Question about Graves Antibodies Test

Thanks to everyone who gave help and advice on my previous thread.

I have now managed to get my surgery to agree to doing the blood draw for a Medichecks test, thanks to a couple of lovely receptionists who overruled Dr "what would you do with the information, anyway".

Before ordering the TSH Receptor Stimulating Antibodies test I just want to check something I'm wondering about.

My levels are now below range (FT4) and just within the bottom of the range (FT3) - does this mean that any TRAb I may have had when I was hyper will have decreased/disappeared? Am I risking paying for a test that will almost certainly come back negative?

As always, thanks in advance

[elderflower2016]

No, it would still be useful to have the test since you have never had it before. The antibodies will not disappear that quickly if you had them in the first place. Your thyroid hormones are low because you were on a higher dose of carbimazole than needed (and your dr has now reduced it which is good); it does not mean that your antibodies have disappeared. They may have reduced but it would be good to know what they are.

[ling]

How fast TraB levels come down varies from person to person. It is a sign of disease activity, hence it is worth testing as u go along your treatment.

I had a very high TraB level when first diagnosed. It was only after about 2.5 years on carbimazole that it started to slowly come down. In my case, I think that was because I had Graves for quite a few years before it was diagnosed, so the disease was pretty entrenched in my system.

Have a look at this link. It contains helpful information about TraB, which might help guide your treatment-

karger.com/article/fulltext...

2018 European Thyroid Association Guideline for the Management of Graves’ Hyperthyroidism

Take care and all the best : )

[Hidden in reply to ling]

Thanks both of you for the replies, unfortunately, as I half-expected, I've just received a call from the surgery telling me that they "can't" do the blood draw after all.

It was an expensive test to start with and I would have struggled to find the money, but the additional £25 for a blood draw means there is no way I can do this now.

Sad and angry.

[ling in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear that : (

The expensive test for me is FT3. About $55

[vocalEK]

Maybe this will help? European Thyroid Association guidelines for management of hyperthyroidism. karger.com/article/fulltext...

[Hidden]

Thanks, you'd think so, wouldn't you?

I actually referred my GP to this and was told that they "don't follow European guidelines".

So, if (as I hope it does) Brexit goes tits up, maybe the leavers can take a little consolation from the fact that, in a medium-sized GP practice in the Midlands, at least, they have "their country back".