[bijou]

#1017991

Hello All Again,

I know I just posted a topic a few days ago, and I’ve been doing research, but I realized I left out key information. I’m curious about being both hypo- and hyper- at the same time. I went to and endocronologist last summer (and didn’t get the results of my blood work till now for various reasons) but those results said that I was hypo- and I was actually shocked when my general doctor told me last month that I was showing hyper. That’s when he sent me to another endocronologist.

I’m confused because I have symptoms of both hypo- and hyper- and HYPO is what runs in my family (great-grandmother, grandmother, mother.) I read that hypo- can sometimes turn into hyper-; sort of like a surge (to use a laymen term).

The doctor said after 4 hours my uptake was supposed to be between 5% and 15%; I was at 21%. And after 24 hours between 15% and 35%; I was at 41%. I asked her if this confirmed it as Graves or only made her speculate. She said confirmed.

I’m just curious if the uptake is a definite yes to Graves; or if I could be a hypo- that "surged" to hyper- and made the uptake read the way it did. (Hope that makes sense!) Has anyone else experienced this?

I appreciate all of your responses; they are extremely helpful!

[Bobbi]

#1062078

You cannot be hypo and hyper at the same time. The terms refer to the level of thyroid hormone that is in your body: hyper means too much, and hypo means too little thyroid hormone. So being hypo and hyper at the same time is a bit like saying that a gas can is both full and empty at the same time. It is impossible. Because some folks have antibodies for both Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves, they potentially can fluctuate between the two states depending upon which antibodies predominate. Whether that is what is going on in your case or not would depend upon the results of blood tests for antibodies, among other tests.

Typically the "uptake" portion of the test is used to determine how big a dose of RAI would be needed to treat hyperthyroidism. It is the "scan" portion of that same test that shows WHY we are hyperthyroid. (We have been shown to BE hyperthyroid by a blood test, but the blood test doesn’t show why we are hyperthyroid.) If the scan shows that the entire thyroid gland is actively taking in iodine (and making thyroid hormone) then the diagnosis comes back as "Graves."

It is possible to be fooled by subjective symptoms. For example, on the list of symptoms for hypo is "fatigue." Fatigue is also on the list of symptoms for hyper. So, you can be fatigued whether or not you are hyper or hypo. I was never ever as tired while somewhat hypothyroid after treatment as I was while I was actively hyperthyroid. But if I had gone seriously hypo, perhaps I would have felt a similar level of fatigue. Anyway, we have to beware of subjective symptoms (symptoms for which there is no objective test).

[bijou]

#1062079

"Because some folks have antibodies for both Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves, they potentially can fluctuate between the two states depending upon which antibodies predominate." This is what I meant by both hypo- and hyper- at the same time. Obviously, "same time" was a poor choice of words. After doing some reading, I guess it doesn’t really matter if a person is both becasue the doctors want to treat it the same—kill the tyhroid, make it hypo.

Thanks for your reply.

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