Overactive thyroid help

[AliciaH2018]

Hello I was looking for some advice please... I had my bloods back last week and my GP said my levels of T3 were 17 and T4 were 38, she said she was going to refer me but not much else. Is this considered to be a high level? What are likely to be the next steps? What is the typical treatment? Or there anything I can do do help? There is so much info on the internet, I was just hoping for some pointers. Any help would be fantastic. Thank you. Alicia 😊

[greygoose]

You haven't given ranges - which is essential for an informed interpretation - but going by my experience, those level are high, but not Grave's high. More like Hashi's high. So, the most important next step is to get your antibodies tested.

TRAB or TSI for Grave's.

TPO and Tg for Hashi's - or autoimmune thyroiditis, as it's known in the UK.

If you have Hashi's, there's no treatment, the levels will come down by themselves eventually, and, as your thyroid is slowly destroyed, you will become hypo, and it's the lack of thyroid hormone that is treated.

If it's Grave's, you will be given anti-thyroid treatment. But, you must insist on antibody results before accepting any treatment.

I'm impressed by your GP not rushing into anti-thyroid treatment, but referring you to an endo first! That's the way it should be done.

[AliciaH2018 in reply to greygoose]

Also what is the relevance of the antibody result? Thanks again.

[greygoose in reply to AliciaH2018]

It is the proof that you have either Hashi's or Grave's, or neither. Well, it's a bit more complicated than that, but let's just say if you have Grave's, your antibodies will be high. If they're not high, you don't have Grave's, and should not be treated for Grave's.

[AliciaH2018]

Ohhhh I think T3 was 3-9 and T4 was 9-16. To be honest she didn't say much as I was her last appointment of the day. She told me to Google it, not very helpful. She mentioned Graves disease but not much else. Thank you though.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to AliciaH2018]

If you are in the U.K. You may have a long wait to see an endocrinologist

First thing is to get actual printed copies of test results and ranges.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

You need most recent results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus have you also had thyroid antibodies tested

As greygoose says it's very important they test all Thyroid antibodies

TSI or TRab for Graves

TPO and TG antibodies for Hashimoto's (and Graves)

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Also very helpful if vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 have been tested. Add results and ranges if you have them

What are your main symptoms?

Come back with new post once you get results

[AliciaH2018 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for that explanation. I will request the results. My symptoms are as follows:

Anxiety

Weight loss

Nervous restlessness

Can't sleep

Legs or arms constantly mobi g or twitching

Nausea

Dizziness

Exhausted, even after doing nothing

Diorreha sometimes constipation

Mood swings

Lack of concentration and sometimes confusion

Get ill frequently

Itchy/tingly hands and feet

Hair loss

Always thirsty

Thanks

Alicia

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to AliciaH2018]

Symptoms of Hashimoto's (hypo) and Graves (hyper) can be very similar

Exhaustion and anxiety is common to both

Inability to sleep, can be low vitamin D, low FT3 or high FT3

Tingling hands and feet and dizziness can be low B12

Restless legs, often low magnesium

Hair loss - low iron or ferritin. Suggests possibly more likely Hashimoto's

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Understanding Hashimoto's

hashimotoshealing.com/under...

Both Hashimoto's and Graves can be linked to gluten intolerance

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

GP can and should test TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. They may not be able to test TSI or TRab, usually has to be done by endocrinologist

GP can and should test vitamin D, folate, ferritin, iron, magnesium and B12

[AliciaH2018 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello

I got my results back. Would you mind if I sent them you in a message?

Thanks

Alicia

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to AliciaH2018]

Suggest you put results on new post tomorrow

Then more members can comment

[AliciaH2018 in reply to SlowDragon]

I did that earlier today. Thanks though

[MissGrace in reply to AliciaH2018]

She told you to Google it? I’m not sure whether to be really angry that a medical professional took so little interest in explaining what was happening to you that they outrageously suggested this!

Alternatively, I don’t know whether to celebrate the fact that they acknowledged that where the thyroid is concerned, you are better off on sites like this found through Google rather than being led astray by the ignorance of some GPs and endos!

🤸🏿‍♀️

[AliciaH2018 in reply to MissGrace]

Hi Grace

Beautiful dog in the photo!

Thanks for your comment. I'm actually happy that someone looked into it to be honest. I went to the gp 12 months ago with the same symptoms and they took my temperature and said I had a virus.

I just find google can throw up so much, I was just looking for some pointers.

Turns out the GP didn't refer me to.the right place so I'm waiting on an appointment. Fingers crossed it's soon.

Thank you.

Alicia 😊

[greygoose in reply to AliciaH2018]

Ranges vary from lab to lab, and we have to have the range used by the lab that did your blood analysis. Just goes to show how much she knows about anything!

[AliciaH2018 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. I will call the gp tomorrow and ask.

Alicia 😊

[greygoose in reply to AliciaH2018]

You're welcome.

[Valarian in reply to AliciaH2018]

You need to confirm the ranges (just ask your GP surgery for a copy of the results) but at around double the reference range, these could indicate Graves’.

Positive TRAb or TSI antibodies will confirm Graves’. Unfortunately, antibodies can fluctuate with or without treatment, so if your antibodies aren’t high, it doesn’t necessarily rule Graves’ out, but it does mean further investigation is required to determine the cause of the overactive thyroid.

This explains a bit more about being hyperthyroid:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

And this links to the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries on being hyperthyroid. They aren’t mandatory, but if you don’t appear to be getting the suggested treatment, it’s something you can discuss with your GP/endo.

cks.nice.org.uk/hyperthyroi...