Thyroid tests for Graves?

[TamraW]

Thyroid patients, what kind of tests do you recommend for Graves? I have three benign nodules. One of them actually hurts. Also, my mom had her right thyroid and some nodules removed and now she's on Synthroid. I have many Graves symptoms.

So far these are the thyroid tests run by my doctor. TSH (2.69) and FT4 (1.3) both within normal limits. Should I ask for additional tests?

Thanks,
Tamra

[Smilerdeb]

Your FT3 is a little lower than it should be...it should be near the top end of the scale and as we all know the T3 is the one that promotes our metabolism and getting back into shape.
Your FT4 is fine.
I would be asking for a little bit of help with the T3......maybe a small dose of Cytomel?

[Totie]

As far as I know those numbers look okay, but I am sure there those on here who are better with the labs than I am. I basically only know TSH.

I basically stayed the same weight, 115-120 lbs for about 13 yrs after my TT. But the last two I have gone down to 92-99 lbs, NO, not on any diet. My TSH levels keep going hyper. I was on 200 mcg for 10 yrs than out of the blue started going hyper, so then began the dosage adjustment. 200, 175 , 150 , 125 , 100 back to 125. Finaly the 125mcg seemed to be the correct dose.

I think I went hyper because of hormones changing as we get older, at least that is what I was told.

I have gone back for my yrly lab work and such. I think I will also be getting a bone density scan. I also developed Thyroid Eye Disease (not any fun)...in the last year.

[suep112]

My last tsh was .86 and has been hanging around that area for a year now. I feel ok....but am gaining so much weight. granted, the 'graves' weight was a little low at 109. i am now 130. cripes! none of my clothes fit. in january, my endo checked ft3 and ft 4. i dont know  enough about it all to know if its ok....ft3 was 259 (230-420) abd ft4 was 1.7  (.8-1.8). are those numbers ok? i have no idea. i now take .100 of levothyroxine and have been taking that since november of last year.

[Totie]

Have you gotten your levels checked lately? You could need a dosage increase.

[TamraW]

Thanks! I am printing this out and taking it to my endo for more blood work!

Tamra

[TamraW]

Have you been back to your endo about the depression, weight gain and hair loss? This could also be a thyroid issue.

:) Tamra

[suep112]

Aha! Thanks goodness I'm not alone. I, too, was treated for depression for 4 months before my doctor ordered any blood tests. I was loosing weight, my hands were shaking, I was having panic attacks ....just plain ol freaking out. My blood pressure was 139 over 89...always had been 117 over 75...that's fine he said, if it doesnt go over 140, you really aren't in the danger zone. And another thing my gp office doesn't do is....TAKE YOUR PULSE. I was worried about my blood pressure, so I bought a machine on my own. I didn't pay attention to the bottom reading, which was pulse rate....I was averaging 125 upon waking up and higher during the day. Anyway, when I explained the panic attacks, he simply said ,"Depression can display itself in a lot of different forms". So, I get cymbalta....now the commercials say...dont use that if you have thyroid problems. Great. After I literaly crawled back into his office after trying to get better with the meds he had given me, he took a blood sample.......way high ft3 and ft4 and barely registaring tsh reading at .01. He finally sent me to an endo....have graves..tt and now on synthroid. Been a long road. I agree that doctors seem to blame everything on depression.  I actually think I could be depressed now.....gained a ton of weight and my hair is falling out. Now that's something to be depressed about!

[mtkst13]

i'm not familiar with parathyroid disease at all...sorry i can't help you there, but i know others in this forum have experience with parathyroid.

as far as antibodies, i would ask for antiTPO and antithyroglobulin.  these are the two biggies.

[TamraW]

Thanks, everyone, for your great feedback. This forum has been very helpful.

Tamra

[TamraW]

Totie, I love how some docs try to blame all ailments on depression. When my gastros couldn't find a reason for my GERD/heartburn, they blamed it on my depression. I told them, if you were this sick, you'd be depressed, too.

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

Thanks! I think I did have that antibody test already. This at least puts me in the right direction, so I can focus more on hyperparathyroidism. The symptoms are so similar to other endocrine diseases, but right now that's what my surgeon is testing for. My PTH is elevated, my calcium is mildly elevated and my D drops frequently. My endo said I had 'mild' parathyroid disease, but I don't feel mild at all.

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

Thanks! What kind of antibodies? I'm clueless here.

[mtkst13]

based on your labs, you don't appear to have graves disease.  graves disease is when your tsh is low and your ft3 and/or ft4 are high.  however, you may have hashimotos (slow destruction of thyroid that leads to overt hypothyroidism).

ask the docs to run all the antibodies.  that'll give you the info you need.

[Totie]

Wish I could remember what tests they did on me 15yrs ago. I was 24yrs old so did not know anything about medical records back then.

I was diagnosed by a goiter that swelled, hands trembling, lost weight fast, insomnia, heat intolerance, extremely hyper (going in all directions).

The sad part was I was misdiagnsosed with depression for 6 months before I hit a thyroid storm. For six months I was treated for depression..(anti-depressants)..finally got over the anger of it all. Not once did they do a blood test....I was only diangosed by a fluke...

[kidsnchicks]

If you feel you have Graves or are in question of the results or simply want to put your mind at ease, request an antibodies test.  Its a timple blood test - Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobin TSI.  I hope you find the answers you are looking for.