Overactive thyroid/Autoimmune Thyroiditis

[SammyLB]

Hi,

It's been a while since I have posted. 

Last year after several months of feeling unwell my GP sent me for blood tests which came back with an extremely overactive thyroid in mid November 2015 = FT4 53.6 with TSH 0.01. I was put on a daily dose of 20mg Carbimazole together with Propranolol (beta-blockers) 3 times a day (reducing as symptoms got better).  Over the following months I have had routine blood tests, an ultrasound and an anti-bodies test.  The tests were all negative thankfully.  My hormone levels are now almost within normal range and I feel so much better.  I no longer take Propranolol and am currently only taking 5mg of Carbimazole.

After a follow-up appointment last week with my GP he has said that because all the usual triggers of an overactive thyroid have not been present and that I do not carry the 'usual suspect' antibodies associated with my thyroid condition we may never know what happened?  He has advised that because my thyroid will be scarred it will slowly destroy itself and that I will need to start and take thyroxine and will continue for the rest of my life.

I'm a bit confused.  Has anyone else had this experience?  Has anyone else managed to get to the bottom of their mysterious thyroid condition?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

S x

[Clutter]

SammyLB,

If you don't have positive antibodies for Graves Disease there is a very good chance that you will have permanent remission from hyperthyroidism.  If remission fails and you become hyperthyroid again you will need to resume Carbimazole or consider radioactive iodine ablatement which causes hypothyroidism.  Sometimes a period of hyperactivity may be a thyroid swan song prior to thyroid levels dropping and hypothyroidism developing.  I don't think there is any way of determining whether you will remain euthyroid or might become hypothyroid in time.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

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I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[SammyLB in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter,

Thanks so much for your reply and very useful!

I have been contacted by my doctor today to advise me to stop taking carbimazole with immidate effect and to go in for a kidney function test as my results from a recent blood test have shown it to get worse!.  I do hope this is nothing to be worried about - fingers crossed!!??

S x

[Clutter in reply to SammyLB]

SammyLB,

 Carbimazole can cause low white blood cells which fight infection.  It's not uncommon to have to stop Carbimazole to deal with an infection.  I hope it's nothing worse.