Help with Graves Test

[HarrietJW]

After getting blood work back that showed hyperthyroidism, my partner took a 'Graves Disease' test. The results have come back as follows and we are unsure what they mean, the dr's comments are non conclusive and focus on stress reduction. Thanks

TSH RECEPTOR ANTIBODIES

16.9

< 1.75 R

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

HarrietJW

They are over 1.75 so that is a positive result.

A result less than 1.75 would be a negative result.

[HarrietJW in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks does this mean she had Graves?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to HarrietJW]

Yes. Postive antibodies = Graves.

[pennyannie in reply to HarrietJW]

Hey there again,

For background reading, apart from this amazing platform, it is very worth while dipping into the Elaine Moore Graves Disease Foundation website.

Elaine has Graves and went through RAI thyroid ablation in the late 1990's and finding no help with her continued symptoms started researching Graves herself. She was a medical technician by profession and her efforts culminated in a book - Graves Disease - a Practical Guide :

There are now several books and a very well researched and respected website, open to everybody who is, or has an interest, or a loved one, dealing with this poorly understood and badly treated autoimmune disease.

It is Stateside so possibly with some different medical terminology but well worth looking at as it also includes other options not necessarily considered by the mainstream medical profession and sections on holistic and alternative options which I read do work for some people.

I'm with Graves diagnosed in 2003 and had RAI in 2005 - a treatment I deeply regret, as I was well on the anti thyroid medications and wasn't given any treatment option.

I now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism and now self medicating with NDT as I was unable to access either NDT nor T3 on the NHS.

[HarrietJW in reply to pennyannie]

Thankyou, that’s really helpful, we’ll look into this

[pennyannie in reply to HarrietJW]

Ok then - you might also like to dig up the following article written by Professor Toft the eminent endocrinologist in his retirement year from the NHS and considering he was involved in the making of the following even more relevant :-

Thyroid Hormone Replacement - A Counterblast To Guidelines : 2017 : it is on this website in full to download, but I'm not a cut and paste person unless it's scissors and glue!!!

The whole article is relevant to all of us and on the 3rd 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 iodone1-31 or surgery in patients with Graves disease irrespective of age or number of recurrences of hyperthyroidism. "

I think this says it all - please do thorough research but fully understand that the symptoms of Graves can make a smallest task feel like Mount Everest and conversely you might be going in overdrive completing tasks and jobs with no recall of even having done them.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post re partners results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

It is possible (but rarer) to have Hashimoto’s and Graves disease together at the same time ...obviously more tricky to manage and always done by an endocrinologist

She definitely has Graves’ disease as confirmed by high antibodies

Will need to see endocrinologist for treatment

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists