Blood test results

[Shellyo]

Hi

I am a little confused and wondered if my blood test results have been a blip. I was hoping someone may be able to help.

I have been having blood tests regularly since October 2018 and have always shown a tendacy towards an over active thyroid. They now seem to be corrected themselves but have been diagnosed with Graves disease.

My March bloods:

T4-8.5

T3-16

TSH-0.02

June bloods:

T4-14.9

T3-7.1

TSH-0.01

TSH receptor antibodies-3.3 with upto 0.9 as normal range.

Now i have no results earlier than this but i do remember my T4 being 21 in January.

Do you think my body is fixing itself? If so why have i been diagnosed with Graves disease?

Thank you in advance

[ling]

Hi Shellyo, what are the ranges for your results?

[Shellyo in reply to ling]

Hi

T4 is 9-25

T3 is 3.4-7.8

Tsh above 3

Tsh receptor upto 0.9

Thank you

[ling in reply to Shellyo]

Hi Shellyo.

Just to confirm - Are you on any medication?

The Graves is likely confirmed based on the positive TraB and suppressed TSH.

Whilst I have some thoughts re your results, I should defer to the experience of our seniors here. I'm not sure whose expertise is in which area, so will just leave them a tinkle.

SeasideSusie

SlowDragon

greygoose

Thank you very much SeasideSusie, SlowDragon, greygoose.

[Shellyo in reply to ling]

Hi

Thank you for replying. No i have said no to medication until i start to feel differently. Apart from palpitations i have no symptoms.

Thanks again

[ling in reply to Shellyo]

Hi Shellyo.

Please see greygoose's reply.

Your case appears unique compared to many here, in that without medication your FT4 FT3 spontaneously normalised, though TSH is still suppressesed and TraB antibodies are relatively high.

I agree with greygoose that you should continue with close monitoring. Graves is a sneaky progressive disease. You could seem well in the early stages and then other symptoms onset.

Frankly, the danger of not being medicated in Graves, is to allow other diseases to develop like thyroid eye disease, type 1 diabetes, heart problems (of which u already experience palpitations), etc.

But the question in your case, is medicating to what end since FT3 FT4 are in range. If you go on carbimazole, will you become hypothyroid? (Though of course, you could look for a suitable low maintenance dose, which would allow you to treat the TraB antibodies)

Here is a good piece about Graves. You might find it of interest -

Graves’ Disease and the Manifestations of Thyrotoxicosis

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2...

"The disease typically begins gradually in adult women and is progressive unless treated."

"The syndrome typically includes two major categories of phenomena.

Those specific to Graves' disease, and caused by the autoimmunity per se, include the exophthalmos, thyroid enlargement and thyroid stimulation, and the dermal changes.

The second set of problems is caused by the excess thyroid hormone. This thyrotoxicosis, or hyperthyroidism, does not differ from that induced by any other cause of excess thyroid hormone."

If it's not too much hassle, perhaps you could update us on your progress. Yours is indeed a unique case and would add to the wealth of experiences on this forum.

Best wishes : )

[Shellyo in reply to ling]

Thank you very much for all your help. I am due another blood test in a weeks time so once i get the results of them i will post onto this thread. I tend to know when i am having a worse time due to the palpitations. I have been on a 24hr heart monitor due to a fast heart rate. I do not have the results of that as yet. Any updates i will post.

Thank you for all your help ☺

[ling in reply to Shellyo]

Thanks!

The palpitations sound pretty bad. Beta blockers might help if it's due to Graves.

Just one last thing. In Mar, your FT4 went under range to 8.5 so u were hypo. You might want to ask your doctor if u should have your TPO antibodies tested as well, to rule out Hashimoto's. And btw, being hypo can also cause palpitations when the heart beats too slowly.

Best wishes.

[greygoose in reply to ling]

I'm afraid I'm not an expert in Grave's, as I have Hashi's. But, I would agree that the diagnosis is based on the antibody result rather than the hormone results. I don't know if an antibody result can be a blip, but the hormone results seem good. And, if you don't have any symptoms, Shellyo, then it's just a question of keeping a close eye on your levels, as you have been doing up til now. I'm afraid I can't say any more than that. Sorry.

[ling in reply to greygoose]

Many thanks greygoose, for your input.

[greygoose in reply to ling]

You're welcome.

[ling in reply to greygoose]

Btw greygoose, when one has Hashis, is that shown through a low FT4?

[greygoose in reply to ling]

Hashi's, like Grave's, is autoimmune, so it's diagnosed with an antibody test. It's not exclusively a low FT4 but you would have a low FT4 at some point, because the thyroid is slowly destroyed with Hashi's, and you become more and more hypo.

[ling in reply to greygoose]

Thank you very much.

Shellyo's Mar FT4 was 8.5, below the range of 9-25. Would that be significant?

Thank you

[greygoose in reply to ling]

Well, it would mean she's pretty hypo, but would not tell you if she has Hashi's or not. You can be hypo for a variety of reasons.

[ling in reply to greygoose]

Thank you

[greygoose in reply to ling]

You're welcome.