Usually, when "Free" is not specified, the test is for total, which is why I questioned the T4. Do you know what the reference range is that your lab uses?
Was there a Free T3 test done? Free T3 is the actual, active hormone that is used by the individual cells. High levels of FT3 can cause osteoporosis, as well as heart issues and other damage, if not treated.
Has your doctor considered anti-thyroid meds, at all?
Yes, it's the "free" T4, and I did mean CBC, sorry for the typo. My doctor seems to think that I should get the RAI treatment as soon as possible because of how long he thinks my hormone levels have been high. I wasn't really feeling the hyper symptoms so I never got checked out when it might have started.
Thank you so much for your advice! I'll be sure to inquire about ferritin and B12 when I go next month. I know when I used to give blood that sometimes I would be anemic and they couldn't take my blood so maybe that is something to look into.
What's the reference range for the T4 and is that "free" T4 or total? Total T4 is considered obsolete and of little value. Your level is much higher than we normally see for Free T4.
Do you mean CBC, instead of CDC? Again, we, typically, don't place a lot of importance on "normal", because we're all different and just being within the lab's reference range, might not be enough for you. CBC is not thyroid related.
MCH is, also not, directly, thyroid related; it measures the weight of the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Low MCH indicates that you may be iron deficient. Iron is necessary for the metabolism of thyroid hormones.
Are there any thyroid antibody tests on the report? Those might include Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab), sometimes also referred to as microsomal, Thyroglobulun Antibodies (TgAB) and Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI), which is the definitive test for Graves Disease. Have you had a thyroid ultrasound?
To answer your original question about a thyroid specific diet or exercise, there really isn't any. Once your levels are optimized, a regular healthy diet and moderate exercise should keep your weight in check.
Because your MCH is low and indicates iron deficiency, I'd recommend that you get tested for ferritin (iron storage hormone) and a complete iron panel.
Because you are vegetarian, I'd strongly recommend that you get vitamin B12 tested, since the main sources of B12 are animal products, such as meat, dairy and eggs.
If you can get those tests, be sure to get a copy of the results - make this a habit, so you have them for your own records. I have all my blood test reports, all the way back to 2003. Looking them over, recently, I actually made some interesting discoveries.
All of that said, if you have heart damage caused from being hyper, you might not be able to avoid the RAI, because you certainly don't want that to get worse.
T4: 4.02
CDC: normal
MCH: 25.4 (low)
TSH: 0.005 (low)
Do those help more?
Try to get the exact results of all tests that were run. We can't really give you much more information without them. Be sure to include reference ranges for any labs you post.
Best to get printed copies, if possible; if not possible to get printed copies, be sure to ask for both results and ranges.
The nurse called me about my test results and she said my T4 levels were still three times normal. She didn't say anything about t3 or tsh, and I was at work so I didn't have time to look this up and make sure I was asking for the right information.
"Extensive Thyroid tests" don't really tell us anything. Can you get copies of the lab reports to post here? Without actual lab results, our hands are somewhat tied in what we can suggest, recommend.
I did not have issues with weight once my thyroid level was reached.
It has been close to 20yrs since I had both RAI-Surgery for graves/hyper. I hit two thyroid storms so I had to have the surgery.
I am a tiny bit underweight (102 @ 5'3')but I do eat healthy. I eat a lot of tuna & grilled chicken. I don't eat breads or milk due to having issues digesting them, so I just stay away from them altogether. I don't have much of a sweet tooth.
You will gain some weight, but I was 88 lbs before surgery so I needed it. I gained maybe about 20 lbs. I know I could probably gain weight if I ate bad..
My twin sister is going on a yr. on her RAI and she is still having her dosage adjusted due to her thyroid levels.
She like you was scared of weight gain, but like your doctor said, stay away from the scale until everything is corrected with you levels...
For Graves' disease they took extra bloodwork for "extensive thyroid tests." I don't know more specifically than that right now.
He just took more blood woe yesterday so I should have the results soon, but it'll be the first time checking them since I went on the methimazole.
Methimazole blocks thyroid hormones and if the dosage is too high, it could have caused you to go a bit hypo, which could very well be the cause for your weight gain. If you've gone hypo, all the exercise and dieting in the world will do little good.
What are your current thyroid hormone levels? You should be getting tested regularly for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4.
What tests were done to diagnose Graves Disease?