Graves

[kelissaeh]

I did a blood test for my thyroid and it came back normal. then I was given to do an ultrasound and it came back back that I have grave disease. I am currently on Carbimazole but that doesnt work now I am being referred to an endcro. can some please tell me if this is normal. Cause i have all the symptoms and some that is now new to me.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

As this is a duplicate post I have deleted the other one.

[Lora7again]

I thought it was a blood test that could tell you if you have Graves' not a ultrasound. What exactly did your doctor say?

[Valarian in reply to Lora7again]

TRAb or TSI (plus the usual FT3, FT4, TSH) - but these can fluctuate and apparently it is possible for Graves' patients to have a negative antibody test.

NICE guidelines suggest further testing if antibody tests are nagative, but I think there are various diferent forms of this.

You may find this of interest onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Was an ultra sound undertaken as you have breathing, swallowing or voice issues? They are not routinely done even when thyroid issues are detected.

An ultrasound looks at the health & size of the thyroid and will detect any nodules which are very common, even in those without thyroid disfunction. It can indicate if you might have thyroiditis or Graves but not conclusively. For that you must have antibody testing.

GPs do not always do a full thyroid function. Do you have access to your blood test results or can you obtain an actual print out of results. You need your results with ranges. Then post on here. TSH, FT4 and FT3 should have been tested and you need to see which antibodies have been included.

Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) and TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) are associated with Graves (constant hyperthyroid). There is also Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) and Thyroglobulin (Tg) which are positive in autoimmune (thyroiditis/Hashimotos & graves). (Thyroiditis ultimately causes hypothyroidism but can begin with transient hyperthyroidism)

Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. These need to be optimal for thyroid health.

How long have you been taking carbimazole and at what dose? It requires finding the right level of medication and taking it consistently for some weeks for full improvement.

[Valarian]

It depends which blood tests you have had.

If your thyroid is hyperactive, they usuall begin by testing TSH, FT3 and FT4. If TSH is suppressed and FT3 and FT4 elevated, you should then have an antibody tests for Graves' - TSI or TRAb. If this is negative further tests, which may include ultrasound, may be ordered to help identify the cause of your hyperthyroidism. Normally, if you have Graves' this will be picked up by positive antibdoes, but the test can sometimes be negative.

Do you have any test results/associated ranges you can share - that may make it easier to work out what is happening. Alsom how much carbimazole have you been taking, and for how long ?

Are you in the UK ?