[allie]

#1060033

Just met with my doctor today to follow up on my labs from last week.

My T3 levels are still low and my T4 is high, but close to normal. Doctor is changing meds so that I add cytomel to the synthroid that I am taking. He thinks this will help. He also noticed that my Antinuclear antibodies test (ANA) came back positive. He said this may mean that on top of everything else I have lupus. Although he was very kind and answered my questions, I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed today since I wasn’t expecting that….silly me for not thinking my body could be doing more damage!

Just wondered if anyone else had heard of/dealt with this? Trying to do lots of research on my own, but wanted to reach out to the “community” of fellow Grave’s friends as well

[Kimberly]

#1179790

Hi Allie – So sorry that you are dealing with this. A positive ANA test is a potential red flag for Lupus, but it does *not* mean that you have Lupus; it means that further evaluation should be done. There are actually healthy individuals out there who test positive for ANA, and in other cases meds or other conditions can cause a positive result.

Has your doctor discussed next steps with you?

[allie]

#1179791

We did more lab work today, and I assume that I will hear back on the labs in the next few days. I made a follow-up appointment for the beginning of July to see if the new meds are helping the T3/T4 levels.

No other plan right now

Hoping I will have more energy soon!

[linzyyyy]

#1179792

Hi! Don’t worry too much yet, my sister just tested positive for ANA and found out she does NOT have lupus. Chances are you won’t either! Hang in there, good luck with the cytomel

Lindsay

[allie]

#1179793

My test for lupus came back negative today, so that is good news! However, the doctor said he was still not sure why my level was so high and that I would need to be rechecked at the next appointment. On my labs its listed as a ratio, and mine was 1:2650. From what I have read that was pretty high. Somehow I feel like in 3 weeks it won’t be much different from where it is now.

I’m just wondering if there are other things that I should be looking for or mentioning to my doctor? As I posted before, my overall “sickly” feeling has been raging for months now and I feel like this could be an indicator to support whatever is going on inside. I don’t go back to the doctor for 3 weeks so I want to do as much as I can in the mean time.

Any advice or help is appreciated — thanks again!

[Boomer]

#1179794

I’m happy to hear your good news Allie!

Stay positive and hopeful- a lot can happen in three weeks so focus on today’s victory and worry about the future in the future. Think positive!

Thank for sharing your good news- I needed that

Love to all,

Boomer

[Kimberly]

#1179795

Hello – Since you are 3 weeks out from your doctor’s appointment, keeping a journal with *any* symptom that pops up would be helpful…aches, pains, sleeping (or not sleeping) habits, energy levels, digestive issues, etc.. The more specific that you can be, the better.

That’s great news that you *don’t* have lupus, but hopefully, your doc can figure out what *is* going on and help you get your life back!

[allie]

#1179796

I couldn’t agree more about this being good news! Even though I don’t feel any better “physically”, I am beyond happy that I simply got a phone call returned from the doctor…funny how that has become my “good news” for the day

I am already keeping a daily symptom journal, and now that I started the cytomel it will be interesting to see if anything changes or develops from this medication’s presence. My doctor thought that adding that to the synthroid was a better solution than starting the armour (although at 3 week check up that is plan .

Guess only time will tell!

[msled]

#1179797

Hi Kimberly

A quick question for you. I have had three antibody tests done (including TSI) all were negative. I also had an ANA test done which was negative. Can hyperthyroidism be transient. Meaning can it come on because of the excess amount iodine used for abdominal surgery?

msled

[Kimberly]

#1179798

@msled – This would be a great question for your doc. Antibody testing for Graves’ is highly accurate, but not 100%. I’m not familiar with specific issues related to iodine and abdominal surgery; however, the use of iodine in other medical procedures such as CT scans *does* come with a risk of developing hyperthyroidism.

[msled]

#1179799

Thanks Kimberly for responding…I am fairly sure that I was misdiagnosed. The first Dr. I saw only did a TSH and T4 blood test and after a 15 minute appointment was sent home with tapazole script and two pamphlets. I was refused follow up appointments when I became very ill (allergic to the tapazole). The second Dr. ordered an uptake test that said there was only mild to moderate involvement but was told I had to have radioactive iodine which impacted my eyes (I have had four surgeries). The Dr. I go to now ordered more radioactive iodine and now I am hypothyroid. I am struggling with doses (as I require estrogen which blocks receptors). I insisted on the antibody tests as I have to know that it is Graves. Sorry for venting but I have been through an awful lot over the past two years. Apparently I am now hypo and hyper?? (my endocrinologist told me this…)
msled

[RebeccaJF]

#1179800

So happy to hear your news, allie! What a relief!

msled, I think doctors assume it’s Grave’s since it’s the #1 cause of hyperthyroidism? Is that right? But they should verify before doing drastic things like RAI. I’d be interested to know if can be transient. Or can it sometimes be cause by the hormonal imbalance from menopause? It all seems to be related.

Hope you can get this sorted out.

Becky

[Author]

Posts