T4 Test Result & Questions - Vic

[Guest guest]

I misunderstood when my naturopath told me that she was a general

practitioner. I thought she meant a medical doctor GP, but she meant

a naturopathic doctor/general practitioner. She orders blood tests

by putting the name of the chiropractor she is associated with on the

requests.

I found that the number on my T4 test was 4.5.

I had read that if it is determined that there are antibodies

present, then Grave's is pretty certain. Today, blood was taken for

the TR AB = Antithyroid microsomal antibody. My naturopath said that

that is the only one that is needed. I have read about others, so I

am wondering if it is a sequential process where you have one test

(T4) done and if that indicates hyperthyroidism, to have the TR AB

test done. Will other blood tests be necessary if that test is

negative?

My appointment with the endocrinologist is October 11. Should I carry

along the blood tests that I am having done under the direction of my

naturopath?

I also read that if the test comes back as positive for antibodies,

then no further tests are needed. Is that true?

I am beginning to have a feeling of muscle tightness behind my eyes,

especially in the morning. Is this a common symptom of the beginning

of the eye disease? Ophthamologists are not even listed in my phone

book. Are optometrists the same as ophthamologists?

I have also gotten the impression that Grave's patients, because of

the autoimmune nature of the disease, can get other autoimmune

diseases along with the Grave's. Has this happened to a lot of the

people on this list? This must make a very bad situation much, much

worse.

I am at the point where I have taken in quite a lot of information,

but I am unable to bring it all together to answer my own questions.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Vic