Need help with my results.

[Loza73]

Hi everyone could anyone help me with my results please.

Free T3 14.4 (2.6-5.7)

Free T4 34.5(9.0-19.0)

TSH <0.01(0.4-4.9)

I was diagnosed with Graves disease in March 2016, I was doing well on my medication of carbimazole and propranolol so they reduced my dose down to 10mg and stopped the propranolol. Now from results collected in November(above) I have been told to increase my dosage to 30mg and to look into the option of having my thyroid removed. I am at a loss to what to do now.....Please help.

[Clutter]

Loza73,

You stopped taking Carbimazole 4 months ago and that's why your FT4 and FT3 have risen so high. Most people need to take Carbimazole for 12-18 months to regulate their thyroid gland before attempting to wean off for remission.

If you are comfortable taking Carbimazole there is no need to have radioactive iodine ablatement which will destroy your thyroid gland and make you hypothyroid. You can remain on Carbimazole for years/decades.

[Loza73 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you @clutter for replying so quickly, my endo said that taking carbimazole for longer than 18 months is not an option. I told her that people can take it for years and she said that I have been misinformed. When I stopped taking carbimazole i felt good and to be honest, apart from the palpitations and shaking....I could have coped. She did mention the strain on my heart and calcium deficiency as the main reason for the thyroid removal.

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Loza73]

I was on Carbimazole for about three years, 18mths block and replace, which didn't work, then 18mths titrating Carbimazole down to a really low dose then stopping. I then went into remission. Many people ARE on Carb for years!

You do have to look after your heart though. I, personally, would go back on the Carb, but maybe 15 or 20mgs? Then get your GP to test you after 6-8weeks.

Don't let them rush you in to giving up your thyroid gland!! You were only diagnosed 10 months ago anyway.

[Loza73 in reply to Silver_Fairy]

Thank you @sliver_fairy I am back on the carbimazole now 10mg, i thought that 30 was too high but over the weekend I developed itching and started vomiting. My doctor is monitoring me and may need to do blood tests.

[Clutter in reply to Loza73]

Loza73,

"Recent studies have found long-term use of ATDs to be safe, and one study found that this approach was superior to RAI in terms of avoiding thyroid eye disease, maintaining euthyroidism, and stabilizing weight."

thyroid.org/patient-thyroid...

[Loza73 in reply to Clutter]

I wish I would have read this earlier!!! @humanbean was saying the same thing in another post about taking biotin Supplements that can interfere with blood test results. Even though I stopped taking carbimazole i went back on my B complex about 2 months ago, I think that it did affect my blood test readings. The results before showed a steady decline, and I did feel well. I am having a blood test this morning and I haven't had any Supplements since the weekend. I am more confident now after reading the article and seeing that removal or rai treatment is really unnecessary at this stage. Thank you so much.

[Clutter in reply to Loza73]

Loza73,

The only problem with supplementing biotin is that if the lab uses biotin in its analysis it may interfere with TSH and show a falsely high TSH, usually something way up like 50-80. Not taking biotin the day of the blood test should avoid this.

[Raventhorpe]

Don't let them rush you into Rai or surgery,you need time to decide what's best for you. I have had graves for 20yrs and only had Rai done7yrs ago was on and off carbimazole for years with no ill effects, as long as they keep good eye on you then it shouldn't be a problem.