Now for the extended version. After 3 months of blood work I have demonstrated a pattern of decreasing thyroid hormone levels. When I was first tested my Free T3 and Free T4 levels were significantly above normal range and my TSH levels were undetectable (basically zero). After this 3rd round of lab work my TSH has risen to a detectable level (.18) though it is still below the normal range. This indicates I may still have a hyperthyroid issue. However, my Free T3 hormone level is slightly below normal range (2.0, though not concerning at this point) and my Free T4 level (.81) is in the normal range.
So, while this pattern is good and may indicate a temporary thyroid problem instead of an autoimmune disease the doctor believes it is strange that my TSH would remain so low and my Free T3 and Free T4 would also be decreasing. There was even talk about having to take a hormone supplement if this pattern continues, hopefully it won't.
That may not make any sense to others, but I needed to record for my memory's sake, so next month I will remember my numbers.
The conclusion...well there could be several reasons and because we don't know what's going on at this point I will simply continue to be monitored. The most likely theories:
1) Graves disease can be supressed during pregnancy
2) I had a mild form of thyroiditis and it has now resolved itself
The doctor also mentioned that this kind of roller coaster of hormone levels is more typical after delivering the baby...if that's the case I can't wait to see what happens after the baby is born :)
I was just grasping the idea of Graves disease and beginning to do some research, but I guess I will just return to staying away from Dr. Google and patiently wait to see what my body decides to do.
I know this post has been a little snarky, probably because I find it a bit funny that I can go from 1 diagnosis to the exact opposite issue in a few short months, but I truly am thankful that my thyroid numbers have for the most part returned to a normal range and I pray they continue to hold steady from this point forward in the pregnancy. Thanks for everyone's prayers and well wishes. We'll see what happens next month.
I thought I commented on this but I guess it didn't go through. Have you talked yet with my friend who has this? It does sound like one's levels/numbers can bounce around a bit, and stabalize later in a pregnancy, etc. I'm just glad you haven't needed meds during the pregnancy and now you're almost at the end and will soon see what your body wants to do afterwards. You'll have your answers someday! -- even if the answers are in the form of more questions sometimes. It's a journey/process, right? Anyway, I've been thinking of you! Are they gonna keep checking on the antibodies, does that give them more info? Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kit! I'm actually going to contact your friend when I publish this comment. I've been putting it off because my body is doing such weird stuff, but it's always good to hear another person's experience and perspective. The dr. is monitoring my antibodies, but I only have 1 more appointment before the baby arrives (hopefully) so even if they are abnormal I'm not sure they will do anything until I get tested after the baby. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!
ReplyDeleteAnother way of taking care of low thyroid gland is through whole-food nutritional bovine glandular from grass-pastured stock, raised without antibiotics and growth-stimulants which is found inside Desiccated porcine thyroid . Remember, it helps in better functioning of thyroid gland by helping thyroid hormone synthesis.
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