Hi, I had blood tests done a few weeks ago and came back borderline hyperthyroidism, I’m wondering how quickly they can go back to normal? I have another blood test next week as the doctor said they can give false readings and I’ve not been given any meds.
I have loads of symptoms that coincide with graves, but I’m now doubting myself. Thanks x
I’d say on the current evidence, it’s more likely it’ll turn out to be an autoimmune thyroid disease known as Hashimoto’s. Your levels are out of range but not so much so that it looks especially likely to be Graves.
Of course, the blood test could have caught things in the very early stages of Graves but at the moment, it’s leaning towards Hashimoto’s because you have positive TPO antibodies.
To be sure it isn’t Graves, your doctor needs to do additional tests that they don’t seem to have done yet. In particular, they should test your TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) levels—that’s the “gold standard” for diagnosing Graves.
If it is Hashimoto’s you’ll go through periods of being hyperthyroid AND periods of hypothyroidism.
Thank you, but can they go back down to normal before hand??? My tsh has always been on the low end and t3/t4 at the high end but always in range. I’ve had hair loss/intolerance to heat/fatigue and trouble sleeping for about 20 years. It’s the last year/few months that I’ve lost weight, lightheadedness, palpitations. So my thinking is could it be something else and the results are just a fluke? X
The thyroid hormone levels (fT4 and fT3) you have there are only slightly over range , but high enough to cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism .... but not all hyperthyroidism is caused by Graves.
Graves will often have fT4 and fT3 levels that are 3 or 4 times the top of the range ...the levels you have are more like the ones seen in an early stage of autoimmune hypothyroidism .
The over range Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies (TPOab) in your results are found in both Graves and in Autoimmune Hypothyroidism.
To know if it is Graves your Doctor would need to get Endocrinology to test different antibodies called:
Autoimmune Hypothyroidism can often start with a period of relatively mild High T4 and T3 levels and symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which then slowly progresses to hypothyroidism..... but the cause of the mildly high T4/T3 levels in this scenario is different from Graves.
In Graves , the high T4/T3 is caused by TRab antibodies which stimulate the thyroid to continuously make too much T4 / T3... the T4/T3 levels stay high for as long as the TRab antibodies are high ... and the treatment is to give antithyroid drugs to stop the thyroid being able to make so much T4/T3, until (hopefully) the levels of antibodies go down (remission) and then the antithyroid drugs can be stopped.
But in early hypothyroidism , the high T4/T3 levels happen because the thyroid is being damaged by the immune system and as a result it spills some of it's ready made T4/T3 into the bloodstream.. (a bit like water coming out of a sponge if you punch it ).. these high T4/T3 levels go down by themselves over a few weeks / months as they get used up , and antithyroid drugs aren't usually used in this case , because they won't have any effect on lowering these levels .. (because they have already been made... antithyroid drugs stop the production of thyroid hormone but they don't do anything to get rid of it once it's already in the blood )
i think i've probably given you too much info there and not answered your question... sorry lol.
But "what will happen next ?and how long will it take ? " is a 'how long is a piece of string' kinda question .
The answer depends on what is causing your high T4/T3 levels ...... which we don't know yet.
Thanks for the reply, but can the levels go back to normal quickly??? Like is it just a fluke that they were high this test? And when I have another test next week they will be back in normal range?? I’ve had symptoms for years, it’s only within the last year things have got worse, my previous tests over the years have all been with in range. And with the doctor saying they can give false readings is making me worry it’s something else instead xxxx
I think your Doctor is being sensible to retest as treating with anti thyroid medication at this stage could cause confusion. The symptoms of hyper and hypo can be the same and as your levels aren’t out by too much could indicate a recent autoimmune attack on your thyroid. It’s best to see where your levels are now before jumping to conclusions that you need AT meds. Don’t worry, I don’t think waiting 6 weeks after your initial test is going to kill you and starting on the wrong type of medication will not help.
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