Graves’ disease

[Ginger-bread]

Just been to see consultant and been diagnosed with Graves’ disease 🙁 still on my block and replace at moment

[greygoose]

How were you diagnosed with Grave's? Do you have a copy of your blood test results? You should always get a copy because you need to know exactly what was tested, and exactly what the results were.

[Ginger-bread in reply to greygoose]

Hi yes just been to the hospital this morning and get my blood results, he told me I have Graves’ disease he tested for them the last time I went to see him, I’m still on block and replace for now as it seems to be working just my tsh and t3 is borderline at the moment.

[Ginger-bread in reply to Ginger-bread]

My t4 is in normal range my tsh is low and my t3 is borderline.

[greygoose in reply to Ginger-bread]

Borderline high or borderline low? Did he test for Grave's antibodies? TRAB or TSI? If not, you do not have a reliable diagnosis.

Perhaps you could post the actual numbers - results and ranges - just saying 'normal', 'low' and 'borderline' is meaningless.

How long have you been on block and replace?

[Ginger-bread in reply to greygoose]

Yes I will post them, he tested for graves antibodies, I’ve been on block and replace since July, was only on carbimazole from starting in April which sent me underactive,

[Valarian in reply to Ginger-bread]

It would help to see:

FT3

FT4

TSH

TRAb or TSI

TPO

In each case, you need to look for the test result, plus the associated reference range, typically in brackets after the result.

Looking back, your FT4 in July was actually mid range - 14 (7-21) rather than hypo. Introducing levo as results return within range is a standard step in the 'block and replace approach'. It's quite usual with Graves' for FT3 to take longer to respond than FT3: FT4 comes within range first, then FT3, then TSH, although given the levo, I'm not sure whether TSH is likely to come back until you stop the B&R - Fruitandnutcase might be able to help, as she has been through B&R.

The problem with not testing TRAb until several months into treatment with a high dose of carbimazole is that if the treatment has been doing its job (which appears to be the case), antibodies are likely to have reduced. However, they may give some indication as to chances of remission. medscape.com/viewarticle/45...