Hyper versus Hypo

[ursa]

What is actually worse, having a hyperactive or a hypoactive thyroid?

My hyperactive thyroid makes me extremely restless, having to visit the toilet forever because of frequent bowl movement, being depressed and generally aggressive at the same time.

I am starting to feel a bit better now after having been on 40mg carb for over a weak.

[HIFL]

This is an interesting philosophical question. Extreme hyper, or thyrotoxicosis, can kill you within a few weeks (heart gives out). However, extreme hypo, or myxedema, will turn you into a vegetable, but you don't die--not right away, anyway.

For more moderate cases (not thyrotoxicosis, just hyper), people who have been both usually prefer hypo over hyper, because the hyper becomes debilitating and exhausting. I spent all my time preparing food/eating it then going to the bathroom when hyper. Couldn't sleep either cause heart was always racing. So really, no life.

With the moderate hypo that occurred after RAI, life was more normal, just a little on the slow side.

[Clutter]

Ursa, it depends on the degree of hyper and hypothyroidism, both are very unpleasant in different ways. Carbimazole can regulate thyroid very quickly so you should have bloods monitored every 4 weeks so that dose can be adjusted as required. As it regulates your thyroid hormone you should feel less aggressive and restless and your bowel movements will become less frequent. Being on too high a dose of Carbimazole for too long can lead to high TSH and low FT4 and FT3 which will make you hypothyroid.

[Pippins2]

I agree with Clutter definitely a question of degree

[ursa]

Thanks folks.

My FT4 was 36.2 and my TSH <.01 when I was first diagnosed. This was on 18th November 2014.

I think it got progressively worse until my endo appointment on 29th December.

Shall I insist on a blood test with my GP towards the end of January?

My next endo appointment is after 3 months.

[shaws Administrator in reply to ursa]

I think it is feasible to ask your GP for a blood test. I'm not sure about taking medication before it as you don't if on levo. Maybe someone will respond and confirm or otherwise.

[PoorlyFu]

I have severe thyrotoxicosis and felt like death and being encouraged to have surgery to remove my thyroid. While neither is fun as someone said before severe hyper can become fatal. Also it puts a lot of pressure on the heart

[lucieb1]

I was hyper over 30yrsago after 5yrs i had no option but to have the op as it was pretty bad, then a few months later i had become hypo.At present i take 150mcgs, i have developed dieabets, uctd, and i am being tested for lupus as my mum &aunt had lupus, these are all auto diseases.