TrAB results - large drop

[TennisUK]

I've just received my Thyroid results from Medichecks.

Now in June 2019 my TrAB was 411 Range is <115

In January 2020 my TrAB was 409

Now in July 2020 my TrAB is 70.1

The doctor wrote "I am pleased to report that all your results for your thyroid profile are within the normal ranges. Your thyroid hormones are normal as are your thyroid antibodies revealing no evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease"

Obviously I am super happy BUT I don't want to get my hopes up as I've had Graves for 5 years. I am also on a low dose of Carbimazole of 1.25 mgs each day. (I cut a 5mg tablet into 4)

Is the large drop in TrAB possible?

[pennyannie]

Hello Tennis

I don't know the answer to your question but just wanted to say, well done.

If you don't know of Elaine Moore I think you might like to dip into her very well respected and researched website designated to all Graves people world wide.

Elaine has Graves, and went through RAI treatment in the late 1990's and finding no help with her continued symptoms decided to research this auto immune disease for herself.

She was a medical technician so started by writing a book on her findings, to help other people who might be in a similar situation to herself. Elaine now devotes her life to writing and researching and takes an active part in her Stateside website, and answers peoples questions both on the open forum and privately.

There are many sections within the website and she writes on holistic, alternative, and other than necessarily the mainstream medical treatment options for Graves Disease, which does tend to be a poorly understood and badly treated auto immune disease by the majority of the medical establishment.

I'm with Graves and had RAI treatment in 2005 and became extremely unwell some 8 years later and then I started my own research and learnt of my situation back to front. I deeply regret the RAI treatment and now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism and am having to buy my own thyroid hormone replacement as the NHS routinely just prescribe T4 - Levothyroxine and I need full thyroid replacement and the NHS is not prepared to support me in recovering my health.

[TennisUK in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks. Yes I have followed Elaine Moore's website as she gives very good advice.

I have actually checked out a lot of different sites / books which can be confusing as there are differences between them. As you know yourself it is a journey and we are constantly learning.

[pennyannie in reply to TennisUK]

Hey there again Tennis

Glad to read, you are reading around, and yes, there are several viewpoints, but you have at least had time on your side and not pushed into treatment without proper advice or understanding of this auto immune disease.

There is a very interesting article written by the esteemed endocrinologist Professor A Toft, in his final year as he retired from the NHS. It is on this website somewhere but I'm sorry cut and paste eludes me :-

Entitled : - Thyroid Hormone Replacement - A Counterblast to Guidelines and was in the December 2017 edition of The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh - and on the third and final page he writes :-

" I am so concerned about the state of advice on the management of primary hypothyroidism that I am increasingly reluctant to suggest ablative therapy with iodine 1-31 or surgery in patients with Graves disease irrespective of age or number of recurrences of hyperthyroidism. "

The whole article is very interesting and so relevant as it is where we all find ourselves within the current NHS guidelines that are not fit for purpose if you, as a patient, are expecting better health and care when living with or without a thyroid in the uk in 2020.

[TennisUK in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks again Penny and reaffirms what I believe.

[jimh111]

Looks like it is so eje.bioscientifica.com/view... . I haven't read this study.

[TennisUK in reply to jimh111]

Thanks, some interesting info on there and a good positive graph to show medication can work for some.

[Valarian]

It seems a bit fast, but this article found TRAb reduced in a group of patients on anti thyroids from active disease levels to nothing in around a year, so it could be possible. eje.bioscientifica.com/view....

So sounds like good news, for now at least, which is the best anyone in remission can hope for.

I’m impressed with your tablet cutting skills, bet you couldn’t have done that when your Graves’ was active !

[TennisUK]

Thanks and encouraging info on the site.

My tablet cutting skills have improved but it hasn't been helped by the fact that the 5mg Carbimazole tablets have reduced in size!

If I am indeed in remission, the next challenge is to maintain it.