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 labs from Friday have returned and looks like they have returned to what they were at the beginning of July. Wondering if they have been this way and looked different since ER labs have a different range?
Here they are:
Here are my last two labs again:
July 8, 2010 Labs:
Free T4: 0.8 (range 0.8-1.8)
Total T3: 96 (range 76-181)
TSH: .39 (no reference or range available)
ER labs 8/10/2010:
Free T4: 0.8 (range 0.6-1.1)
TSH: 0.65 (range 0.34-6.60)
They wouldn't run Free T3 :(
Labs Friday the 13th :):
Free T4: 0.84 (0.8-1.8)
Total T3: 86 (range 76-181)
TSH: .36 (no reference range)
TSI: 212*
I had my TSI run when I had the thyroid storm and it was"
Thyroid Stim Immunoglob 232*high
Looks like I definitely have Graves.... which we knew all along. I have decided to have my thyroid removed and we will be doing a total thyroidectomy. My endocrine surgeon thinks this is the best route for me. I have a large nodule on my left lobe which sits in front of my trachea and from time to time, it bothers me. I have slept practically sitting up for the last year :( She said the left lobe looked normal size but my right lobe was inflammed and had a small nodule on it . They will biopsy when my thyroid is removed. I believe in my gut this is the right path for me and am hoping and praying the outcome is better than it has been the last year.
However, it looks like I have achieved remission when looking at my labs. I have been off of PTU now for 8 days.... Officially off and had hardly a change. My tsh keeps going down but that's it. I actually feel functional now but still need at least 2 naps a day :)
Starting one week prior to my surgery, I will be taking 25mg of PTU daily and Lugol's solution 3 times daily to prepare me for surgery. My surgeon said I will really miserable since I'm already on the hypo endo of the range for my levels but she believes that the surgery will ease alot of my anxieties... I'm hoping.
I asked her about my TSI and she said that the TSI may never drop since Graves is a forever disease. I'm wondering if my tsh was increased cuz my body no longer needed the PTU... Does anyone know if that could be? and now it's dropping since I'm not on the PTU.
Also, I've decided to prepare myself the best I can for surgery to get the best outcome/recovery. So, the surgeon suggest Vitamin D daily since after surgery, they put you on Calcium at first til your parathyroids start working again and the Vitamin D will help my body to absorb it better. I am also taking B12 and Vitamin C. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
I did ask her one important question about what her protocol was to save the parathyroid glands and she told me that when she separates the parathyroid gland from the thyroid, if the parathyroid gland appears to be abnormal or damaged, she will take it and inject into a neck muscle to try to save it (I read this was an alternative only an expert surgeon would do)... so I am confident that I am in the best hands for my surgery. Although that is not a guarantee that I won't have any complications. My biggest fear is the feeling of shortness of breath after the surgery if there is any damage to my vocal cords... Other than that, I'm ready! I will have my surgery on Sept 13..... and will post pics as well as my journey to follow.
Big group hug to everyone on here... Graves is a horrible disease.
Here they are:
Here are my last two labs again:
July 8, 2010 Labs:
Free T4: 0.8 (range 0.8-1.8)
Total T3: 96 (range 76-181)
TSH: .39 (no reference or range available)
ER labs 8/10/2010:
Free T4: 0.8 (range 0.6-1.1)
TSH: 0.65 (range 0.34-6.60)
They wouldn't run Free T3 :(
Labs Friday the 13th :):
Free T4: 0.84 (0.8-1.8)
Total T3: 86 (range 76-181)
TSH: .36 (no reference range)
TSI: 212*
I had my TSI run when I had the thyroid storm and it was"
Thyroid Stim Immunoglob 232*high
Looks like I definitely have Graves.... which we knew all along. I have decided to have my thyroid removed and we will be doing a total thyroidectomy. My endocrine surgeon thinks this is the best route for me. I have a large nodule on my left lobe which sits in front of my trachea and from time to time, it bothers me. I have slept practically sitting up for the last year :( She said the left lobe looked normal size but my right lobe was inflammed and had a small nodule on it . They will biopsy when my thyroid is removed. I believe in my gut this is the right path for me and am hoping and praying the outcome is better than it has been the last year.
However, it looks like I have achieved remission when looking at my labs. I have been off of PTU now for 8 days.... Officially off and had hardly a change. My tsh keeps going down but that's it. I actually feel functional now but still need at least 2 naps a day :)
Starting one week prior to my surgery, I will be taking 25mg of PTU daily and Lugol's solution 3 times daily to prepare me for surgery. My surgeon said I will really miserable since I'm already on the hypo endo of the range for my levels but she believes that the surgery will ease alot of my anxieties... I'm hoping.
I asked her about my TSI and she said that the TSI may never drop since Graves is a forever disease. I'm wondering if my tsh was increased cuz my body no longer needed the PTU... Does anyone know if that could be? and now it's dropping since I'm not on the PTU.
Also, I've decided to prepare myself the best I can for surgery to get the best outcome/recovery. So, the surgeon suggest Vitamin D daily since after surgery, they put you on Calcium at first til your parathyroids start working again and the Vitamin D will help my body to absorb it better. I am also taking B12 and Vitamin C. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
I did ask her one important question about what her protocol was to save the parathyroid glands and she told me that when she separates the parathyroid gland from the thyroid, if the parathyroid gland appears to be abnormal or damaged, she will take it and inject into a neck muscle to try to save it (I read this was an alternative only an expert surgeon would do)... so I am confident that I am in the best hands for my surgery. Although that is not a guarantee that I won't have any complications. My biggest fear is the feeling of shortness of breath after the surgery if there is any damage to my vocal cords... Other than that, I'm ready! I will have my surgery on Sept 13..... and will post pics as well as my journey to follow.
Big group hug to everyone on here... Graves is a horrible disease.
I did read and this after my STI test: "It is believed that fibroblasts (hylaronic acid) in orbital tissue may express the TSHr. This may explain why autoantibody to the TSHr can cause disease in both the thyroid and the eyes."
I was wondering if your doctor has suggested a course of steroids prior to surgery like they do prior to RAI since the extremely fast drop to hypo can cause some of the TED to flare? Just curious. I try to stay to the hyper side of this to help my eyes.
Is the surgery done into the neck or down the throat? If bruising is an issue for you, you may ask your doctor about Arnica Montana and Bromelaine - sp - (pineapple extract). It helps with bruising after surgery. You can get it any any health food store. If swelling is an issue, squares of cut up T-shirt material soaked in ice water and draped over the area is very soothing. I would think that with any neck surgery, you'd be sleeping upright for a few nights so a back pillow for your back and a travel pillow that you can rest your chin against while you try to sleep would help keep you comfortable. How long will you be in the hospital?
Best of Luck
I was at a family reunion on the weekend and a uncle that I havent seen for a couple years asked me about my thyroid issues. He was curious because that entire side of the family has hypo issues and I am the only one who is "backwards". I told that I had it removed 14 months ago and he said bullsh*t. I pointed my scar out to him and he still didnt think it was from TT.
I wish you well on the rest of your graves journey and hope everything goes smoothly for you and you heal quickly!!! =)
Kathy: Thank you for the encouragement. Although I feel confident in my gut this is the path I should take for myself... there are still some reservations. I have many fears of the "aftermath" as I have read too many horror stories. My surgeon has emphasized that my synthroid will be adjusted as time goes by and that it may take several months before I am where I feel my best... in my eyes, it's no different than tweaking my PTU the last year to "try" to find my "happy" spot :)
I am new to this site, and I too, am scheduled for a TT end of this month. I have suffered with Graves Disease for 3 years, that I have been diagnosed on ATD's and my liverf enzymes shot up on PTU. I started on Tapazole, did great with it, got pregnant, switched to PTU, lost the baby at 18weeks in March, after that, the liver enzymes went up, and my thyroid levels did not even come down! I really feel the Gravs Disease had a lot to do with my babies loss and the desire to start a family, and the liver enzymes has left me with no other option. I do believe this is the right decision, as I'm tired of living with Graves. I am fortunate that my endo works with me, and he is willing to try different hormones until I find precisely the correct dosage and hormone to keep from weight gain and other hypo symptoms. I feel for everyone on here who suffers this disease, and I only hope in the future other options become available to Graves sufferers. God Bless!
I just wanted to give you a big hug. I'm so sorry about your loss, and also hope that they find a better cure for us someday. This is not an easy disease to have, for certain.
Big hugs,
Hannah
~Hugs.
Always ask for a vitamin test...
{{{hugs}}} :-)