General Medicine

» dinidini - Graves into remission - feeling hyPO now showing slight hyPER

I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism - Graves Disease about 5 years ago. Had all the classic symptoms... Shaking, Sweating, Chest Pain, Hair Loss and then the biggie.. Weight loss (which I loved!) They checked my thyorid 5 times before it finally came back hyPER. It was normal each time and kept blaming stress. I have been on and off anti-depressents and anti-anxiety meds since I was 19 so it made sense. Then when my tests came back that I was HyPER and they put me on 20 mg. of tapazole daily, it all stopped. Not another chest pain, no more heart palps, my hair grew back, I stopped shaking BUT I started gaining weight. FAST. Was on the Tapazole for 2 years and then started to slowly wein myself off. It's been 1 year and I am medication free YET I have been feeling HyPO this entire time. 40 pounds heavier then I was 2 years ago. Tired is an understatement. I work out 4-5x a week. Running. Eat like a rabbit. Mostly salads and chicken. And have been gaining a steady 6 pounds a month for what seems like FOREVER! My test results keep coming back "normal" and they say they don't know what's wrong with me. Changed endos. about 4x. The past month I have been getting "panic attacks" again. Chest pain, confusion, a little shaking and short temper isn't the word! Had blood done 2 weeks ago and here are the results:
TSH - 0.645
T4 - 15.3 (high)
T3 - 156
Thyroid Peroxidase 10
Antithyrogloblin 20

Mostly normal.. If anything on the "high" side with the T4. Now I'm thinking it may be coming back again. The last thing to show me if it is coming back is if I start losing weight again. What does a girl have to do to find a doctor who can help her with this kind of craziness? I have been suffering with what I would call typical hyPOthyroid symptoms since they put me on the Tapazole 5 years ago. What should I ask the next endo. I go to? What are the right tests to ask for?

-- posted by dinidini

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion How to subscribe to feeds

» Elaine Moore - Graves into remission - feeling hyPO now showing slight hyPER

In response to Graves into remission - feeling hyPO now showing slight hyPER posted by dinidini:
Hi,
Total T4 and T3 levels are frequently elevated in women because of estrogen influences. Tests for FT4 and FT3 are more accurate because they measure free, available hormone. If you have TSH receptor antibodies your TSH results may be falsely decreased. Your lab results can be misleading in this case, which is why symptoms are more important than lab results.

About 20% of patients with Graves' disease spontaneously move into hypothyroidism. Blood tests for total TSH receptor antibodies along with a TSI level would help tell if this is the problem, and tests for FT4 and FT3 would more accurately determine your thyroid status. The hypothyroidism that develops in people with Graves' disease is often mild but it still needs to be treated with replacement hormone to help slow down the gland and reduce thyroid antibody production. This form of hypothyroidism may, like the hyperthyroidism, resolve on its own although it can be permanent. Best, Elaine

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion How to subscribe to feeds