I would get the TSI and the TRAb antibodies tests to see where you are at.

Many of us feels our best with our Free T3 and Free T4 in the mid to the upper third range. You would need to figure out where you feel your best there at.

Watch out for any known triggers that can set off thyroid symptoms. These include MSG, artificial sweeteners, excess Iodine, etc.

I moderate at another board and you can find such lists on how to be proactive and work with better thyroid health at:

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

Acetyl L-Carnitine is used to keep the GD symptoms down and such. When I have taken it before, I'd get the powder kind and put a bit in small amounts of juice. Also can try Lemon Balm and Bugleweed.

Elaine Moore at: elaine-moore.com
is another one to research articles and also ask her any Qs at her forum that only she answers.

I take a very wee amount of the MMI now (1.25 mg per day) and have several autoimmune disorders so getting rid of the GD entirely is hard. However I find that when I consume as much organic diet with no chemicals and toxins as well as the household cleaning and personal products, I began doing much, much better.

My GD journey began in 2000. I was going the way with using the Lemon Balm and Bugleweed. Then I had to go to the hospital with a suspected thyroid storm. Now I just stick with healing from my diet and products used and taking very small dose of MMI since I began in 2003. However I'd like to try to go back to using the Lemon Balm and Bugleweed again and see if I don't need to use the MMI anymore. But this will depend on my TSI and TRAb antibodies.

{{{hugs}}}

Thanks, I have followed you for 2 yrs and believe you have a good handle on feedback for this disease. Here are my lastest lab's. Tsh 1.30 (0.36-3.74)...t3 2.50 (1.8-4.2)..t4 .99 (0.60-1.50)...I did contact Elaine Moore and she thought I was on the low side..thought possibly I had allergies/food intolerance, or another immune issue going on.I have been hypo most of my life but my gp gave me levothyoxine for 8 months , un monitored and bang..graves.though as I look back I see where the disease flared after child birth etc.... I have ibs, diagnosed through a physical exam, no testing, that can mimic symptoms of graves for me..often I get confused with that... I have always been lean and had anxiety..my pulse has kicked up (90-95)..so I'm seeing a gp in 3 weeks. I do smoke 6 a day but have never been a heavy smoker... Thanks for your help and thanks for helping so many people who are struggling to feel normal..my best, Janelle

Hi Janelle:

I do remember your name. :-)

You are definitely on the low side of normal. Heart rate can go up a bit even when one is a bit hypO.

So many symptoms cross over each other on the hypO/hypER lists.

Just a thought here on the food intolerance/allergies (I have plenty so am treating again with NAET) smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc. are not GMO-free. I read an interesting article awhile back on my research to avoid GMO and to eat as healthy as possible and make use of the household and personal products that wouldn't harm me, the author mentioned about the tobacco and the paper the cigarettes are rolled up in were not GMO-free.

Now I am not telling you to give up smoking. Just research the possibility of any allergies from the smoking to rule things out. :-)

{{{hugs}}}

Hi Hugs, you are helping me so much you have no idea. There have been so many changes in my personal life, I know this is affecting me greatly with my gut issues and my anxiety. Usually when I'm hypo, I have slow transit in the gut, but not the case now, hunger, fast transit and my systems a mess. I am so glad you confirmed what Elaine said. If my graves is still active though my thyroid is slow, would I have the typical graves symptoms do you think? I feel like a detective..lol trying to piece this all together. When I was on methimazole it was a safety net for me, now I jump to conclusions or don't know where to turn..ibs? etc....the disease is still new to me and I'm not savvy on all the numbers etc. I wear a surgical mask for all cleaning..haha quite hilarious. and yes I have thought that the chemicals in the smokes of course could be a real possibly. thanks for not judging me on that. I am trying my darnest to stop it..starting when I was 15 now 62...I have really notice alot of foods that set me off and I'm writing them down. I eat organic as much as possible, I don't work, so cooking always at home. I have cut out dairy and peanut butter..just almond butter for me. I do look for the GMO. I can't thank you enough for the help. I get despite and frustrated and sometimes I think I'm in denial about this disease and allergies etc, instead of accepting that this is a part of my life now and need to cope better with it. You have been a huge helper and I was so glad you replied to my post, out of all the people I did want your opinion. thanks again..hope your doing well..my best to you, Janelle

Glad I could help. :-)

I went to a fund raiser about three weeks ago which we met at a place called Panda Express. Even though I looked for the things I thought I could safely eat/handle, I ended up with allergic reactions that it has taken me several weeks to clear out.

So with my wholistic ND, we decided I need to clear my body again.

If you are interested, just google NAET to see what it does. I am doing my 3rd round with NAET to help clear out the allergens. I guess I have been going every 10 years with the treatments.

Some allergens do hold for me and some just do not. It is impossible to be 100% well especially when we must deal with ongoing GMOs, chemicals and toxins out there in the world on a daily basis.

I realize I have to continue working on this for myself lifetime. It is tiring, but it does help me when I do not need to take a lot of different medicine with by being on track with things.

{{{hugs}}}