[Lcoldiron]

#1060196

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed today with Grave’s after a 6 month battle with what my Dr.s were treating as hypothyroidism.

Long story short: 2012 diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma, underwent chemo and radiation to the chest and neck, diagnosed as hypo with only a tsh of 6.59, put on 100 mcg synthroid, felt good for about a week…then it all went downhill. Tsh dropped after one month to .0005. The dosage was dropped slowly over 5 months all while testing hyper at .00025. Hospital visits and storms later, they finally took me off synthroid and put me on beta blockers. These helped for a week. The symptoms became worse and haven’t eased up. I will have my thyroid irradiated next week.

My question is whether anyone on the forum has had a connection to hodgkins or any other autoimmune disease as well as Graves?

I hope everyone is having a good night. I am up for the duration only sleeping 3 hours a day….thanks for your time.

Lindsay

[Kimberly]

#1181191

Hello and welcome – I’m sorry to hear that after your hodgkins lymphoma treatment, you are now on the thyroid rollercoaster. Hopefully, you will get some other responses here, but it’s believed there is a connection between Hodgkin’s lymphoma and autoimmune diseases:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2754970/

In terms of getting multiple autoimmune diseases, those of us that have one autoimmune disease are at higher risk than the general population of getting a second one.

You do have three treatment options for Graves’ (anti-thyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, and surgery to remove the thyroid). The “treatment options” thread is a great place to start to get info on the risks and benefits of all three.

Take care – and please keep us posted on how you are doing!

[Lcoldiron]

#1181192

Hi everyone. I am scheduled to have RAI on Thursday. My GP called to go over my blood tests and was worried about my free T4 being 2.69. She said it was the highest she’s seen, but also said she wasn’t an endo. My tsh is .0005

What is the normal range for free T4?

This shouldn’t be scary considering all I’ve gone through this last year but I am terrified of having my thyroid killed. It’s irrational and silly since this will make me better but I am.

Thanks for your time.

Lindsay

[Kimberly]

#1181193

Hi Lindsay – Every lab uses a different “normal” range, so I would suggest calling your doctor’s office to find out what the range is. (Even better, ask them to send you a copy of the lab report, so you can see the results for yourself).

Hopefully, your doctor discussed all three treatment options with you (anti-thyroid drugs, RAI, surgery) and the pros and cons of each. If not, the “treatment options” thread in the announcements section of the forum is a good place to start. They do all have risks (so it’s completely normal to have some nerves prior to treatment), but if you have done your research and made the best choice for *you*, that’s what is important!

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