[optimist]

#1063597

Blood work pretty much seals the deal. I’ve heard of false negatives but never false positives. He probably just doesn’t want to put you through an unnecessary procedure.

If you had any TSI antibodies, you have graves. If your FT3, AND 4 were high, and your TSH was suppressed, that’s even further confirmation. The good thing is, once treatment begins and your levels get stable, you will most likely go into remission!

What was your TSI and TPO ab count?

[Ewenme]

#1063598

My GP ordered bloodwork (I don’t think they tested for the antibodies, though), then when it showed my TSH was low sent me for the uptake scan. He told me it was so my diagnosis would be accurate, and that there were other causes of hyperthyroidism this would rule out. He wouldn’t order any meds (not even a beta blocker) until the test results came back and confirmed I had Graves. I had to wait a week to get in for the test–it was a miserable week, needless to say–never felt worse in my life. Then when I saw my endo, he said the uptake scan was unnecessary. So I think your endo (and mine) were right about that. I don’t know what other conditons would have been ruled out by doing the uptake scan. My GP is usually pretty smart, but I think he was wrong that time.

[snelsen]

#1063599

I think the labs tell the story, confirm diagnosis, plus our crazy symptoms. I asked a couple endos here, they routinely don’t do scans.
shirley

[Krystal25]

#1018265

Is it true that if you have blood work done to confirm a suspicion of GD, that if the antibodies come in high with TPO AB that is enough to diagnosis you with GD even if you haven’t had a thyroid uptake scan?? I had all the blood work done and my endo told me that I didn’t need an uptake scan because my bloodwork showed it all.

Please help!

Thanks,

Krystal

[Kimberly]

#1063600

Hello – RAIU scans used to be routine, but from what I have been hearing lately, antibody testing is becoming more prevalent in making a diagnosis. If the patient is hypER *and* tests positive for the antibodies that cause Graves’, that is considered enough evidence to diagnose Graves’. However, if the patient is hyperthyroid and the antibody tests are negative, this is usually where a RAIU scan is ordered to try and look for a different cause (such as a “hot” nodule or thyroiditis).

The antibodies that are specific to Graves’ are TSI and TSab. TPOab are generally tested to check for a different condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis…*however* about 50% of patients with Graves’ will also test positive for these antibodies. (Just to make things extra confusing. ” title=”Smile” /> )

It’s helpful if you can get hard copies of your labs, so you can see what all was covered in your bloodwork.

[Jules]

#1063601

Having just gone through all of this here is what I heard.

Your blood work tell the story. The RAIU is generally used only for testing how much RAI to give you if you are choosing that option or if you all of a sudden start having more issues ie PAIN Swelling.. That is what happened to me. I was DX off blood had issues with the meds. Had a flair up of massive pain told Dr to schedule RAI they scheduled a uptake and scan then a week later I had the RAI.

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