T4 level rise

[Blackberrymoo]

Hi, does anyone have an idea of why T4 levels can rise? My t4 was 13.8 and 4 weeks later 48.2, I’ve not changed a thing! Not taken anything new, had no stress or illness this month, it’s been a pretty quiet one! If it’s not a lab error could it be due to another autoimmune disease that I don’t know of? Thanks xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous post shows you have Graves’ disease, autoimmune hyperthyroidism

What has GP prescribed

You need vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels tested too

[Blackberrymoo in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, yes sorry forgot to mention that!

I was on 10mg carb as t4 was 13.8 now been told to go back to 20mg a day. I haven’t had any results back from the hospital from the other tests they did just a letter saying it’s gone up to the 48.2. X

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Blackberrymoo]

If symptoms don’t match results request a retest

[pennyannie]

Hello Blackberrymoo:

You had a positive Graves Thyroid Rceptor antibody reading - TRab - and dealing with a poorly understood and badly treated auto immune disease.

TRab antibodies are circulating in your blood and have ' stuck and sat on ' TSH receptor sites driving down the TSH which in turn then drives up own thyroid production causing your over production of T3/ T4 thyroid hormones.

Something has triggered your immune system to turn and attack your body rather than defend it and Graves is generally diagnosed when your immune system attacks the thyroid because the thyroid is a major gland and resposible for full body synchronisation and your metabolism.

There is no cure for Graves Disease and it is considered life threatening if not medicated -

an Anti Thyroid drug is prescribed - Carbimazole or Propylthiouracil ( PTU ) to semi -block your own new daily production of T4 so to try and control excess T3/T4 levels and once on the right dose of AT drug your T3 and T4 should fall back down into the ranges and hopefully your symptoms alleviated.

During this first phase of Graves it can be a guess estimate as to what dose of AT drug one needs to semi-block own production of T4 and then once your immune system starts calming own - the AT drug is titrated down so your T3 and T4 do not fall too far through the ranges causing you to suffer the equally disabling symptoms of hypothyroidism.

So it's a bit like being put in a holding position - while we wait for your immune system response to calm down - rather like an aeroplane on automatc pilot waiting to land.

For the things Graves Disease and Auto Immune - elaine-moore.com