Sorry, me again! If I take Carbimazole long term what bloods should be monitored for good health? Thanks again!
Long term Carbimazole : Sorry, me again! If I... - Thyroid UK
Long term Carbimazole
Hey there again ;
My exprience was that I was dosed and monitored on my Free T3 and Free T4 and TSH levels.
My primary care doctor liaised with hospital endrinology and followed the hosital recommendations and I also had quarterly hospital follow ups, I think, as this was back in 2003/4 :
With hindsight I would have been requesting ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D - whether I got them or not is another matter - now I know there are private companies who we can use, i would do these myself if my request wasn't allowed through the NHS.
Hi, thanks, my GP does the same but I’ve never been seen that often and for now it’s telephone consultations. I’m going to request a copy of results so I can understand things a bit better 😊
Yes, good idea -
Get copies of the results, including the very first one, prior to taking the AT medication, so we can see how high your T3 and T4 were raised at diagnosis.
Your should also have there the medical evidence of which antibodies were over range and positive and on which your medical treatment is based.
Post the results and ranges back here in a new post and we can help explain them to you :
I will, I’m going to put a written request in today and will let you know, thanks for taking the time, this early, to reply.
How much Carbimazole are you taking daily ?
Oh I’m not a morning person! He’s restarted me on only 10mgs daily which I thought was a bit low as I was on a maintenance dose of 5 mgs and that’s another reason I want to compare blood results as they may not be as bad as when I was first diagnosed. I could really do without all of this, as I’m sure everyone else on here feels the same!
OK then- once you have the results and ranges just post on here with the dose alongside the results and we can take it from there :
The anti thyroid drug is prescribed to block your T3 and T4 rising any further and as the immune system response calms down, and your body calms down, your T3 and T4 levels should fall back down into range, and the blocking, AT medication titrated down, accordingly.
There are many people of this forum who are on AT medication long term - I just wish I knew all this back in 2003/4 when diagnosed with Graves Disease.
No I’m pleased you’ve suggested all that you’re being a great help, would be nice if GP surgeries were as helpful !
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
Down to you to keep good records of what dose Carbimazole at each test
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3
TSI or Trab antibodies for Graves’ disease
plus ideally TPO and TG thyroid antibodies test
EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Graves or Hashimoto’s
Low vitamin levels are also extremely common as we get older
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning
This gives highest TSH
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
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 also offer just vitamin testing
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...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
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...
Are you or have you tried strictly gluten free diet
Cutting gluten out helps many people with Graves or Hashimoto’s
But request coeliac blood test done FIRST
Or test yourself
lloydspharmacy.com/products...
If you test positive for coeliac, will need to remain on gluten rich diet until endoscopy (officially 6 weeks wait)
If result is negative can consider trialing strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months. Likely to see benefits. Can take many months for brain fog to lift.
If no obvious improvement, reintroduce gluten see if symptoms get worse.
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...
That’s such a lot of information and thanks I will read it carefully. I will ask about online records but have to ask ins writing for blood results etc which I’m going to do today. It’ll be a battle trying to ask for other blood tests to be taken as you suggested but I’ll certainly try! Thanks again.