graves

[moomoo12345]

Hi all I have just been diagnosed with graves , omg what a name, is it me or what, as soon I was diagnosed I instantly started having every symptom imaginable not feeling great at all .

[shaws Administrator]

Try not to worry as it has probably shocked you as the majority on this forum have different autoimmune conditions.

This is a link that may be helpful and those members who have the same condition will respond and reassure you.

nhs.uk/conditions/overactiv...

[moomoo12345 in reply to shaws]

thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hi moomoo12345 and welcome to the forum.

GP diagnosis or endo? How were you diagnosed?

Have Graves antibodies been tested and found to be positive - that's the only way to confirm Graves. They are

TSI = Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin antibodies

TRAb = TSH receptor antibodies

[moomoo12345 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi yes GP sent me for bloods and hospital confirmed graves currentlo on 25mg of carbimazole and 10mg og propranolol 3 times a day

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to moomoo12345]

I would ask for a printed copy of the results (we are legally entitled to them here in the uk) and see which antibodies have been tested. We have quite frequent misdiagnosis of Graves here.

[moomoo12345 in reply to SeasideSusie]

ohm right , I don't think that's the case though , I have the majority of symptoms but thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to moomoo12345]

It's just that Hashimoto's is often mistaken for Graves in the early stages, Hashi's often starts with a hyper episode and gets mistaken for Graves. This is why it's important that Graves antibodies are tested and confirmed.

[moomoo12345 in reply to SeasideSusie]

thank you

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to moomoo12345]

I had the majority of Graves symptoms too (fast heart rate, weight, loss, tremor, palpitations plus eye pain) but following advice here to check antibodies,…I actually have Hashiimotos (and Thyroid Eye Disease). I’m so thankful to members for encouraging me to test antibodies and post results on the forum. Very best wishes moomoo12345

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also very important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

Both Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease frequently result in low vitamin levels

[Beautifuldreamer in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi there can you help with private companies who do these tests ?Many thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Beautifuldreamer]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

When on T3, day before test, split dose into three smaller doses roughly equal 8 hour intervals. Taking last 1/3 daily dose T3 at roughly 8-12 hours before test

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too with Hashimoto’s or Graves

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

moomoo12345

Link about Graves’ disease

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

Graves Disease antibodies test

medichecks.com/products/tsh...

Good info on Graves’ disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Beautifuldreamer in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks

[NIKEGIRL]

Hi. Just to say Hi. I’m a Graves patient as well. R it coping ok with the drugs and psychologically as well as physically? Do get your blood results, always. You can graph your progress if that interests you