[geostyv]

#1059417

Hi all,
I am new to the Grave’s game. I was diagnosed last June with both Grave’s disease and Hashimoto’s. I have been on beta blockers since last May. It has been a crazy ride. I am considered “sub clinical.” I have non-existent TSH and my free T4 is in the upper end of the normal range. My first uptake in June was 37% and this was repeated in September at 30%. I tried methemozol (sp) for two days but then immediately got a sore throat and felt horrible and so, under my endo’s guidance, stopped it.

So now I am left with RAI and the prospect of rockn’ the levothyroxine for the rest of my life. ☺

A little about me — I am a 37 year old man. I have been in good health all my life. I am heavy, though. I weight about 308 pounds (height 6”1’) but have a body fat percentage of 23%. I need to lose weight but have never had a lot of luck. I have been able to put on muscle and maintain that despite the Graves and not loss weight despite being an avid runner (though I have not been running at all since the hard palpitations started)

Can someone help me interpret my situation? If it weren’t for the palpitations, ridiculous sweating, and irritability I won’t have ever had these tests done. I feel great most days and I sleep well. I am very lucky. Yet, my biochemistry is working against me and, based on the labs, I have Graves.

I might not even be thinking about RAI yet but since I also have the Hashi’s I will end up hypO anyway so why wait out the Graves and hope for a remission that might not even come and is less likely in men in the first place?
Kimberly has already helped me with one of my questions I this board and I want to thank her. Any guidance/reassurance anyone can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Labs:
June
uptake 37%
Free T4 1.87 1.83ng/DL .79-2.35
TSH < .02 mIU/ml .465
Antibodies
TSI 294 % of baseline any over 140 is considered positive for Graves
Thyroglobulin Antibodies 65 IU/ml <20
September
uptake 30.6%
Free T4 1.82ng/dL .79-2.35
TSH < .02 mIU/ml .465
Thyroid Perozidase Antibodies 175 IU/ml <35
May TSH Nonexistent

[snelsen]

#1174577

Hi George, I am another Graves’ (long time ago) and TED (thyroid eye disease) person. This is a good site. There are a few guys on the site, you might find them if you put “male” in the search engine. As you have already learned, perhaps, Graves/Hashi is more common in females than males.

I think you have a very good understanding of your labs and of your Graves’.
You’ll find that the facilitators don’t interpret or comment very much about labs, for none of us are doctors, just fellow patients. But your assessment sounds right on to me, and it sounds like you are having great care and management for a complex medical issue.

I think the big message is that you will be better, and yes, you will need to do the Synthroid dance and some labs the rest of your life. But, on the other hand, we are soooo fortunate to have it available.

Just wondering, what was your heart rate when it was high? Glad you are on the beta blockers.

I also have subclinical hyperthyroidism. If anything, the way I fEEL is hyPO.
I am more focused on my TED, which has been pretty severe.

Welcome to the boards. If you can figure out how to get to the conference in San Diego, that is a great opportunity to meet and talk to docs and fellow Graves’ people.
Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1174578

Hello – If you check out the “Treatment Options” thread in the announcements section of the forum, there is a guidance document from the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists that has some good info on subclinical hyperthyroidism. The guidance notes that treatment is recommended for patients who are experiencing hyperthyroid symptoms, but obviously, this is a decision that you will need to make in conjunction with your doctor. (See page 25 of the PDF document / page 617 of the journal article).

It’s true that women statistically have a better chance at remission, but you are a person, not a statistic. We have a facilitator, James, who has been in remission for 9+ years.

[geostyv]

#1174579

Thank to you both for your comments. I read the guidelines last July that were posted on this website and they were, without a doubt, the best, most informative things I’ve read about Graves’/hyperthyroidism. It was clear, easy to read, and very informative. I would like to thank this board for posting documents like these. I have been rereading it this morning and thinking that this is the frustrating part of the disease for me — I have Graves and Hashi antibodies, but I am lucky that it is not effecting me too much. However, the solution is just as drastic as if I were in very bad shape clinically. The endo says that this is a disease that is up and down and that I might go into spontaneous remission considering my labs, but that I will also be back — the genie stays in the bottle only so long.

My wife and I are both in professions where there is a premium on getting the “right” answer and we’ve both realized with this disease, and with the treatment opinions, there are no right answers. I guess that is the scary part. Once that pill goes past my lips Thursday there is no turning back — I don’t mind admitting being scared, and despite having devoted myself to knowing about as much as a lay person can about these conditions, being confused as well.

These forums have been the best source of information out there. I’ll keep everyone posted on my RAI journey, too.

[Kimberly]

#1174580

geostyv wrote:

My wife and I are both in professions where there is a premium on getting the “right” answer and we’ve both realized with this disease, and with the treatment opinions, there are no right answers.

This is so, SO true!

In fact, this gave me the idea to start a “favorite quotes” thread, where we could collect bits of wisdom like this for our current and future members!

What does everyone think?

[Author]

Posts