Hi there - no time no hear...! :-)

I will let others with the TT experiences tell you as I have none.

Did you ever get antibodies to find out if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. With your labs swinging hypER and hypO sounds like Hashi's.

Then might you benefit if you did a block and replace method to use both ATD and replacement med to keep your thyroid levels nice and steady and stable?

You may need to wait a few months after a TT to stabilize and try for a pregnancy.

So good luck and congrats with whichever way you go with.

{{{hugs}}} :-)

I am beginning to think it could be hashi's too. I have had antibodies checked a couple different times. I've had all of the antibodies, TPO, TSI, TRAB. Here are my labs when I have had antibodies tested with them:

09/24/2008
TSH

Argh! I knew that was going to happen! Let me try again!

I am beginning to think it could be hashi's too. I have had antibodies checked a couple different times. I've had all of the antibodies, TPO, TSI, TRAB. Here are my labs when I have had antibodies tested with them:

09/24/2008
TSH less than 0.01 (.34-4.82)
FT4 1.79 (.61-1.25)
TSI 271 (0-129)
TPO 151 (0-34)

01/2009
TSI 2.4 (less than 1.3)

02/2009
TRab 10 (less than 19)


12/23/09
TSH .90 (0.34-5.60)
FT4 0.74 (0.58-1.64)
FT3 3.0 (2.0-3.5)
TSI less than 1.0
TPO 30.1 ( less than 9.0)

06/02/10
TSH .02 (0.465-4.88)
FT4 2.22 (0.58-1.64)
FT3 5.5 (2.0-3.5)
TPO 124 (less than 9)
TSI 2.8 (less than 1.3)

So I am wondering if maybe I was misdiagnosed, or maybe I have Hashi's on top of Grave's maybe? I was told by a couple different endos that you often have TPO antibodies with the TSI with Graves, not just with Hashis, but that when I had the uptake scan of 85% that is what they used to diagnose Graves and not Hashi's. So, I didn't question it until the last few months when I started going back over my numbers.

If it is Hashi's would the block and replace be difficult to keep leveled?

Hi Laura... I had a TT about 5 weeks ago and i am happy with my decision but would advise that you wait as long as possible to get one until you are 110% sure that in your gut, it's the right decision. I know it is exhausting to swing from hypo to hyper and all we really want is some normalcy. A TT doesn't promise normalcy and it can take 6 months or longer (so I'm told by my surgeon, endo, and now internal medicine doc) to regulate your levels. There are many risks with surgery such as low calcium, damage to your parathyroids, or damage to your vocal cords... those are the most common risks. I chose a TT as I had a very large nodule on my left lobe that caused obstruction. However, before my surgery, I had opted to try to achieve remission. My decision for surgery came after achieving remission and realizing that the nodule on my thyroid wasn't shrinking. I have no regrets and am recovering nicely. There have a few minor bumps here and there but that is expected. Surgery is a MAJOR decision and you can't turn back and get your thyroid back once it's done. Your thyroid becomes a pill in a bottle for the REST of your life. I have blogged my journey since a few days prior to my surgery so if you'd like to see my journey, here is my link:

http://journeywithgraves.blogspot.com/

I never sugar coated any of my symptoms and will continue to blog so others can learn about my experience. However, keep in mind that everyone heals differently and... you'll want to be sure to choose a surgeon that specializes in thyroid surgery.

Yes, as scorpio says.

You might want to get this antibodies test done. It is called: TgAb (Thyroglobulin antibodies) test. This one is for checking Hashi's.

Perhaps knowing this one will make all the difference in the world. However we do have several ladies here such as dairytech and bransnana who are Hashi's dominant and they had GD. Now they are no longer taking ATD and are taking replacement med.

Maybe this is what it is for you. Best to know all these things before going for a TT. This way you understand why this is happening for you. Try solving this before the next step with a TT.

{{{hugs}}} :-)

I will definitely ask for the TgAb next week. I hadn't heard about this antibody. That will be interesting. So if it is just graves, then I shouldn't have any, right?

And you are right, Scorpio, I think that is why I'm having a hard time making the decision. I just can't wrap myself around that permanency of having a TT and not being able to take it back (or put it back!) I need to make myself completely sure of my decision.

Hello,
I am now two weeks post-op from a TT and feel really good. I was back and forth like you, but I too am getting ready to conceive and I wanted to get some type of normal levels pre-pregnancy, as I lost a baby at 18 weeks back in March. For me, that was enough. The PTU did nothing but elevate my liver enzymes, and I was a neurotic wreck the entire time I had to take anti-thyroid meds. I can't begin to tell you how much calmer I feel since the TT. The heart palps have seemed to disappear (thankfully) and I am adjusting well so far to Synthroid. The surgery itself went great. No complications and I came out of recovery singing. LOL No joke. I'm sure I will be adjusting Synthroid from time to time, but I will take that over extreme crazy hyper any day. I already had labs on Wednesday, I will have the results on Monday. I wish you luck in your decision and your baby you want. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Hi, I had my TT in June of 09. I had the same issues trying to get my levels in a place where I could at least function normally. I second guessed myself as well, its normal. I was told I would have a 3 month wait for surgery but when I went for my pre-op they had the surgery booked for less than 48hrs away. I think that that was a good thing for me. I was supposed to have my tonsils out at 15 and I chickened out, and went to live with my dad 4hrs away instead. I still have my tonsils today haha. My recovery was so easy and I really mean it. I came home from the hospital and made everyone some home made chicken soup. That was less than 24 hrs after surgery. The worst for me was the inside of my throat from the tubes. There was some bruising and my neck muscles in the back were sore from the position they have you in for surgery. My voice was weak and it took about 3-4 months before it was 100%.

I was put on 150mcg of synthroid and have stayed on that dose ever since. I instantly felt a calmness inside of me when I awoke, it was an amazing feeling!! I cant say if its the right choice for you but I can tell you that I have never regretted a minute. My FT3 is a bit below range 3.1 range is 3.5- 6.5. It is stable tho' and my TSH is 1.0 the FT4 changes abit still depending on the stress in my life. I was a bit hyper in the summer after my mom got really sick, my step dad had a massive heartattack and my dad was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer, all within 2 months. My doc wanted to lower the dose but I begged him to give me 2 months to see if it was stress related, and it was.

As with any treatment there are ups and downs and its a hard, personal choice. There will always be questions without answers. I think that once you decide whats best believe that its whats going to work, the mind is a powerful thing!! Good luck I hope you find what works for you!!

Malbers,
That is encouraging you found the right dose right from the start! Did you have any transient hyper symptoms at first? I am on 75mcg of Synthroid, and need a dose increase. Getting some hypo symptoms starting..I should be around 100mcg's based on my weight. Thanks! Melanie

Melanie, Hello. I didnt have any hyper symptoms at all. I hope you get your increase soon so you dont end up feeling bad. I am so glad that you are doing well!! I dont understand why they dont just started everyone with a dose based on weight and then increase or decrease from there. They seem to start many on a smaller dose and dont increase fast enough. We dont have excess hormones excreting for weeks like people that have had RAI. I have noticed that many take a larger dose then what they say we need per pound. I should be the 0.7 mcg per pound be only taking 112-125mcg. My FT4 stays at the top end of range with the 150mcg.......just where I like it. I think its funny you came out of the O.R. singing....my surgeon woke me up in the O.R singing to me!!

I hope you continue to feel better, Marci

Hi Marci,
Thank you for your reply:) I called the on-call endo today and she acted like I was at the correct dose because last Wednesday when my blood was drawn (less hypo symptoms) my T4 was 1.1, and my TSH was .002. So she said I couldn't possibly be Hypo. She started asking me if I had any other issues, I said "no, but I will if I continue this way". She told me there was nothing she could do, to call my endo tomorrow! I thanked her then told her I could have received the same response from my computer screen and hung up. I agree, I feel better when my T4 is 1.4-1.6 and considering I want a baby soon, that is not an unreasonable level. So, I guess the games have begun. I agree with you, start people where they should be started, and either decrease or increase from there. Are you on Brand Synthroid or generic? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks for your help:) I'm on brand Synthroid as I heard it is more consistent. just curious on your experience. Glad you are feeling great! :)

I take levothyroxine, thats what the surgeon gave me in the hospital and I have continued with the same. Funny thing is that my surgeon dosed me not the endo. Maybe if my bad endo dosed me I would have been struggling too. I hope you can get you #s where thay are best for you. Dont be sorry for asking questions, I am glad to answer them for you. Without people answering them for me I would be still laying in bed watching my life pass me by!! If you have a good reg doctor I would just start seeing them. Good luck and have fun trying to make that baby!! Marci =)

Thank you so much Marci! :) You have been a great help:) xoxo

Hi Laura,
I had a TT on Sept. 9th and am doing very well since then. It's a big decision, so ask us any questions you have. Did you see the Thyroidectomy support group? I'm also hoping to conceive soon. I started at 100 mcg replacement hormone the day after surgery and had my levels checked at the 4 week mark. They looked great then, but that was still early. I will be checking them again in a few more weeks, but I will say that I feel better than I have in years.
Hugs to you!
CK