Guest guest Posted January 10, 2001 Report Share Posted January 10, 2001 Hi , I never saw your original post, but estrogens in birth control pills can cause an increase in the proteins that bind with thyroid hormone in your blood. This, in turn, causes your total levels of thyroid hormone, total T4 and T3 to appear falsely elevated. If you were asking if birth control pills are a trigger, here's a quote from Dr. Weetman in a recent issue of NEJM, " The chief risk factor for Graves' disease--female sex--is in part the result of the modulation of the autoimmune response by estrogen. " He also goes on to describe the role of stress as a reported trigger of GD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2001 Report Share Posted January 10, 2001 funny you mention the sunny weather...my friend got back from there recently and it was 40 below! BRRRRRR! > > Reply-To: graves_supportegroups > Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 14:08:49 -0800 (PST) > To: graves_supportegroups > Subject: I'm confused! > > Hi all! > > We're enjoying sunny weather here in Minnesota... hope > you are too where you live! > > I've posted once before, but that was a couple of > months ago, so maybe I should give a brief background. > I was diagnosed in October with Graves... right now > I'm mildly hyperthyroid (as far as my symptoms). My > TSH is 0.01 and has been since May (or before, but > first blood test was in May). I was supposed to be > deciding between medication and RAI right now... but I > just got my latest blood test back from my endo that > says that my TSH is still 0.01 but my T4 is 1.3, so my > endo recommends NO TREATMENT for another two months. > Could my T4 be what he calls " normal " since I'm on the > birth control pill?? > > I'm just so frustrated with doctors right now. > > Thanks for listening and for all your good > information. I'm learning from you by leaps and > bounds!! > > Take care, > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2001 Report Share Posted January 10, 2001 Hi , I don't know if birth control can affect your T4 but it wouldn't surprise me. I do have a question for you though. When you were diagnosed, did any of your drs. do the antibody test for GD? Jody _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 Hi , With your normal RAI-U test, you could have GD if you have T3 thyrotoxicosis, ( that is, a normal T4 and high T3 or a disproportionately high T3 compared to T4 along with your low TSH). However, your doctor can't really tell if it's GD from your TSH alone. That merely suggests that you're hyperthyroid. And there are different treatments for different types of hyperthyroidism, the thyroiditis you mentioned being the best example. In ' Clinical Textbook of Endocrinology (which could likely be in the reference section of your public library), Dr. Larsen discusses this. You might want to try some natural healing options, like eliminating iodine and zinc, adding goitrogens, etc., before doing anything dramatic here. You also might want to find a new doc or ask for a wait and see approach, like getting tested later for your thyroid hormones as well as TSH, and seeing if your condition was transient. If you do have thyroiditis, it's generally treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, or antibiotics depending on it's cause. Good luck, Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 Jody - I have never had any antibody test done, can you believe that? i asked for it, and he said it's not necessary because he knows I'm hyperthyroid from the symptoms and from my 0.01 TSH, and you treat all hyperthyroidism the same. My scan showed a very normal looking thyroid and the radiologist wondered if I have thyroiditis instead. Is it time to seek another opinion? --- Jody Spitale wrote: > Hi , > I don't know if birth control can affect your T4 but > it wouldn't surprise > me. I do have a question for you though. When you > were diagnosed, did any > of your drs. do the antibody test for GD? > Jody > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at > http://explorer.msn.com > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 Can I send a hug to you via email??? Thank you, thank you, for your post. I really wasn't even considering whether or not the pill was the cause, but rather if it affected my lab results. But you bring up a lot of food for thought for me, and I appreciate it. I have been on the pill for ten years. I'm starting to wonder now. I know I need to learn much, much more. Thanks! --- daisyelaine@... wrote: > Hi , > I never saw your original post, but estrogens in > birth control pills can > cause an increase in the proteins that bind with > thyroid hormone in your > blood. This, in turn, causes your total levels of > thyroid hormone, total T4 > and T3 to appear falsely elevated. > If you were asking if birth control pills are a > trigger, here's a quote from > Dr. Weetman in a recent issue of NEJM, > " The chief risk factor for Graves' disease--female > sex--is in part the result > of the modulation of the autoimmune response by > estrogen. " He also goes on to > describe the role of stress as a reported trigger of > GD. > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 HI Jen, Yes I can believe it! I have never had one either, almost 5 years after initial diagnosis...but I will have one this spring when I go to her, that is for sure! And yes, I would definately seek another opinion and have that test done before you accept the dianosis of GD. Maybe you do have thyroiditis (sp?) and won't ever have to consider the treatments for GD. Maybe alonger time on ATD's will give your thyroid enough time to heal on its own. I agree with what Caroline (I believe it was her) that said you time on ATD's was very very short for GD to obtain remission. Give someone else a call...check on Shomons site for dr. referrals in your area and try one of them first, someone who will do the antibody test before saying you definately have GD. I will pray that this dr. was lazy and what you have is not GD. Take care, keep writing, and let us all know what you do find out in the end!!! Jody _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2001 Report Share Posted January 12, 2001 , Didn't you say you're in Minnesota? So am I. Please send me a private email: petri017@... and I may be able to refer you to some endocrinologists. B Re: I'm confused! > Jody - I have never had any antibody test done, can > you believe that? i asked for it, and he said it's > not necessary because he knows I'm hyperthyroid from > the symptoms and from my 0.01 TSH, and you treat all > hyperthyroidism the same. My scan showed a very > normal looking thyroid and the radiologist wondered if > I have thyroiditis instead. Is it time to seek > another opinion? > > > > --- Jody Spitale wrote: > > Hi , > > I don't know if birth control can affect your T4 but > > it wouldn't surprise > > me. I do have a question for you though. When you > > were diagnosed, did any > > of your drs. do the antibody test for GD? > > Jody > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at > > http://explorer.msn.com > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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