[Ski]

#1073602

The nausea may just be your body reacting to the shift in thyroid hormone ~ it’s not a typical symptom, and it’s not indicative of any of the more dangerous side effects of ATDs, but you may want to just check in with the endo’s office to ease your mind. Your heart rate may stay a little bit elevated (even after beta blockers) while your thyroid hormone levels are still high, but again, checking in with the doctor is an easy way to be sure that everything’s okay. It’s possible that they’ll raise your dose of beta blockers in response, at least for a little while.

The Anti TPO ab is a test to detect the presence and measure the quantity of specific thyroid autoantibodies. The specific number is not so important, but elevated levels suggest Graves’ as a cause for your condition. Follow up tests would be more helpful, as a comparison, than the initial test. Keep in mind that it is important to have test done by the same laboratory using the same methodology, if it’s being used for comparison’s sake, because labs use different methodologies to arrive at the result, and "normal" values can be very different between two labs.

The thyroglobulin test helps the doctor determine how well your body is reacting to your treatment, so again, the more valuable numbers will come later, as a comparison to this. Decreasing figures would indicate that your treatment is progressing successfully. Again, use the same lab and methodology every time you are tested, when you’re using the test in this way.

It’s good to talk with your doctor about ALL of your questions, even when you feel you’ve got a handle on it. Write down everything that comes up between now and the next time you speak with your doctor. This is complicated, and having all the information we can get helps immensely.

Oh yes, welcome! ” title=”Very Happy” /> Glad we can help.

[gdintucson1]

#1019712

I’ve been having Graves symptoms probably for several months without realizing there was really anything going on. I have three kids under the age of six, so I attributed my tiredness and headaches to stress. The last few weeks things began to intensify. I started having trouble going up the stairs–my legs were really weak, my heart was pounding, and I had shortness of breath. Also, I was standing in church and my legs were shaking–I felt like I had been running or something. Then, last week the tremors started in my hands and whole body. I decided it was time to go to the doctor. My internist immediately suspected hyperthyroidism and tested me. My pulse was 112 during the EKG, and it was tough to lay still due to the shaking. I did the blood test, and the dr called me back later with my test results:

TSH: 0.000
FT4: 4.4
TT3: 4.35
Anti TPO ab: 3.9
Thyroglobulin: 18.5

She immediately prescribed beta blockers and referred me to the endo. I saw him on Monday–I feel blessed because after reading some posts I see that a good endo is hard to find. He was very kind, explained everything to me, and then diagnosed GD. He started me on Methimazole 10mg, two pills twice a day, so 40mg. I am also on Atenolol 25mg twice per day. My questions is I have felt really nauseous the last day or so and my pulse is still 94. Obviously, the meds haven’t had a lot of time to work or for my body to get used to them. Should I call him and tell him about the nauseousness and pulse?

Also, I was wondering what the last two numbers in my lab tests mean–the Anti TPO ab and Thyroglobulin. Could anyone explain what these mean?

Thank you so much for your help.

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