How can I be hyperT? I have no symptoms!

[skeeterknitwit]

5/21/08 TSH<.01  I don't believe this!  I demanded another test from a different lab 6/27/08.  I flunked again.
6/27/08 TSH<.005 (.27-4.2)
Free T4  1.97 (.093-1.71)
Free T3 556 (230-420)
How is this possible?!!!  I'm 51, female, menopausal, slightly overweight.  Pulse 73, O2 96%, BP 122/64. no tremor, normal reflex, shiny waist length hair.
My GP refered me to an Endo.  I am waiting for an appointment.  GP described how the endo will use I131 to kill my thyroid.
I'm scared!
Any suggestions of tests I should request or questions I should ask?  Thinking about I131 makes my hands shake and I get a lump in my throat.  Oh No!  Those are symptoms!

[HyperT77]

I was diagnosed with Hyper T last October.  Had shaky hands, hot all the time, hard time sleeping.  But I had gone too long before going to the doctor.  When I was finally diagnosed, my levels were in a very dangerous range.  Too dangerous to do RAI or surgery.  So I have been taking anti-thyroid medication and a beta blocker.  My heart was pounding and racing.  Took about 1-2 months to get the heart rate under control.  My blood pressure continues, at times, to spike up.  I always had low to low-normal blood pressure.

Have heard that on the medication that it can take 1-2 years to stablilize the thyroid.  Mine is just this month getting closer to normal ranges.

You might ask your Endo about medication vs. RAI.

[skeeterknitwit]

Thanks, looks like this will take a LONG time.

[HyperT77]

That's what I'm starting to realize.  Someone said they only started getting relief after about 16 months of treatment.  I do great on the good days and not that great on the "not so good days".  But on the bad days, wow, I can hardly drag myself out of bed.  But those days are fewer and fewer.

[ar1281a]

you should ask your Dr to check your antibodies before doing anything. This will determine if you do have autoimmune disease vs. something else. If so, start with anti-thryroid drugs. 50% of people go into remission and you may not need to do anything else after that.

[stella5349]

I agree with further testing - and if it is not necessary - I would push for treatment first before RAI.

I think a full uptake and TSI testing is appropriate. With being in menopause you sex hormones are changing alot and that could be causing low TSH levels.

Everything works together.

Are you having symptoms now?

I was Graves hyper with a TSH of 001 I had RAI and became miserable until recently with permament hyper thyroid ( Due to Hashi )

My TSH levels while hypO was anywhere to 4 - 42. Now I am feeling much better - but my TSH is at 0.04 with a free T3 of 577

I don't have hyper symptoms at all.

[stella5349]

This line below is written wrong:

I was Graves hyper with a TSH of 001 I had RAI and became miserable until recently with permament hyper thyroid ( Due to Hashi )

I meant to say - "permanent HYPO thyroid" Due to Hashi. -- sorry

[skeeterknitwit]

Thanks everyone.  I still have NO symptoms.
The whole thing started when my Ortho wanted blood tests.  I have just recovered from a frozen shoulder from a flu shot given in the rotator cuff tendons.  Ortho says that did not cause the FS.  It has to be an autoimmune disease.
I have been slightly overweight my entire life.  I struggle to lose every fraction of a pound to reduce stress on my knees.  In the last 20 years I have managed to lose 12 pounds.  Now it looks like I have gained 3 of those back.
I feel like my Ortho and GP both want to treat a number on a sheet of paper instead of treating the patient.

[stella5349]

That is my biggest frustration on thyroid disease. You are looked at more of a number in the doctor's eye.

Thyroid disease 50yrs ago was treated by symptoms not  a number (they didn't have the blood tests then)

I agree - blood work up are very important and are a great tool to use to help uncover illnesses - but if the patients is fine especially with a TSH number - then why treat?  Or if treatment is agreed with - try it first before jumping to surgery or RAI with no symptoms.

It is complicated - and I could recieve back lash from that statement - but MY symptoms brought me to the doctor when I was hyper Graves.

MY symptoms took me back again back of being HYPO after RAI.

Now my TSH is at almost the same level I was when I was Graves but I have no symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

YES I have had a few docs say "HMMMMM TSH a little low here."  but after we talk and I show them my labs and charts from my past and explain what I know - they now look at me as a person and NOT just a TSH!

I just have a feeling that you in menopause is something to consider here before jumping to a permanent distruction of an organ that controls so much of your body. My own doctor I have faced that with his wife when she was in menopause.

Her endo suggested RAI too and both my MD and his wife decided NO. She is now fine after menopause.

I didn't mean to shuffle the cards more for you - but just be informed of everthing before trusting anyone else with your body. I wish I would have.

[skeeterknitwit]

That was a wonderful insight!
I am hoping that this whole thing is just an inflamation (itis) and will correct itself.  Meanwhile, I had acupuncture and herbs for hyperT.  We are hoping to push bak the appointment with the endo for 20 days, then see if my TSH is higher.
My physical therapist says resistance excercise will push down TSH.  I have been working REALLY hard with this shoulder thing.  PT for 10-12 hours a week plus more at home.
Now I am wondering if this was triggered by a prescription for Meloxicam (NSAID).  Ortho prescribed it.  He asked if I needed a refill.  I said no thanks.  I quit taking it because it spiked my blood pressure, racing pulse, pounding heartbeat, shaky hands, sweaty.  I felt AWFUL, like I could jump out of my skin.
Now I know that these are symptoms of thyrotoxic!
When I stopped taking it, my BP returned to normal in 48 hrs.

[stella5349]

I found acupuncture wonderful.

and I believe it has assisted getting me on track.

Truly - I haven't felt this good in years.