[Eperez]

#1060552

Hello all! I have been newly diagnosed with Graves and am looking for some help understanding it all. I am a little confused about what all these “T’s” mean. I have
TSH of .005
Free thyroxine of 4.6
And T3 of 233

I tried taking methimazole but unfortunately had an allergic reaction (hives) and my Dr. Is reluctantly trying PTU before we try RAI. I am 33 and was hoping to conceive soon so that is why we are trying to avoid RAI if at all possible.
I have read some of the other posts here, I feel like this is a good place to get some advice, answers and support…

[Kimberly]

#1183264

Hello and welcome! I would encourage you to get a hard copy of all your labs, so you can see where your levels are compared to your lab’s “normal” reference ranges – and keep track of them over time. Different labs can use different “normal” ranges, so the actual numbers are only useful in the context of your lab’s range. Are you right in the middle? At the upper end? The lower end? And where are you compared to your last set of labs? This is the kind of information that can be useful over time.

With Graves’ disease, you will usually see TSH *below* the normal range and T4 (thyroxine) and T3 *above* the normal range. As you proceed with treatment, you will see all of these move towards the normal range – although TSH can take longer to respond to treatment.

Wishing you all the best – hope this helps!

[snelsen]

#1183265

Hi, just so you know, I was on Tapezole before my thyroidectomy. The big things checking labs, which your doc seems to be all on top of. I got pregnant about 5 months after my thyroidectomy. I presumed it would take longer, and was kinda stunned that the moment I decided to “try” I was pregnant (first baby ) I had included in “my” plan that I’d have a few more months to recover, get normal, less tired and all that.

Definitely have copies of labs. The T’s are super difficult to understand. and although I intellectually kinda “get it” I still as the docs every single time, “so what does this mean to me” in terms of my daily life. I suggest you begin with this,a nd also make notes by your T’s and what them mean, and if it is improving or not. This is all very new to you, and is also very complicated.

Shirley

[Author]

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