Good day, in August tsh was 0.01(0.27_4.2)T4 31(9-19)
T3 24(2-5.3)
Now recent result
tsh 14(0.27-4.2)
T4 7 (9-19)
T3 5
Folate 33.2 b12 260 taken in end of September this ones and I don't have their ranges...endo says I should continue with Carbimazole 10mg a day from 20mg and I have been out of breath for over a month now..please help and they did test tshr =6
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Sean23
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The TSH is really quite high, FT4 under range, - FT3 i(f same range) is higher in range. So doctors might be waiting for this to be lower also, but you’ll likely feel unwell keeping FT4 under range longer.
Hopefully FT3 will balance out but If FT3 rises again it may be the case that the FT3 is dominant & FT4 will always be too low before it get into range. That needs to be treated with “block & replace” high carbimazole dose to block all function replace with Levothyroxine to restore the thyroid levels.
TSHR or TRab usually has a very low range eg 1. So if range similar you have positive Trab & confirmation of Graves.
Has ferritin been tested? this often causes breathlessness. Vitamin D should also be tested. Might be worth arranging private test for nutrients.
You were started of 40mg, did you have a test before reducing to 20mg? What were results like then? 6 weekly tested until stable very important.
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue separate B12
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months.
once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
Ferritin at 386 looks good still
Range for males is typically 30-400
Ferritin is frequently high when hyperthyroid and low when hypothyroid
September
T4 was 12
Ft3 was 5
tsh 0.01
Obviously need the ranges on Ft4 and Ft3…..but Ft4 looks low.
TSH frequently very slow to drop …..but TSH certainly moved now as it’s shot up to 14
Do you have your antibody test blood test back from 2 months ago and now have the medical evidence of which antibodies were over range and positive at diagnosis?
anyway the antibodies should be run from the that first blood test and the medical proof and evidence of what you are dealing with and what medication should be prescribed.
I’m not sure why your doctor now decided you need replacement.
It’s true, usually someone with a TSH over 10 does need replacement but you have been on an antithyroid, - stopping that 1st & retesting is usually next step.
Stopping too early isn’t helpful, as starting & stopping carbimazole can have risks which staying on low dose continuously doesn’t.
Normal starting dose is 50mcg. So stopping carbimazole AND start 100mcg is a massive jump.
Are you sure Doctor didn’t mean take both?
I’m concerned the sudden upward fluctuation is not only going to be too much & cause hyper type symptoms but start off over production too.
Can you speak to doctor again and ask why such a change?
In September your FT4 was low & FT3 high there too. They may be to used to seeing a low TSH. but as TSH has shot up decided to reverse treatment.
The TSH is high & because the FT4 is low, but taking a replacement may cause your FT3 which is already quite high to surge above range again.
High ferritin can be sign of inflammation. Have you had CRP checked? This is quite likely high with Graves.
When I was first diagonosed I was told that I had hyperthyroidism then he did a tshr test that came back with 6(don't know the range) he said it is graves ..Then he said he also tested for hashimoto and it came back negative... So I was started on 40mg carbimazole then in September got reduced to 20 because test results were T4 (9-19) T3 was 5 (2-5.3) tsh was still 0.01
you’d need a high carbimazole dose over 30mg for block level. & likely higher Levo too.
Its better to discuss and agree approach with Doctor. If you have unusual results next time -after doing your own thing- doctor will be concerned about how to treat in future & this could cause greater issues.
Including in some situations where doctor “labels” you as -non compliant- & discharges you.
Call and ask of you can discuss further as you had time to think about it & your not sure the suggested treatment right.
Point out positive trab, Grave ps diagnosis- negative TPO & TG (as Hashimoto’s negative) FT3 still high. Ask if you can stop carbimazole 1st & re test in 4 weeks. That might be a better compromise.
You need to obtain all your results & ranges as at present you are trusting that doctors have tested antibodies & interpreted correctly. you need to view & check.
Please get a copy of your what you have been diagnosed with and the medical evidence of which antibody was over range and positive at diagnosis and why you were put on Carbimazole.
I don't know what 6 refers to - could that tshr be a TRab ?
The antibodies for Graves Disease are generally expressed as either a TR ab - a thyroid receptor blocking antibody or a TSI - a thyroid stimulating antibody - and there will be a number ' scored ' shown against another number :
Both Graves and Hashimoto's can start off the same way and why it's imperative that that confirmation is from antibodies found positive at diagnosis - as they are not treated the same way - Graves = Carbimazole ; Hashimoto's eventually = T4 :
Graves is considered life threatening if not treated and the treatment is with AT drugs like Carbimazole for around 15-18 months.
If your immune system has been triggered by Graves this buys you time to allow the immune system to calm down and stopping treatment with an AT drug too early is not recommended and as detailed in my first post to you, the longer oe stays on the AT drug the better the outcome for the patient.
The antibodies for Hashimoto's are generally expressed as either a TPO and or a TgAB - and there will be number and a range :
Hashimoto's is not treated with AT drugs :
Some people have Graves and Hashimoto's running in tandem - please get details and proof of diagnosis.
It is very confusing and when unwell everything and anything is too much - surely you have copies of your results detailing some details of antibodies found at diagnosis ?
This would seem to mean that whatever antibodies were found over range and positive were not the sort that required an anti thyroid drug to be prescribed.
You really to know what you are being treated for and be given formal evidence of diagosis.
Sean23 has a TRab result .. it's been written as TSHR which is just another way of writing TRab (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor antibodies ).. and 6 would definitely be positive by most ranges i've seen . (TRab ranges are often around <1 ish )
Oh, sorry , my laptop went down Friday and I was just in catchup last night and replying to where I was and didn't read on and follow through additional information.
Good day again, endo wanted to put on 100 eltroxin as I said before and he arranged for a nuclear scan for me which revealed I have hashimoto thyroiditis and after a week I asked him to check my bloods again and he only checked the tsh which is now 7 from 14 and I haven't been taking any eltroxin but now he wants to me on it again
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