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 doctor thought I was in remission back in January so he abruptly took me off my levoxyl (.088mg) & my methimazole (10mg). In July I began feeling bad and he put me back on 40mg of methimazole, but he recently reduced it to 30mg in November. I still don't feel good.
August lab results:
TSH: 800 (84-179)
These are my latest lab results (as of 11-18-11):
TSH: .02- suppressed
T4: 3.2- low
T3: 290- high
I'm going back to the doctor in 2 weeks to get more blood tests. He is going to be checking my T4, Free T4, TSH, and Total T3. My mom made an appointment with a different doctor at Emory in January.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
August lab results:
TSH: 800 (84-179)
These are my latest lab results (as of 11-18-11):
TSH: .02- suppressed
T4: 3.2- low
T3: 290- high
I'm going back to the doctor in 2 weeks to get more blood tests. He is going to be checking my T4, Free T4, TSH, and Total T3. My mom made an appointment with a different doctor at Emory in January.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Have your doctor check the Free T3 instead of Total T3. TT3 is affected by diet, hormones, etc. FT3 is not.
Could you post your thyroid lab ranges to go with the labs you listed?
{{{hugs}}} :-)
P.S. If you do the block and replace, it's very important to dose the meds just right to keep your Free Ts (3 and 4) in the 'right' places. Do not dose the meds according to the TSH as the TSH is affected by thyroid antibodies.
T4: 22.5- high (4.5-12)
T3: >800-high (84-179)
What does block and replace mean?
Make sure your doctor runs the Free T4 ( unbound Free) with the ranges such as: 0.80 -1.80 and not order the Free T4 Index as these are the two different tests.
The Block and Replace means using both of the replacement med (the Levoxyl) and the MMI (Methimazole) you were on at the same time before you began using straight MMI in August.
What your doctor should've done was to have you lab in four to six weeks after restarting the MMI to see where you Free Ts levels were at (especially the FT4) and begin lowering your doses.
You would need to find the 'right' amount of MMI to take according to your thyroid labs to keep your Free Ts (especially FT4) at around mid range to see if you feel your best there at.
Each one of us with a thyroid problem, have our own set-point within the Free Ts of where we feel our best. Most people do better at the upper third of ranges, some in the mid ranges and a few in the low ranges of the Free Ts.
I do better at mid range for both of the FT3 and the FT4.
{{{hugs}}}
For me I take 2.5 mg during the cooler weather. When it gets warm, I take less at 1.25 mg of MMI per day. :-)