increasing TRab but still in range. what this means?

[ilenuca]

graves in 2012 with trab, atpo,atg all positive, rai in 2013 then hypo. now, after 5 years of undetectable trab they appeared again at 0.45 (< / = 1 ). what can I expect in the future?

[Caesard]

Might be a good idea to take a thyroid scan. Otherwise I have no experience to share on the topic, Ive went on the surgical option.

[Valarian]

Normally, the thyroid is told to produce more hormone by TSH, a signal from the pituitary gland, which switches off when thyroid levels are sufficient.

With Graves’, the antibodies take over the role of TSH, but they don’t switch off in the same way, hence we become hyperthyroid. Note there is usually nothing wrong with the thyroid itself, the problem is what the antibodies are making it do. Graves’ is a relapsing/remitting disease, meaning that it comes and goes. It can’t be cured, but antithyroid treatment can push it into remission, sometimes permanently.

RAI reduces/ destroys the thyroid, giving the antibodies less scope to affect the body. However, if you have any thyroid left, increased antibodies may make it more difficult to consistently predict levo requirements. Even if there is little or no thyroid remaining, they may lead to Thyroid Eye Disease (were you ever diagnosed with this ?), so it’s important to tell your endo if you have any pain or grittiness in your eyes, any blurred vision or changed colour vision. If you have a routine eye test, it would be worth mentioning to the optician that you’ve had Graves’.

It’s good that you are being monitored. Is this being done by your GP or endo ? Have you asked them what they make of this increase ?

..but as you say, the test was still below range, and the antibodies may have gone by the time of your next test