Carbimazole or not

[Angel20]

I went to see the new Endo doctor at hospital yesterday. A very nice person not pushy at all. He asked me how long I have had hyperthyroidism. We discussed my symptoms which are mild. We talked about my last blood test results with a TSH 0.01 no change there however the FT3 and FT4 a slight improvement.

This doctor suggested that my body had got used to Graves Disease and has not got any worse than 3 years ago, however, the plan is to have a thyroid scan, new blood tests and to see him in April 2020.

He stated that it was up to me whether I wanted to take Carbimazole or not, however he did stress that longer term my heart could suffer if I leave it untreated.

I put it to him, that generally the Endo doctors go crazy with higher dosage of Carbimazole making their patients from hyper to hypo. He did not dispute it. Actually he said there had been mistakes in the past he owned up to it.

How do I feel about my situation. First of all I am scared of taking carbimazole and right now my gut feeling is saying no and yet I have not totally dismissed Carbimazole. The thing is as we know there is no cure for Graves Disease so basically Carbimazole is treating the symptoms, since I have mild Graves disease symptoms now for the past 3 years should I stay with L-carnitine vitamins etc ! I just don't know what to do. The side effects is a worrying factor for me, I don't have any other medical issues I am not taking any other medical tablets will I be introducing problems by taking Carbimazole.

I know from your posts many of you have done well on Carbimazole however I feel it depends how bad your symptoms were.

Taking into consideration that we must also go by how the patient is feeling this is so important far more than taking medication.

Another worry is this. I go away from end of May abroad and spend time there for min of 4 months as I have commitments. Starting Carbimazole requires monitoring, blood tests etc what I my gonna do get another Endo doctor there ! pfff

Appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you

Reply

(1)

[purple64]

Maybe a low dose of Carbimazole would help your levels? I don't think going abroad will be a problem your Endo or GP can write a letter confirming the reason for the medication my son has this for his levothyroxine. I'm sure you will be able to get meds just need to investigate the ins and outs. Have you ever taken Carbimazole?

[Angel20 in reply to purple64]

Never taken carbimazole

What is low dosage ?

[purple64 in reply to Angel20]

I take 5 mg but some take that dose every other day and some take 2.5 mg

[Angel20 in reply to purple64]

Any side effects with 5mg carbimazole ? hair loss etc

[Lora7again in reply to Angel20]

Here is a link about Carbimazole

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/carbim...

I think when your thyroid levels are changing you can experience hair loss. I have had two lots of extreme hair loss when I was hyper and when I was hypo. Both times I lost about 50% of my hair but it has now stopped for the second time. My hair has always been extremely thick so I am lucky because I had a lot of hair to start with. My hair has been growing back now for 6 months and is not as thick as it once was but it looks ok. A lot of thyroid disease patients do not experience hair loss and some do so it is pot luck imho

[purple64 in reply to Angel20]

I think hair loss is thyroid problem not medication