thyroid and iron panel results

[Kari55]

hi All, I would love to hear some comments about my results please. I have been recently diagnosed with Graves’ disease.

27 December (went to the A&E with heart palpitations), no ranges provided, I have just googled what nhs ranges are. I was put on propranolol 60mg.

T4 - 19.2 (12-22)

T3 - 9.8 (3.1-6.8)

TSH 0.01

TPO - 172 (<35)

TSH receptor Ab - 2.52 (0-0.9)

Haemoglobin - 122 (120-150)

CRP - 11.5 (<5)

11 January - went back to the hospital when they confirmed Graves, they said to continue 60mg of propranolol and start 10mg Carbimazole.

T4 - 23.8 (12-22)

T3- not checked

TSH - 0.01

TSH receptor Ab - 2.7 (0-0.9)

12 February- I had full iron panel done through Medichecks

CRP 0.465 (<3)

Iron 9.9 (10-30)

TIBC 56.9 (45-81)

UIBC 47 (13-56)

Transferrin saturation - 17.3 (25-45)

Ferritin - 9.86(30-207)

22 February- went to see a private Endo and had a blood test done. I was told to come off propranolol gradually, increase Carbimazole to 20mg and NOT supplement iron for now (which is a bit of a surprise to me but perhaps it makes sense.)

T4- 24.9 (10-28.2)

T3 - 11.8 (4.3-8.1)

TSH 0.02

any tips or insights would be helpful. I’m thinking to start eating chicken liver 1x a week though a bit concerned about vitamin A intake.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Odd that endocrinologist doesn’t want you to improve iron levels

Perhaps just increase red meat a little rather than adding liver

Have you had vitamin D, folate, B12 levels tested too?

[Kari55 in reply to SlowDragon]

I haven’t had tested the vitamins tested. Endo said he doesn’t want to add more things.

Do you think I shouldn’t eat liver?

[greygoose]

Those thyroid hormone levels don't really look high enough to be Graves'. One would expect them to be much, much higher. And, funnily enough, I've just been reading an article about TSH receptor Ab, posted by the lovely DippyDame just after you post:

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/man...

The article is very boring because it's mainly statistics - not my bag! - and all new to me. But the title set me thinking - it's something to consider. And, as your TPO antibodies are so high, I would be more inclined to think you have Hashi's, rather than Graves'. We cannot take any one of these results and say 'ah-ha! that's it!' We have to take them as a whole in consideration with each other. So, it would seem that high TSH receptor antibodies do not necessarily prove Graves'. And, if you don't have Graves', I wouldn't think carbi was the right treatment. And, if it were me, I'd hold off taking it for a while and see how things progress.

[Kari55 in reply to greygoose]

Omg this made me so worried!!! Should I tell my Endo? Perhaps I need to email Elaine Moore as well. It’s never straightforward.

[greygoose in reply to Kari55]

What would you tell him? They don't take kindly to being told by patients. I doubt it he'd take it on-board. But, you could tell him that you don't want to start the carbi right now, you'd rather wait a while and see how it goes.

Or, you could print out the article and slip him a copy, saying that you'd found it very interesting and would like to know what he thinks.

Or both.

But, why would you email Elaine Moore?

[Kari55 in reply to greygoose]

I would tell him what you said and send him the article but yes I won’t go down well but I can’t just stop carbimazole without telling him . I’m already on carbimazole since 11 January and he has now increased my dose after last week’s results.

[greygoose in reply to Kari55]

Oh, sorry, I thought you hadn't started it yet. Don't know where I got that idea. I'm sure he's going to love being told what a goose said about interpreting blood test results! lol

I don't think a copy of the article itself would go amiss, though.

[Kari55 in reply to greygoose]

I know they hate being told thing by the patients but often parents do more research than they do. I will definitely challenge him.

[greygoose in reply to Kari55]

Well, that wouldn't be difficult, would it! I have the impression they don't do any research at all once they've left med school.