[Maria]

#1073194

As far as I knows RAI and replacement does not affect your liver. Are you taking any other meds or do you drink (even a little) because that can raise your liver enzymes. Your doctor is the best one to determine what is going on here. Replacement hormone acts in the same way as natural so no I do not think it is Graves related. Now if you were on PTU or similar to repress your thyroid I would say yes it is a possibility.

You really need to see your doctor to figure this out though.

[Ski]

#1073195

This is certainly the appropriate board for you, welcome!

We can help with everything a GD patient goes through, and managing your levels after removal of the thyroid is definitely one of those things!!

The elevated liver enzymes would not be related to the replacement hormone, because it is chemically identical to our own thyroid hormone and doesn’t need to be processed through the liver. Your doctor would be the best source to figure out what you’ve been taking, if anything, that has led to liver trouble. Even taking ibuprofen every day can do that, long term, so make sure you get a comprehensive answer (not just a brush off). You need to know the cause, and you need to know what you can do to bring those enzyme levels back into normal range.

Now, as far as your thyroid hormone replacement ~ it’s possible that your "normal point" is somewhere other than it has been. That can be a tiny bit time consuming to find, but it is SO worth it. Start by having your blood levels tested, then keep a symptom diary for a month or two, have your blood levels tested one more time, and go to your endo (or GP, whomever is managing your dose) armed with all of the info. Be VERY specific in your symptom diary. Doctors have trouble hearing "I’m tired all the time," but they will eat up empirical data indicating that you fall asleep at or before 9pm every night, and still don’t feel rested until 10am, if you know what I mean. They run on specifics, and we typically walk in with generalities. WE know that we’re tired all the time and it’s not normal for us, but they hear us say we’re "tired all the time" and they don’t really know what to do with that. Once you’ve got something for them to look at (we have a symptom diary as one of our bulletins, so ask Nancy if you’d like one), see if the two of you together can discuss changing your replacement hormone, just by one dose level, to see how you feel. You’ll need to stay on that dose for at least six weeks before you have your blood tested again, because it takes that long before your bloodstream fully adjusts. In the first couple of weeks after changing, you may feel hyper one day, hypo the next. That’s completely normal. It’s all part of the adjustment. Wait out the six weeks and see where you stand then, and continue to keep the symptom diary throughout. Together, you and your doctor can find your normal point, and that will mean you can feel better from then on!! Now, if one dose leaves you slightly hypo-feeling, and the next dose level leaves you slightly hyper-feeling, you can take the two on alternating days. Replacement hormone builds up slowly in your system, so it wouldn’t mean that you’d feel low one day, high the next. It’d even out and you’d feel just right, Goldilocks. ” title=”Very Happy” />

I hope this helps. Keep asking any questions you have, you are in the right place!

[dcjcdcjc]

#1019661

I’m new to the board and am wondering if the board is mostly for those who have been recently diagnosed. I am a 46 year-old woman and was diagnosed with Graves at 19. I had a sub-total thyroidectomy and then RAI a year later. I did not take thryoid supplementation for the next year and almost died. I have been on thryoid replacement now for 25 years. I would say that I have never really been well since the surgery and RAI. I don’t know what "normal" is supposed to feel like. I have had 3 successful pregnancies (all home births between the ages of 38 and 43.) I think I felt great during pregnancy because I was taking a higher thyroid dose. I am only now realizing that I need to get more informed about Graves and how to manage current symptoms of hypothyroidism. My experience with Graves and the subsequent health issues was so painful that I have tried to shut the door on that part of my life. But now I’m having elevated liver enzymes and don’t know if there’s a connection to the Graves etc. I would be most interested in connecting with long-time Graves people if this is the appropriate board. Thanks.

[npatterson]

#1073196

I was older than you were when diagnosed, but I have had it almost 23 years. I’d be glad to "talk" – here or my place "Nancngdf@bellsouth.net". One of the subjects at the conference is going to cover Graves’ over the life span–just for us old-timers.

Take care,

[Author]

Posts