 (<2)

ThyroGlobulin AB:<2 (<2)

10/22/2002 - started iodine drops 30 drops per day.

Started 5 drops copper per day (hair test showed some deficiency)

12/30/2002 (osteopath)

T3: 299 (230-420)

T4: 1.2 (0.8-1.8)

TSH:<0.01 (0.40-5.50)

Peroxidase: 11 (<2)

ThyroGlobulin AB: <2 (<2 )

SO T3 and T4 now normal but TSH still suppressed. Also free t4 and other

tests never done by osteo…

Also saw an ophthalmologist who diagnosed Graves eye disease by successive

visits show stabilization of eyelid on right with compensatory ptosis on left

(lid hanging slightly).

After a year I went to an endo who examined me and found slight tremor when I

stuck out my tongue. He strongly recommended RAI. I refused and later opted

for PTU. Endo said to get off the iodine drops immediately.

1/31/2003 (endo 1)

T3: 95 (85-205)

Free T4: 6.8 (4.5-12)

TSH: 0.008 (0.35-5.50)

2/4/2003 (acupuncturist)

took Prunella 3x per day and Beta Glucan

4/2/2003 ultrasound ordered by endo1

Enlarged multinodular thyroid gland:

Findings: Both lobes diffusely heterogenous and enlarged. Right lobe measures

1.80 X 1.80 by at least 4.00 cm. Left measures 2.10 x1.73 by at least 4.00

cm. Isthmus measures 0.50 cm. In the upper pole of the right lobe of the thyroid

there is a heterogenous hypoechoic nodule which measures 0.47 X 0.45 X0.90 cm

without evidence of microcalcification. No other microcalcifications or

suspicious nodules are seen.

4/3/2003 (osteopath

T3: 399 (230-420)

T4: 1.1 (0.8-1.8)

TSH: <0.01 (0.40-5.50)

Peroxidase: 16 (<2)

ThyroGlobulin AB: <2 (<2)

4/17/2003 (endo 1)

Started PTU (50 mg twice per day)

4/23/2003 (endo 1)

WBC: 11.3 (4.0-10.5) (became ill - sore throat, fever etc and stopped PTU

briefly)

5/5/2003 (endo 1)

WBC: 23.7 (4.0-10.5) (very sick, rehydration drips in endos office, can

barely walk, stopped PTU briefly)

6/4/2003 (endo 1)

Free T4: 1.57 (0.61-1.76)

TSH: 0.004 (0.35-5.50)

WBC: 6.6 (4.0-10.5) - back to normal.

Started PTU: 100 mg twice per day

7/24/2003 (endo 1)

T3: 231 (85-205 )

Free T4: 1.58 (0.61-1.76)

Peroxidase: 35

After 3 months on PTU my TSh started to look better and then I becamse

pregnant 4 months before my 39th birthday (time is running out… and I do want

one

more child).

8/10/03: estimated date of conception of pregnancy, LMP: 7/25/03

8/23/03 - stopped PTU because discovered pregnancy. T3 and T4 Levels seem

fine and holding without it, but TSh not normal yet - see below..

8/27/2003 (endo 1)

T3: 176 (87-178 )

Free T4: 1.11 (0.7-1.5)

Tsh: 0.013 (0.35-5.50) - this looks like an improvement?

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin levels: 614 (normal for dates)

8/27/2003 (Endo 2)

T4: 8.2 (4.5 - 12.0)

T3 uptake: 33% (24-39)

Free T4: 2.7 (1.2-4.9)

T3: 143 (85-205)

T4 free, direct: 1.34 (0.61-1.76)

Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin: result not yet back

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin levels: 22563 (normal for 4-6 weeks

pregnant)

9/17/03 (ob-gyn)

HCG = 74 000

At 8 weeks gestation, I had my first ultrasound. Diagnosed with a blighted

ovum or a missed abortion. There is an egg sac, a gestational sac. HCG is rising

though not doubling but there is no little embryo or beating heart and there

should be a visible fetus when HCG reaches 14000. I have been advised to wait

a week and then have another ultrasound to make sure nothing viable and then

have a D & C and then to wait 2 cycles before trying again…

In a panic I phoned my new endo and said I wanted to have the surgery because

I was sure my graves antibodies were involved in the blighted ovum. I am

waiting to have my ultrasound on Thursday and can do nothing in the meantime.

So my questions are, assuming i am no longer pregnant: would having surgery

and then going on thyroid hormones - armour or something - put me in a better

position to have a healthy pregnancy than i am in now (ie with high normal t3

and t4 due to PTU but possibly needing to go back on ptu during a pregnancy.

(Even if I am not pregnant I won't do rai because of the radiation etc and

future pregnancy)

How long does it take to get stable after a thryoidectomy and how possible is

it to get normal with the hormones. Is there a risk of obesity or anything

else??

Anyone have experience with Angelos in the Chicago area (endo

surgeon)..

I look so forward to comments and suggestions.

Kim