Help with results

[Hollins]

Hi

I was diagnosed with Graves in April. Mainly anxiety and atrial fibrillation. I'm 70 years old. I'm now down to 5mg carbimazole daily for about 8 weeks. Still on bisoprolol.

My last results (3 weeks ago) were

FT4 12.6 (11.5-22.4)

FT3 5.9 (3.3-6.1)

TSH 2.13 (0.4-4)

So fairly normal

Vitamin / Mineral screen normal

For the past couple of weeks I've been feeling thyrotoxic anxiety like back at the beginning. Could it be my thyroid?

I've heard it said that Graves can make you feel rubbish whatever your blood results.

What does anyone think?

Best wishes

[PurpleNails]

Your levels are in range so doctor will consider it acceptable but your FT4 is too low & FT3 too high in range which is why you are feeling hyper symptoms.

You’d expect to see low TSH with such a high FT3 but your TSH is still quite high so your thyroid is producing hormone. Higher TSH can also increase FT3 conversion, so can Graves cause disproportionate FT3.

Was your Graves diagnosis confirmed with positive TRab or TSI test? Add any result.

What are your Folate, ferritin, B12 & vitamin D levels?

Can you take propranolol, instead of Bisoprolol. That usually the recommended beta blocker to prescribe with carbimazole. It can have a mild affect of lowering FT3. Asthmatic can take this medication.

You do have option to “block & replace”. Take a higher blocking level of carbimazole (usually over 30mg) then a replacement hormone levo (LT4) to restore levels. This can stabilise levels as T3 can be reduced as theres is zero natural production.

The Graves forum is not as visited as main thyroid uk forum. Recommend you also post there.

[Hollins]

really helpful, thank you

[pennyannie]

Hey there again :

It does take time for thyroid hormones to reset themselves and blood tests tend to run a couple of weeks behind symptoms.

Your TSH has recovered very quickly - do you have the actual readings for the Graves antibodies generally written as either a TRab - a thyroid receptor or a TSI - a thyroid stimulating positive and over range blood test reading ?

Quite where your T3 and T4 need to be within the ranges to give you back your wellness is unique to the individual and if you could switch your beta blocker to Propranolol this would slower the process of T4 converting to T3 which might just be enough to ease these current symptoms.

Graves does tend to be a stress and anxiety driven AI disease so managing your life is a consideration once you identify your ' triggers ' :

Also very important to keep your core strength strong and solid as if ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are not maintained at optimal levels this alone can unnecessarily, compromise your health issues even further