Good News?

[Bushwhckr]

I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism a few weeks ago and the doc put me on Methimazole. I went back today for blood work and an ultrasound.

The results were that my TSH was even lower than last time it was checked a few weeks back. Then it was .037 and today .014. The statement he made was "Overall, the thyroid appears symmetrical and heterogeneous in appearance. No distinct nodules or cysts are noted right or left thyroid lobe at this time. No suspicious lymphadenopathy is noted right or left neck level II-V at this time. the gland is heterogeneous and slightly enlarged consistent with suspected Graves disease"

...Whatever all that means. He's put me on Methimazole four pills a day-two twelve hours apart. I'm hoping this will cure it and not have to take RAI, which I'm dead set against.

[Bushwhckr]

I got the lab report in the mail today. Besides the tests for cholesterol, Triglycerides, etc. she tested for TSH, T3 and T4 as well. This was the results after being off all meds for 12 days at this point.

TSH: .078
T3: 3.61
T4: 1.24

It looks like I'm within range with the T4 and TSH is up from the .024 measured at the Endo lab about two weeks back.

[Bushwhckr]

Probably wouldn't hurt. They let me know the result a few days after the tests via a phone message as well as by letter.

[goolarra]

What the heck...why not?  And throw in FT3 while you're at it.

[Bushwhckr]

I'll get her to run a TSI along with the other tests she normally does. If she got a TSI from this doctor I never saw it. I don't know if she knows enough about all this to be able to tell me why he went from one drug to the other without a time lapse of a month or so before starting Levo.

I got to see her Tuesday and hopefully can get some answers. I'm tempted to get her to run the TSH and FT4 even though I just had it done last week.

[goolarra]

Ask her to tell you what the result of your TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) test was for Graves' and the reference range for it.  Also, you might ask her to explain the endo's rationale in switching you from methimazole, which suppresses thyroid function, to levo, which is replacement hormone for hypo people.  She may not be able to explain it to you, but if she gets all your test results, it might start her thinking.  This is just very unusual treatment, and I'd want to know why...

[Bushwhckr]

I'm going to see her This Tuesday for some blood work I always have done in June. I'm going to ask for some white blood count testing since I've read some of those meds can cause a decrease and get her to check kidney and liver function along with all the other things she checks me for and also to see what she has to say about the thyroid problem.

This has been going on for six months now and I'm still no further ahead. I started seeing him in December when he first put me on three doses of Methimazole and went back a month later on Jan. 15th. That's when my Free T4 was 2.12 and TSH .014. I've been back and forth for blood work every month since December.