thyroiditis

[jessie529]

hi guys,
i have a low TSH .01, and high T4 of 3.1. My Dr. ordered an RAi uptake and scan to determine what is the cause of my symptoms for over 4 weeks. fatigue, body aches, back pain, nausea, fever every night.  My question is if there is anyone who has taken the RAI uptake and scan, i'm kinda nervous about it.  Could you tell me your experience? how long do you have to lie still, because i get clausterphobic, i;m kinda nervous about the whole thing. i'd appreciate any feedback. thanks,


This discussion is related to subacute thyroiditis.

[jessie529]

Thanks for the detailed description. If I end up having to do it, I guess it doesn't sound as bad.  I'm waiting for the blood results tmw. on the atibodies testing. thanks again.

[medicmommy]

Hi Jessie,
I had a RAI test -and it was no big deal. They start an IV, inject radioactive iodine through it and scan a little while later.It wasn't like the contrast dye that I had once that made you feel as if you were wetting yourself.  The machine is similar to a CAT scan, but it has the table and an overhead machine that gets very close to your body. The sides are open and you hear some clicking and whirring noises, but nothing scary. The room I was in was very open and airy with gentle lighting -quite relaxing actually. The really interesting part was seeing my thyroid (very hyper at the time) light up like a lightbulb on the scanner screen. If you have liver kidney disease, you may not want to do this test as it can damage the kidneys when the iodine is filtered out. -Other than that, this test was not a big deal...-I hope this helps! :) ~MM

[jessie529]

Hi,
I thought I was done with thyroid issues, but when i repeated my bloodwork after a month, my TSh, 3rd generation is now high at 7.5 when it was 0.1 since May 18. The T3 Total is now 55 from 293 on 5/18.
T4 FREE was 3.1 5/18 and is now 0.5.  They just tested for antibodies so I'm waiting for that. Do you have any thoughts? thanks so much for your help.

[jessie529]

Thanks again for responding.  My most recent labs point to subacute thyroiditis, rather than hyperthyroidism, according to my MD.  TSH is still low at 0.01 reference range is 0.40 - 4.50
T4 FREE went down to 1.9 ref. range is 0.8 - 1.8. ESR also went down from 76 to 53 ref. range is 0-20 mm/hr.  Do you have a take on this, or anyone else? thanks again

[Barb135]

I'd really want to see an FT3, but I agree with mommyof2909 -- get antibodies tested.  TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) will confirm/rule out Graves Disease. but also have them test TPOab and TGab, to test for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis........both are autoimmune thyroid diseases in which antibodies gradually destroy the thyroid; and both can be present at the same time.

When you get your new labs back, please post the results, along with the reference ranges for each test, since these are lab specific.

[jessie529]

Thanks for responding. The T4 is FREE. The total T3 is 293. The reference range for the T4 FREE is 0.8 - 1.8.  on  my last bloodwork they didn't test for my Free T3, but i repeated everything yesterday, so maybe now they will. I'm not on any meds, never had thyroid issues. thanks.

[mommyof2909]

Hi I am not saying to not get the RAI uptake but have the doc test for antibodies that may help determine what is going on.  I have Graves and one doc told me he wanted it done.  But all my labs pointed at Graves. My new endo said i didn't need it because I had graves and my lab pointed at that. So I never had the uptake done.  I am not sying that it will never be done though.   Maybe when you become more infomed and so your own research before you next appointment may help you know what YOU want done.  Best of luck