[butterfly007]

#1060418

Hi everyone,
I don’t post very often but for the last 2 years it has been my morning ritual to make a coffee and read through all your posts.This site and all of you have kept me sane in this crazy world of grave’s. Have been fighting this battle with carbimazole for near on 2 years now. Have finally weaned meds down to a point where I am just now trying for remission. My hair was falling out around 4 weeks ago but seems to have stopped now thank goodness, it’s very thin! Symptoms seem to change every few weeks! Have been med free 6 weeks now and just had tests. They’ve come back in normal range – yayyy! Here are the results:
FT4 14.0 (12 -22)
FT3 4.2 (3.1 -6.
TSH 1.33 (0.3 – 4.2)

My TSH has dropped from 3 months ago (was 2. but Ft4 is exactly the same.My Ft3 has risen very slightly.
Is it just me, or is the T4 a little low in the range? I would have thought that with the drop in TSH my T4 would have gone up, along with the T3? – is that what would usually happen when TSH drops?
Has anyone had something similar happen or can help shed some light – am I over thinking this?
Thanks!!!

[snelsen]

#1182510

Hmm. Are you in Canada or Europe? Just asking because of the drug you have bent taking/
Kimberly is much better than I am addressing TSH, T3 and T4. To me, the range is the range,and all your numbers are in the range. I think the T3 and T4 lag after the TSH.

My thinking, from your post, is that you need the “tincture of time” to see where you REALLY are withouT your ATD’S. You have been on them,so now that you are off meds, you MAY revert to your hypPERthyroid state. Not enough time to know yet, and you did not say how you feel now. From what you said, this is a rather independent decision to go off ATD’s to see if you might be in remission. Guess that is one way to find out But be careful, have more labs, cause you don’t want to end up in full blown hypER. Not fun, and not good for you.

Looking forward to Kimberly seeing your post.
Shirley

[butterfly007]

#1182512

Thanks Shirley. Yes – you are absolutely right, I need to stop worrying and be patient for a little longer…
It’s hard because it’s taken so long to get to this point – I really don’t want to end up hyper again. I do so hope for remission!
I’m in Australia, hence the Carbimazole.
Have been slowly reducing dose for around about the last 8 months. Have been doing so with my Doctor, but yes you are right – it’s definitely very much my decision. Prior to starting my med reductions, my doc was maintaining me at levels way too low for me,for months and months I was on the lowest number possible for FT4 – to still be ‘normal’ range. Had raised TSH, the works. I was living in hypo land – dizzy, foggy, sleepy, sore etc etc it was really, really horrible and he wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t lie down or stand up without going light headed! He said it wasn’t my thyroid and suggested I see a psych!! Long story short – Lucky for me I’ve had this wonderful forum with loads of information to help guide me through, and I got very stubborn. My doc was always pushing me to have RAI, I said NO! He finally agreed to let me try for remission first, and if I go hyper again, will have to decide on either RAI or surgery. So, 8 months later – here I am. Very very important few months for me coming up and I’m terrified! I don’t want surgery or RAI!
I actually feel ok right now, I’m a little tired and sleeping around 10 hours a night, but overall not too bad at all. My heart rate is fine, blood pressure is low/normal. My skin is a bit dry and seems thin, along with the hair loss and finger nails are ridged again.. But over all – most importantly for me – my head is clear, I can think! No brain fog..no sore muscles..I can mange a whole day without needing a nap, though very tired by afternoon.
Wow – have just realized, I’m actually not feeling too bad at all and yes,am probably worrying over nothing. Thanks Shirley!!!

[Kimberly]

#1182513

Hello – The U.S. guidelines on treating hyperthyroidism recommend antibody testing (TSI, TRAb) prior to withdrawing anti-thyroid meds, as recurrence is most likely in patients who still have high antibody levels.

I don’t know what the standard is in Australia, but this would be worth discussing with your doctor if you are concerned about a relapse. The tests are somewhat expensive (at least in the U.S.), but can be done via a simple blood test.

Because we are fellow patients, we don’t try to interpret labs, other than to tell people to pay attention to where their results are compared to their lab’s “normal” range (normal? not normal? high or low end of the normal range?) and to make a note of the direction that the labs have been moving over time.

Wishing you all the best!

[butterfly007]

#1182511

Thanks Kimberly. I did ask my doctor about antibody testing and he said it wasn’t necessary – sigh! Maybe I could give him a copy of the guidelines, I don’t want to annoy him too much though. He doesn’t believe in T3 testing either, so we have an argument everytime I ask. He goes by TSH, so I’ve been trying to educate him lol We don’t really agree on much but he does listen to my points when I make them. I don’t think I’m his favourite patient, definitely a squeaky wheel! lol
I don’t do anything without his agreement though, and will now try be patient and wait another 6/8 weeks for the next tests.
Thanks!

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