What's happening to me? Dr called me at home saying to come in immediately. TSH @ zero "thyroid hormone off the scale" his words.

[Silverpony]

What does this mean? Passed out twice this week, have palpatations, angina, blurred vision, shooting pains through my body, unsteady on my feet & am very weak. More blood tests & come back next Friday. Don't know what's happening to me or what to do. Any advice is much appreciated. Should I be worried?

[Hidden]

Dont panic. Nhs gets into a lather about tsh. Mine is suppressed and i feel great. Much better than when the nhs kept it elevated. They should be looking at your iron and b12.

[shaws Administrator]

I have just looked at your profile and I assume you have not had a diagnosis or medication.

Disregarding the TSH, you are obviously unwell if you have all those clinical symptoms. I am no expert at blood tests but think you maybe hyperthyroid.

[Hidden]

Welcome to TUK

Tell us a bit more about you. Have you been diagnosed with thyroid problems or has this come out of the blue? If already diagnosed, how long have you had the diagnosis and what medication are you on?

[Fruitandnutcase]

Surely your GP has given you something for the angina and palpitations? There are all sorts of things you could be given.

You don't sound at all well and could easily be hyper. I have Graves and had terrible palps and chest pains when I was first diagnosed and felt really ill.

I would say take things really easy and if you start to feel worse over the weekend take yourself to A&E

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Not a very helpful call!

If he was really worried, I'd have hoped he would have done something. So perhaps it is not quite as bad as it might initially have sounded.

If your thyroid hormone levels are very high, that can make you feel very ill and can be dangerous. If you get any worse, please call the appropriate number (e.g. 111) and ask for help. Try to say what you have put in your question. (Unfortunately, when thyroid hormones runaway they can cause something called Thyroid Storm and that needs to be treated as an emergency.)

It feels very bad telling you this in a simple, typed post. I don't think it in anyone's interest to avoid bluntly saying that it is a serious issue. But I then have to say "Don't panic". Which is a bit of a conflict. I think I am saying, worrying is not what is needed, but anyone would understand if you do.

Rod

[Hidden]

Hi it's difficult to say without any more details but this sounds as I was with typical hyperthyroid symptoms. If so its very strange you haven't been started immediately on medication to slow your thyroid downHave you not got anu medication from your doctor?

[Hidden]

Hi silverpony, I have just noticed you have responded to another post that you have just had experience of a thyoid storm so I assume you have had this before?

[Joy333]

Hi silverpony, going by what your Gp said and your current symptoms, it does sound like your hyperthyroid. I experienced similar symptoms when I was first diagnosed so understand how awful you must feel.

I would hope that your Gp has contacted endocrinology dept to get you started on medication? Rather than waiting until next Friday for your Gp appt, it might be more helpful for you to make contact with the surgery first thing Monday morning for a gp telephone appt and request results of your blood test which were taken again. In the meantime it's important that you rest up and try to avoid any stress.

Take good care and let us know how you get on

[Silverpony]

Thank you, everyone for your kind replies. GP told me I may be experiencing a "thyriod storm" & to go to A&E immediately if I developed a temperature. I did panic a bit since this came on so quickly.. He gave me some valium & said go to bed. Where I've been all weekend. No fever, but feeling progressively worse, getting weaker, shortness of breah, extraordinary pains and very wobbly on my feet! Will ask for copy of my FBC from surgery on Monday am, and am investigating good endos in London. Am touched by your replies and information. Hope you're all in good health yourselves, and thank you all again.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Silverpony]

Please do not put off seeing a doctor in the hope of getting the best doctor.

Thyroid storm is one of the few true endocrine emergencies. I am amazed that your GP did not prescribe propranolol and, very likely, carbimazole as well. Weakness, shortness of breath are also symptoms.

I wasn't going to give you this link because I do not wish to worry you excessively, but it is a sound document:

thyroidmanager.org/chapter/...

Rod

[Hidden in reply to Silverpony]

This is worrying silverpony, if your GP thought you may be experiencingthyroid storm he should have sent you straight to hospital.You say you are getting worse shortness of breath, weak, wobbly and in pain.Seems he doesn't know how to treat hyperthyroidism you should be on propranolol and carbimazole so considering he has given you Valium instead indo not trust him! I am not one for advising people to go to A n E but I make an exception here.Please seek medical advice x

[marram in reply to Silverpony]

Valium and 'go to bed' are not the correct treatment for Thyroid Storm. You should be on a drip with beta blockers and carbimazole. You really must go to A & E to get this sorted. I have had a Thyroid Storm and I started having hallucinations and became unconscious within a few hours, but the doctor was on the ball and actually came to my home and arranged for me to be taken into hospital for treatment.

[Joy333]

Silverpony, thanks for getting back to us. I am worried that you have not been started on treatment yet, you really shouldn't be left like this. Did your doctor say what his plan of action is? He really needs to act now. I know only too well how you are feeling with all those awful symptoms but I've got to say that treatment with betablockers and carbimazole was a life saver. X

[Silverpony]

Hello, thanks again for all your kind advice. My GP just called to say he's referring me for an urgent appointment with an endo. at St Mary's here in London. 2-3 weeks. Apparently I'm "up to 27" whatever that means, TSH at zero. Am feeling pretty rubbish, can anyone recommend a private endo? Is this an appropriate question for this forum? I read somewhere on this site of a German professor of endocrinology but can't find it now. I too feel that I should be on a drip somewhere but have been told to take it easy and not to worry. Will post blood test results tomorrow when I get them. Am truly touched by your replies & am getting a bit tearful, but that could just be my hormones! I hope you are all in good health yourselves. Many thanks x

[Clutter in reply to Silverpony]

Silverpony,

If your TSH is 0 and your FT4 is 27 you've become hyperthyroid and you're quite right, it'll be your thyroid hormones that are making you feel weepy.

Email [e-mail] for a list of private endos if you don't like the one at St. Mary's. Do your research as most will also work in the NHS and may adhere to NHS/BTF guidelines. You'll probably need a letter of referral from your GP even to be seen privately.

ps the German endo wasn't named on the boards and no longer practices in the UK, having returned to Germany.

[Silverpony]

Hello again & thank you for all the kind advice. Prof. R @ St Mary's suggested I may have Graves! Carbimazole & propranolol & come back next month. He reviewed my PMC, specifially the admissions to St Mary's for seizures & blackouts, & advised that I may have had an underlying problem for years & that 'something' had triggered this off in the past few months. Have had migraines for years & these seizures had been attributed to that, my thyroid wad never measured in hospital?! Further, over the years many people have suggested that I may be hyperthyriod, been tested over a half a dozen times via my GP & have always been 'borderline'. I am disappointed with my previous GP for not recognising what I now realise are 'classic' symptoms & now my health has markedly deteriorated. Am hearted that I will get better in '12-18 months' & accept that I will 'feel a lot worse before I feel better in 4-6 weeks'. Will be looking on this site's Graves pages now. The weired & wonderful work of thyroid disease - its a complicated business ....many thanks for your advice again & I hope you are all in good health.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Silverpony]

Am so very, very pleased that, at last, someone is taking action and not simply building up concern and worry.

Many people find that starting on carbimazole, they rapidly head towards hypothyroidism and then have to adjust the dose. Simply be aware and don't ignore the symptoms.