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...
My grave's has returned for a third time, ugh!! I was in remission for over 2 yrs. My question is has anyone had it return three times and if so what did they do? Did they go back on ATD's or have radioactive iodine or surgery?
My doc's recommendation is for me to go on MMI at 10mg. I'm just wondering if I should take that high of a doseage being that my FT4 is on the low side. Won't I go hypo if my dosage is too high?? I haven't had to do this for awhile so I don't remember how it all works to well. I need to be refreshed. My levels are as follows:
TSH- .359- range (.450-4.50)
FT4- 1.08
FT3-2.7
I don't have the ranges here at work with me for the FT3 and FT4, but they were both in range. However, they were both on the low end, I think the FT4 went up to 2.77 or somewhere around there.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
My doc's recommendation is for me to go on MMI at 10mg. I'm just wondering if I should take that high of a doseage being that my FT4 is on the low side. Won't I go hypo if my dosage is too high?? I haven't had to do this for awhile so I don't remember how it all works to well. I need to be refreshed. My levels are as follows:
TSH- .359- range (.450-4.50)
FT4- 1.08
FT3-2.7
I don't have the ranges here at work with me for the FT3 and FT4, but they were both in range. However, they were both on the low end, I think the FT4 went up to 2.77 or somewhere around there.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Why would your doctor re-start you on an anti-thyroid drug when you actually need thyroid hormone replacement?
Please know that 20% of Graves' patients go hypo after remission. I'm one of them and so are a few others on here. It appears that you've joined our group - sorry.
Please find another doctor who knows how to dose correctly according to the Free T3 and the Free T4 and NOT to the TSH.
{{{hugs}}} :-(
My question is why did I use PTU before and it worked with the same type of labs? I'm really confused now....
Thanks so much for your input in advance!!!
It is quite common to have a mixture of hypER/hypO symptoms from the symptoms lists when thyroid levels are off.
Do you have the lists for both hypER and hypO?
{{{hugs}}}
I'm still really confused about how PTU has worked for me before? I'll have to look up all my old labs to compare.
Thanks for all your help everyone!!
We really need to see the reference ranges to be able to properly comment on your most recent labs.
However, the most common ranges for FT3 are something like 2.0-4.4 (with the high end sometimes being even higher).
You can see that your FT3 level is close to the bottom end of the range.
Now, the most common FT4 range is .8 - 1.8 so, again, your level is close to the bottom end of the range.
This is hyPOthyroidism despite your confusing symptoms (all of which I've had when hyPO).
Remember: Symptoms can be confusing, labs don't lie
Maybe your TSH was low when you were taking PTU and that's what you're remembering....
If your doctor understood thyroid function, he would know that thyroid status is always confirmed by looking at the actual thyroid hormone levels: FT4 & FT3 and NOT pituitary hormone TSH.
He would also understand that your symptoms are not necessarily hyper......they are hypo because your labs are hypo.
I think he's looking at your lowish TSH and interpreting it as hyper which is dead wrong.
After 4 clueless doctors, I found a doctor who told me she knows to ignore TSH in Graves'.
She started me on thyroid hormone replacement when my FT4/FT3 dropped below mid-range and I reported a bunch of hypo symptoms. My TSH at the time was .019
Again thank you so much for your fast replies!!!!
TSH- .359- (range, 0.450-4.50)
FT4- 1.08- (range, 0.82-1.77)
FT3- 2.7- (range, 2.0-4.4)
Mid range for your FT3 is 3.2 with the goal of being at least mid range or slightly higher. Even though your not really that low...being below mid range could effect you...it would if that was my FT3 level.
Your doc is looking only at your TSH as cd and mmz mentioned. What you need is T4 replacement hormone to bring your FT4 up to the top half of your ranges...when your FT4 comes up usually the FT3 follows unless you hare having conversion problem...Big Hugs...Kathy