Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...

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Endocrine System
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Labs after RAI

Snippy
Snippy
Three months after RAI, best labs ever after three years but endo is
keeping me on 10 mgs of methimazole daily does this make sense?
T3 2.4 range 2.3-4.2
T4 0.76 range 0.62-1.57
TSH 1.395 range 0.350-5.500
cd3764
cd3764
Your TSH is way too high for someone who had RAI if they are properly medicated.

TSH stays suppressed for YEARS after RAI since the procedure itself causes an increase in antibody production and we both know Graves' antibodies suppress TSH.

Even more important is the fact that the AACE/ATA hyperthyroidism treatment guidelines indicate that the patient is to take the lowest possible dose that will maintain the FT4 level near the high end of the range, regardless of TSH.

I can tell by the ranges you posted that the result you listed for T4 is actually a FT4 result.

Your endo should be lowering your dose of methimazole since your FT4 level is so low.

As your thyroid dies off from the RAI, you can expect to eventually be off methimazole and starting thyroid hormone replacement.

Best of luck to you moving forward!
Snippy
Snippy
I just think the dose should be lower but everytime I change it to what I think or someone else thinks then I drop my numbers and yea it was FT's sorry. I have been on methimazole almost three years now bouncing back and forth. I feel really good tire easily but them I'm 58....
I guess I'm just in a hurry. Don't want the way i feel now messed up.
bm55
bm55
So sorry you must feel very bad. I had 15 millcures of RAI in 2004. Was on PTU for 2 years before that, and it is very hard to get it all regulated with meds.

Especially when the docs do not know how to interpret bloodtest like mine. So I decided to take it upon myself to lower my dose. My pulse was 54, crying all the time, depressed.

So at my next appointment, I told the doc that I had lowered my dose and he says " So glad you did that?" Geez