Hyperthyroid and feeling fine

[Mikiviki]

I need to ask a question for a friend. Hyperthyroid she takes tapazole and feels fine. Her doctor is pressing her to change medication and ultimately to remove the thyroid and go on levothyroxine. Obviously she feels great and has no intention of having an op. Is there any reason why she should??

[PinkNinja]

Does she have her latest blood test results? That would help people to give the right information

Carolyn x

[Mikiviki in reply to PinkNinja]

She should get it tomorrow. I will post it. However, she does feel very well and works full time as a domestic help .

[Hidden]

Many people stay on the drug treatment for years with no problems. Tell her not be pushed into surgery which will then mean she needs thyroid replacement for life.Seek a second opinion if needed it is not a decision to be made lightly. X

[Mikiviki in reply to Hidden]

I agree. She is being advised to have surgery because they are saying the medication is dangerous!, so why is she on it in the first place?

[Mikiviki]

To editfmrt. I can't see your post on the list, but I am answering here anyway, it is her doctor who is suggesting. She can't afford an endo which would cost. She is being told that the drug tapazole is dangerous to stay on. I don't know. I am not a doc, but i have Hashimoto's and that's no fun either.

With no thyroid she would be out if work and then the recovery process to get the right dose etc. She would be financially in dire straits as she lost her proper job and now clean s for vario us families to make ends meet

[Sandybeach1964]

I would say NO to the op. I had 7/8 of mine removed when I was 13, I am 50 now and have spent my life since feeling ill, with most of the usual Hypo symptoms, the worse for me personally the weight issues. However I really can't comment on the use of the drug your friend is now on.

[silverfox7]

Just looked the drug up on Mediguard. Won't let me copy and paste but says something like 21% have reported side effects and I think it was 11% of those said they were bothersome. The list showed nothing over 4 % of individual problems and nothing on that list looks serious, hair dropping out, hot flushes etc. It did say it would produce problems for me which is reassuring as I'm registered of being hypo on Levo and it correctly says one would be working against the other. My first thought was the doctor hasn't heard about it so is putting your friend off. I think she should have a word with the pharmacist and ask their advice.

[Mikiviki]

Thanks. She prefers to continue as she is feeling so well. ( who wouldn't)?

[silverfox7]

Yes I agree but I think she should have a word with the pharmacist then she is prepared if the doctor brings up the question of surgery again.

[Mikiviki]

True

[Hidden]

I'm hypothyroid consequent upon RAI for a hyperthyroid goitre and it has been misery ever since. When hyperthyroid most people have bags of energy and can eat whatever they like and stay as thin as a whip. I'm aware, that that is not the case for all hyperthyroid sufferers but it was for me, and it obviously is for your friend. And she has found the 'sweet spot' in being on the right dose of the right medication. Hooray!

There is some 'concern' in the medical profession (if I remember rightly) about the onset of osteoporosis and weakening of the heart if one goes on and on being medicated for hyperthyroidism, rather than having the problem permanently 'solved' via RAI or surgery. I don't know where in the world you are (suspect not Britain?) but, frankly, what happens after they remove your thyroid is a bally lottery. And you know the percentage chances of a good outcome with that!

What age is your friend? I wonder if Tapazole is an analog of Carbimazole (which is the British drug of choice for hyperthyroid patients)?

Can she get her doctor to talk to her sensibly about what the long term ramifications of remaining on the medication which is making her well may be? We live in a knee jerk age. And doctors seem to be just as prone to off the cuff, knee jerk pronouncements as the rest of the world ...

[lottie-bas]

I was hyper 2 years ago and was told by doctor and specialist that is one of the main reasons for surgical removal of thyroid so I had thyroidectomy, operation was fine, taken a while to get medication sorted

Lottie-bas

[Mikiviki in reply to lottie-bas]

Yes I am aware that it can be fine. My doctor's daughter who is also a doctor herself had a thyroidectomy and is on levothyroxine and is just fine. We are all different

[Pinkpeony]

RAI treatment would have been a no no if I had fully understood the misery of being on Levo for 18months and never feeling fully well.

Explore all avenues before you take this step.

A read through some of the posts will highlight Levo problems.

I hasten to add that a lot of people are perfectly happy with this medication!

Pp

[Mikiviki in reply to Pinkpeony]

I have hashimoto's myself, which is why I don't want my friend to go through the possibility of such a debilitating situation. It took me 15 years to get it all ok and I still have 'off' days and it's not easy to keep my weight a low as I would like....still, the important thing is to feel well, which is why I decided to write on her behalf as I think that if she is feeling well, the doctor should be advising her to leave well alone.

[Pinkpeony in reply to Mikiviki]

Mikulski

She is lucky to have a friend like you!

Very best wishes to you both.

Pp

[Pinkpeony]

Sorry this tablet does what it wants.

Mikiviki

Pp

[Mikiviki]

Thanks