hi all some advice had bloods done in January antibodies were 43 feeling realy unwell blood pressure up anxiety seeing encronologist in 3 weeks so I think they are up again any advice please
It's really difficult for anyone to properly comment based on the information you have provided. For myself, I always get a copy of any lab tests that are done on me which show my result along with the range of normal for each result beside it, so I know where I fit on the scale. And in my case I have Graves Disease so more than one test is done for that both for diagnosis and for follow up. My antibodies were tested initially as part of the work up to arrive at my Graves diagnosis. After that, they were not tested routinely as my blood tests for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 were. They were definitely tested before my Endo told me I could stop my meds entirely. He would not tell a patient to stop their meds unless their antibody levels were also normal but some doctors do not do that, they stop meds when all the other thyroid tests are normal. Though he told me to stop my meds, I discussed this with him and told him I felt uncomfortable stopping them entirely because I work in a very stressful environment and stress was one of the triggers for my disease. He agreed to keep me on a low dose 3 or 4 days a week. So in order to know where you stand with thyroid disease, I would ask your doctor to do the routine tests for TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 to start. Then you can post your labs to this Board and we can better comment.
Hi Linda I’ve had Graves for over 7 years and have relapsed 3 times last seen encronologist in August after stopping Carbizamole in April all my levels were good I was feeling unwell in January so had routine thyroid bloods done that’s when I found my antibodies had risen and they wanted them repeated in 6 weeks spoke with enco who said hang fire as I’m seeing him in April just not sure what are normal ranges for antibodies as he told me if they start to rise it’s attacking your thyroid xx
The ranges for all tests will differ slightly from lab to lab so it is important to always get a copy of your testing and keep your own file on them. I have had Graves since 2007, 11 years now but I have kept my labs normal by not quitting the meds entirely, adding supplements and making adjustments if my labs change too drastically, even if the results are within the normal range. They don't have to be abnormal, just too much of a range in a test. For example, at one point, my TSH fell to around 50 from 1.5 so in addition to taking the low dose of 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 3 or 4 days a week, I added Acetyl-L-Carnitine 500 mg to my meds. Then when my value was where I wanted it, I stopped Acetyl and I took regular L-carnitine 500 mg on the off days I was not taking meds. I always take vitamin D, 1,000 IU daily as it is important for good thyroid function and I know I am deficient, especially in the winter. My Endo sees me every 6 months and I get my GP to do my thyroid labs in between around every 6 weeks mark. This has worked for me in preventing relapses. My antibodies are non-detectable as long as I do this and from a thyroid point of view, I feel good with no or few if any thyroid symptoms.
Thanks Linda for your reply I’m realy fed up it’s quite complexed x