Looking for help with Graves disease

[Franbie]

Hi

I'm looking for help with Graves as I have been having symptoms much the same as my sister who has the disease. I have been getting different symptoms one after another including: - swollen neck, jaw pain, vertigo, thinning hair, fatigue, hand tremors, sore gritty eyes, high plasma glucose, & vit b & d deficient. So I decided to have the blue horizon gene test done and it came up with TNF-a result and TRHR (G) result amongst others. This tells me that I do have the genes for graves. My problem is that the doctor doesn't seem to want to know even though my scores on the T4 often goes over the ref range. I think it is because the TSH has always been within range even though it is always on the low side. I would be grateful for any advice on where to go from here. Should I ask to see an endocrinologist or a thyroid specialist.

[Lisa31SW]

I would ask to go and see someone Franbie as quite often doctors don’t really know and fully appreciate how the same level can affect everybody in a slightly different way. So if your concerned then do what you feel.

[Franbie in reply to Lisa31SW]

Hi Lisa. Thanks so much for your reply. I decided to have a private blood test done to check the antibodies, tsh, t4, and t3 done in the end. I had this done yesterday so will let you know what the results are when they come back.

It's a shame when the doctors don't seem to understand how we feel when we get these awful symptoms. I know they are busy but this means they can miss people who really do need their help. This is also bad for the economy, if they treat people earlier it would surely cost less We need more doctors!

Frankie.

[Lisa31SW]

This is so true. They don’t seem to appreciate how we feel in ourselves and we know our own bodies. And what it’s telling us. Good luck and let me know what the test says x

[Franbie in reply to Lisa31SW]

Thanks again Lisa. Good luck to you too x

[Franbie in reply to Lisa31SW]

Hi Lisa

Just to update my results which came through today: -

TSH 0.78 mIU/L Ref range: 0.27 - 4.20

Free Thyroxine 21.2 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

T4 105.0 pmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 4.34 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 28.40 IU/ml 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 42.6 IU/ml 0.00 - 34.00

The tests on the whole look normal, though the free thyroxine is at the top of the range.

The thyroid peroxidase is above the range though which I've read is a sign of either Graves disease or Hashimotos. As I have Graves in the family & nearly all of the symptons plus the antibodies shouldn't the doctors look into this further? I also have a swollen neck which feels really uncomfortable.

Franbie x

[Lisa31SW in reply to Franbie]

Hi I would say that yes it needs to be looked at just to check all is well or not.

[Franbie in reply to Lisa31SW]

Thanks Lisa I am very grateful for the help. I will try and get an appointment with the doctor. Hope you are ok. Franbie.

[Lisa31SW in reply to Franbie]

Thanks I’ve had bloods done today so we will see!!!!!!

[Franbie in reply to Lisa31SW]

Good luck with the tests. Let me know how you get on.

Franbie x