Need help about thyroid levels

[Guest guest]

Hi Lois,

Welcome to the group. One thing to keep in mind is to avoid any foods that

contain iodine, use and iodine free salt if you use salt, I know green beans

and tomatoes are loaded with iodine also. Find a vitamin that contains no

iodine also, sometimes this isn't easy, but they are out there. I found

mine at Walmart and at CVS...the store brands actually.

As for the RAI, just inform you dr. that until you are sure that RAI is the

way to go <shiver> for you, you would prefer to continue on the ATDs and

hope to attain remission. Then keep reading and learning. Your dr. can NOT

make the decision for you on which treatment to choose, only you can do

that. There is so much in the archives here that it can boggle the mind

when first beginning to read, but it is so well worth it. From the home

page there is a place to type in goto or jumpto and you put a number

in...type in number 1 and just start reading. Seems like a lot at first,

but it is so worth it.

I'm sure others will jump in and give more examples of food containing

iodine, I listed my two favorites that I don't eat anymore, or cheat once in

a while having but I had RAI in '96 and continue to suffer the consequences

of that choice to this day.

Good luck, keep reading, and keep asking questions, or just unloading if

that is whay you need. Everyone here truely understands what you are going

through.

Take care,

Jody

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[Guest guest]

Hi Lois,

It seems as if you're responding well to the ATD's. If you have been

hyperthyroid for a while, it can take many months for your TSH to reflect

your normal thyroid hormone levels and fall into the normal range. I wrote an

article on lab tests which you can find on the iThyroid site or on

www.themestream.com (here, do a search on elaine moore). You can also check

my website daisyelaine_co.tripod.com/gravesdisease and read my story

explaining why I would never recommend RAI.

[Guest guest]

Hi Debby,

the total T4 isn't as accurate as the free T4, which measures the amount of

available thyroxine or T4. Many medications and hormones, particularly

estrogen, affect the blood concentrations of proteins that transport thyroid

hormone through the body. To tell if the T4 level is affected by protein

changes caused by estrogens or whatever, we run a lab test called the T3

uptake. This doesn't measure the amount of T3, but the ability of blood

proteins to bind with T3 added as a reagent to the blood sample. Let me know

if you still have questions, Elaine

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm Lois from Indiana. Diagnosed with Graves Sept. 3. The endocrinologist

put me on 40 mg. tapazole and 200 mg Toprol a day on Sept. 11. I just got

my lab values after 6 weeks of this and see him again on Tuesday. (I have

computer access to the hospital lab.) The TSH is still <0.02. My Free T4 is

..85 (norm .89-1.80) and my free T3 is 275 (norm 230-420). I don't think I

had the free T3 and T4 done previously and I don't understand them. What do

you think? I feel a lot better since being on the meds and am afraid he

will still want to do RAI. I have an appt. for a second opinion but it

isn't until February. Any input you can give me before Tuesday the 24th

would be very much appreciated. Also is there anything I can be doing to

get my thyroid less active?

Thanks

Lois

[Guest guest]

I don't really understand what the medical descriptions of the tests

are, but webmd has a lot of sites explaining what the T3 and T4 are.

Just type in thyroid tests. All my doctor has said about those

levels was that he was checking thyroid binding proteins and to see

that my synthroid dosage was adequate. I was diagnosed almost two

years ago and my free T4 was always normal but my total T4 has been

elevated and still is. As far as getting less active, after my RAI I

remained hyper for a few months, I was told to avoid seafood and

spinach because of the iodine content and to not increase my salt

intake. But every theory is different. I was not given the option

of taking the medication. I was told that eventually the

effectiveness would wear off anyway and that I would need RAI in the

future so they did it right in the beginning. Sorry I couldn't be

more help but maybe someone else will be able to help you. Take care

> Hi,

>

> I'm Lois from Indiana. Diagnosed with Graves Sept. 3. The

endocrinologist

> put me on 40 mg. tapazole and 200 mg Toprol a day on Sept. 11. I

just got

> my lab values after 6 weeks of this and see him again on Tuesday.

(I have

> computer access to the hospital lab.) The TSH is still <0.02. My

Free T4 is

> .85 (norm .89-1.80) and my free T3 is 275 (norm 230-420). I don't

think I

> had the free T3 and T4 done previously and I don't understand

them. What do

> you think? I feel a lot better since being on the meds and am

afraid he

> will still want to do RAI. I have an appt. for a second opinion

but it

> isn't until February. Any input you can give me before Tuesday the

24th

> would be very much appreciated. Also is there anything I can be

doing to

> get my thyroid less active?

>

> Thanks

>

> Lois

[Guest guest]

Hi Lois-

Debby was right about avoiding foods with a high iodine content and iodized

salt (they add it to a lot of packaged foods too). Iodine is used to make

thyroid hormone.

It takes a while for TSH to come up once it's depressed so, hopefully, the

endo won't concentrate on that.

Your other levels are fine (FT4 a little low at the lab you had it done at).

There's no need to rush into RAI. It usually takes at least 12 to 18 months

to achieve remission (often even longer). And it's your body not the

doctor's. You know how you're doing.

I was told I had to have RAI. I was doing just fine on ATDs but they told

me they weren't working. This confused me since I felt pretty good plus I

didn't want to do RAI. Anyways, I had RAI 13 years ago because of the

doctor's recommendation and haven't been right since. I did way better on

ATDs. They had guaranteed me that I would feel great after RAI and that I

would have some thyroid function afterwards. Neither was true. I neither

feel as well as I did before RAI and I have absolutely no thyroid function

left.

Take care and if you don't feel ready to have RAI, then it's not the time.

Re: Need help about thyroid levels

> I don't really understand what the medical descriptions of the tests

> are, but webmd has a lot of sites explaining what the T3 and T4 are.

> Just type in thyroid tests. All my doctor has said about those

> levels was that he was checking thyroid binding proteins and to see

> that my synthroid dosage was adequate. I was diagnosed almost two

> years ago and my free T4 was always normal but my total T4 has been

> elevated and still is. As far as getting less active, after my RAI I

> remained hyper for a few months, I was told to avoid seafood and

> spinach because of the iodine content and to not increase my salt

> intake. But every theory is different. I was not given the option

> of taking the medication. I was told that eventually the

> effectiveness would wear off anyway and that I would need RAI in the

> future so they did it right in the beginning. Sorry I couldn't be

> more help but maybe someone else will be able to help you. Take care

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > Hi,

> >

> > I'm Lois from Indiana. Diagnosed with Graves Sept. 3. The

> endocrinologist

> > put me on 40 mg. tapazole and 200 mg Toprol a day on Sept. 11. I

> just got

> > my lab values after 6 weeks of this and see him again on Tuesday.

> (I have

> > computer access to the hospital lab.) The TSH is still <0.02. My

> Free T4 is

> > .85 (norm .89-1.80) and my free T3 is 275 (norm 230-420). I don't

> think I

> > had the free T3 and T4 done previously and I don't understand

> them. What do

> > you think? I feel a lot better since being on the meds and am

> afraid he

> > will still want to do RAI. I have an appt. for a second opinion

> but it

> > isn't until February. Any input you can give me before Tuesday the

> 24th

> > would be very much appreciated. Also is there anything I can be

> doing to

> > get my thyroid less active?

> >

> > Thanks

> >

> > Lois

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Lois

Welcome. It seems that you have responded well to the meds. The Free T4 & 3 are

close to normal and more importantly

you feel better.

The Thyroid Simulating Hormone takes longer to come back. I was on ATDs (Anti

Thyroid Drugs) since June and my TSH

hasn't come back to normal yet. I've just had a near total thyroidectomy after

much deliberation and consideration -

with the help of this group and others.

The decision to RAI is yours and must be based on your current health needs,

age, response to less invasive

treatments, ongoing health needs and expected outcome. It seems that many Drs

rush into this treatment course (from

my investigation it is currently the treatment of choice in the USA only, many

other countries favour meds then

surgery and some don't do RAI at all. I'm very suspicious of why it is favoured

- I think it is primary a budgetary

consideration). Another new person, Debby, said that she was diagnosed in Feb

and had RAI by April. I would consider

that too fast, because RAI is permanent, no going back.

There are others in this group, whom you will hear from, who have had RAI and

now regret it. Most advise that if you

get a good response from ATDs stick to them for at least 2 years. Those who have

done this often achieve

stabilisation and then remission without the loss of their thyroid. Remember the

removal or death of the thyroid is

treating the most risky or harmful symptom of Graves Disease - thyroid

hyperactivity and you still have GD.

If the thyroid can be control by meds and you don't have other issues, such as I

did, take your time making a

decision that is final. Get all the info and support you can to make an informed

decision. Don't let the Drs

pressure you into making a quick decision it is not necessary especially if

you're achieved control with the meds.

Oh, your question about T3 & T4 - There are much more scientific explanations

available, but I think this is it in a

nutshell. Your Free T3 & T4 are the hormones that the thyroid is producing and

are in your blood stream. The TSH is

produced by the piturity gland to stimulate the thyroid when your levels of T3 &

T4 are not adequate (the normal

cycle is constantly adjusting itself and responds to your body needs), but with

Graves Disease your thyroid is

constantly stimulated by the auto antibodies that your body has produced.

Therefore, the piturity gland switches off

the TSH as there is heaps of T3 & T4 floating around the system and you get

undetectable amounts of TSH in your blood

work. The ATDs stops the thyroid from producing and so the levels in your system

drop.

It can be a bit tricky adjusting the right amount of ATD and there are many

factors that effect what is 'normal' for

the individual. The key is how you feel. Try to understand your symptoms, how

they fluctuate and what may effect

them. I've been advised to keep a journal - this is a good idea. Take your

resting pulse and basal temp daily also.

Others in the group will surely have more to add (I've got a bit long winded

because I'm stuck at home post surgery

and I guess a bit 'stir crazy').

Take Care

Caroline

Lois wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I'm Lois from Indiana. Diagnosed with Graves Sept. 3. The endocrinologist

> put me on 40 mg. tapazole and 200 mg Toprol a day on Sept. 11. I just got

> my lab values after 6 weeks of this and see him again on Tuesday. (I have

> computer access to the hospital lab.) The TSH is still <0.02. My Free T4 is

> .85 (norm .89-1.80) and my free T3 is 275 (norm 230-420). I don't think I

> had the free T3 and T4 done previously and I don't understand them. What do

> you think? I feel a lot better since being on the meds and am afraid he

> will still want to do RAI. I have an appt. for a second opinion but it

> isn't until February. Any input you can give me before Tuesday the 24th

> would be very much appreciated. Also is there anything I can be doing to

> get my thyroid less active?

>

> Thanks

>

> Lois

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

I too have not been right since RAI. I was fine for 3 months. I was

still experiencing hyperthyroid symptoms but they weren't as

bothersome. But in three months my tsh shot up to 416, my thyroid

was totally destroyed, and it has taken until now to get that level

into " normal " range. But every 3 weeks the level fluctuates and

causes problems for me. I am also experiencing worse symptoms than I

had before. I guess everyone responds differently to the treatment,

but as the saying goes, if I knew then what I know now, I would have

chosen the medication until I was absolutely sure it wasn't going to

work. I'm not sure, but since you were just put on the meds in

September I would wait awhile. Take care

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > I'm Lois from Indiana. Diagnosed with Graves Sept. 3. The

> > endocrinologist

> > > put me on 40 mg. tapazole and 200 mg Toprol a day on Sept. 11.

I

> > just got

> > > my lab values after 6 weeks of this and see him again on

Tuesday.

> > (I have

> > > computer access to the hospital lab.) The TSH is still <0.02.

My

> > Free T4 is

> > > .85 (norm .89-1.80) and my free T3 is 275 (norm 230-420). I

don't

> > think I

> > > had the free T3 and T4 done previously and I don't understand

> > them. What do

> > > you think? I feel a lot better since being on the meds and am

> > afraid he

> > > will still want to do RAI. I have an appt. for a second opinion

> > but it

> > > isn't until February. Any input you can give me before Tuesday

the

> > 24th

> > > would be very much appreciated. Also is there anything I can be

> > doing to

> > > get my thyroid less active?

> > >

> > > Thanks

> > >

> > > Lois

> >

> >

> >

> > -------------------------------------

> > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and

is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new

treatments.

> > ----------------------------------------

> >

> >