I got called into the doctors on Monday to discuss my latest bloods & my continued weight loss, I had already discussed my thyroid bloods with the endocrine nurse so was not really sure what is was about. My GP said that I had tested positive for ANA & connective tissue disease, she said she had no idea why these tests had been requested, I had no idea what these tests meant, she said the positive results could be due to the graves or could be another autoimmune disease, she had sent a letter to rheumatology to ask for advice, has anyone else on here with graves had experience of this.
My thyroid bloods had got worse this time so my Carbimazole has been upped to 20mg. My bloods are always taken before 8.30am. My weight is now 47.2kg. Heart rate still very high, sleep is still pretty rubbish, anxiety is still bad & my emotions are really up & down.
2nd April 2024 (Carbimazole upped to 20mg)
TSH 0.008 (0.33-4.94)
T3 7.7 (2.5-6)
T4 18.3 (9.0-19.0)
27th Feb 2024 (Carbimazole upped to 15mg) ranges as above.
TSH 0.022
T3 5.5
T4 11.9
25th Jan 2024
TSH 0.08
T3 was not tested
T4 19.6
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Mah43
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ANA is marker for a number of autoimmune conditions, not a specific diagnosis. Rheumatology may do more test & will likely look for diagnosis & treat separately to Graves’.
It’s not uncommon for different Autoimmune conditions to develop. Positive ANA antibodies doesn’t always means you will be affected with symptoms. It may be something which doesn’t develop or false positive - “Some drugs and infections as well as other conditions can give a false positive result for the ANA test”
This site is good to explain about tests & what they may mean.
Your Graves’ was confirmed with positive TRab? Have you been referred to an endocrinologist?
Your FT4 & FT3 are still high. Doctors often start on a higher dose then reduce once levels are in range. Bringing levels down quickly & altering doses can sometimes cause symptoms too, so the steady increase might not be what every doctor would do but you are heading in right direction with FT4 & FT3 coming into range.
Propranolol can help with fast heart rate. Has doctors suggested this? this can’t be prescribed for asthmatics. Must also be reduced slowly when stopping.
Hi PurpleNails, thank you for the response. Graves was confirmed by TRAb after I seen the Endo in January, my GP requested the test back in Oct the lab refused to do it, once I’d seen the Endo on 8th Jan it was approved & the test was carried out that day along my thyroid bloods. I wasn’t impressed with the Endo, the appointment was very rushed, he put a sheet of paper on my hands & said yes you have a tremor, felt my pulse & that was about it, I felt like he didn’t really care & just wanted to get me out of there, he came across as rather cocky showing off in front of some medical students, he gave me a leaflet about radio iodine & said you will probably need that, The results for those tests aren’t in my app but at my follow up with the Endo nurse she said it was high 157 (I don’t know the range). I spoke to my GP on Monday about all blood tests not being visible in my app, she said it’s to to with the hospital system, I had some vitamin tests with my last thyroid bloods but I can’t see those either, the Endo nurse said in my latest follow up on 5th April that they was in the middle of the range, I know I need these results to get further advice. At the moment I’m having thyroid blood tests every four weeks, my next ones are due on 30th April so hopefully there will be some improvement now they’ve put me on a higher dose. I do have propranolol, they make my feel very lightheaded so I have only taken them on a couple of occasions.
I googled the connective tissue disease & ANA but it’s a total minefield 😟
I feel for you and relate to your symptoms. I am struggling with hyperthyroidism at the moment and my sleep is horrendous. It makes me feel very unhinged! All the best and I do hope things improve for you soon.
The insomnia is horrendous, it just makes everything else seem so much worse, I only slept a couple of hours last night which has made me feel awful all day. The symptoms sometimes feel endless. I tried to explain to my endocrine nurse how I feel on edge the majority of the time, the only way I could describe it to her is it’s that feeling when you’re driving along & have to slam the brakes on and you get that feeling in you’re stomach, she said it is normal & it will take time for the meds to stabilise everything.
I’ve been on Carbimazole since 8th January, & I’m still struggling. I’d been poorly for months before I managed to see the Endo & the graves diagnosis, the labs kept refusing my GP’s requests for the graves antibody tests, if feels like everything has been really dragged out. I’m having my bloods tested every four weeks at the moment. My GP did prescribe me diazepam to take the edge off, I only take one before bed maybe twice a week so I can get a decent night sleep when things catch up with me, I’m usually asleep within 20 mins of taking it.
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