General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - Grave's Disease

In response to Grave's Disease posted by erickajb:
Hi Erica,
With your high levels of thyroid antibodies and obvious hyperthyroidism, you have Graves' disease. Your doctor is probably confused about the thyroid antibodies and doesn't realize that they're present in 90% of Graves' patients and also nearly all patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Your MCV is low, showing that your red blood cells are small, which is usually caused by iron deficiency. Your red blood cell count is elevated and MCH is elevated, which shows that you're not anemic. Usually, doctors just order an iron and ferritin level when MCV is low. I'm not sure why your platelet count is slightly elevated although I suspect it will return to normal once your levels are in control.

The alkaline phosphatase level is often elevated in hyperthyroidism and should fall once you start treatment with either antithyroid drugs or bugleweed.

Although Graves' disease that develops in the postpartum period often resolves easily, when blood levels are as high as yours treatment is needed to help lower them. A low iodine diet can also help (avoiding fast and processed foods, iodized salt, etc) but it would be best if you used a low dose of anti-thyroid drugs to lower your levels and perhaps beta blockers to reduce any cardiac symptoms.

Finyx included her email address in the post so you might want to email her directly about the bugleweed in case she misses your post. Best to you, Elaine