Graves' Disease Support Group

Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...

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Elevated update with normal blood values?

redpanda
redpanda
I've been in remission for my Graves for over 5 years. Starting last fall, I started feeling worse and worse - trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, a tremor. In short - all the symptoms my Graves was back. However, repeated blood tests of free T3, T4, TSH and others were all normal. I hit a real low a few weeks ago and my doctor finally sent me for a Thyroid Uptake Scan which came back at 75% uptake (normal is < 30%), so now I'm back on methimazole and slowly starting to feel better.

Has anyone else ever had normal blood values but be symptomatic? Or had high uptake with normal blood values? I'm just wondering how we can monitor my thyroid in the future if the blood values don't tell us the right information.

Thanks,
Heidi
redpanda
redpanda
Elevated UPTAKE not update!
mmztcass
mmztcass
Hi:

I am sorry your symptoms came back.

The RAIU is an outdated test and is more useful in finding out about the types of nodules. Instead getting the thyroid antibodies tests for the Graves' Disease would be checking the TSI and the TRAb.

I would check for any dietary and environmental triggers. Also check what household and personal products are used to rule out the cause of the symptoms.

I had to go organic and non-GMO in order to avoid the triggers in everything that was setting my symptoms off. Or what made the Free Ts rise. Once I did this or did much more to heal, I was able to take only 1.25 mg per day of the MMI and not take the usual typical amount such as 3.75 mg as I did in the past.

This link would help you understand about the triggers:

http://www.livingwithgravesdisease.com/forums/forum/2-thyroid-101/

{{{hugs}}}
dsgreen5
dsgreen5
Hello, I would also question what is &quot;normal&quot;. Could you post your lab results? Normal in the medical world, is not necessarily &quot;normal&quot; in our world. I have learned to listen to my body, to know when my numbers are shifting. One of first signs is hot flashes (with intermittent itching) and foggy thinking.

Glad you are feeling better.