Hyper info please.

[Ciabatta]

Hi there.

Recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I posted before and wa advised to ask for blood test results which I will do on Tuesday.

Anyway, after initially being referred to endocrinologist and still awaiting an appointment, my gp phoned me to say the hospital have sent a prescription through for me to collect. 20mg of carbimazole (sp?)

I've not really spoken to anyone about my results, or what to expect, or....anything really. I'm feeling a bit concerned. (I like to know what's what)

So, my main concern is, although hyper, my resting pulse is around 40. I have been gaining weight. But, my anxiety is dreadful and I'm not sleeping so am keen to resolve that obviously.

Will this drug lower my pulse at all, or does it have no effect and other drugs are used for those with racing heart rates?

How can I be hyper but still have low pulse? (Bp is and has always been low 95/55 for example but resting can be lower) I've tried to find out but can't seem to find reliable info.

I'm confused (brain fog is very much in evidence) very short fuse.

Stress levels on an all time high too as I'm single carer to son (autistic) and mum (Alzheimer's) . Cant afford to be ill.

[ChristinaT]

Low blood pressure is/can be a symptom of hyperthyroidism. Certainly uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, as can low blood sugar, and even feeling really cold at times despite having severe heat intolerance/sweating issues.

I think your bp will improve once your medicated, however I certainly would question this perhaps with your endo just to make sure there aren't any other underlying causes.

My guess is your weight gain is due to nutritional deficiencies. (I have the same issues). Ask you doctor to check your B12/folate/Vitamin D/Calcium and Iron levels.

(If you ask for your iron levels to be checked ask them to do an Iron Studies blood test aswell as a ferritin check. The reason I say this is because your ferritin levels may be okay, but your serum Iron and transferrin saturation may not be. It's just to cover all bases)

You may even be deficient in Iodine aswell but this is certainly something I would not suggest supplementing with as it can cause severe hyper attacks, again though query this with your endo.

I think you will feel better once you start your medication but it is a balancing act alongside correcting any nutritional deficiencies and possible diet changes. Once you feel more stabilised you should start losing weight and you may have to adjust your medication dosages from time to time.

Vitamin E and cartenoids can be depleted with hyperthyroidism, these may be useful add ons as supplementation or adjusting your diet to include foods rich in these, but get the aforementioned tested first and see where you stand with those. A b complex vitamin may also be beneficial for you aswell.

L cartinine is something which is meant to be very good for hyperthyroidism, and can be depleted im sufferers. However, again please discuss this with your endo before considering supplementing with it as it can cause hypo symptoms if you take too much of it in conjunction with the prescribed medication.

( hypo sufferers may avoid this amino acid, as it can/would worsen their symptoms)

Anyway sorry for the essay

Keep us updated on how you get on. I hope you're feeling better soon. X

[Silver_Fairy]

Have you had your antibodies tested?

[Ciabatta]

I've had nothing, seen no one. Initial blood test showed over active. Follow up blood test confirmed it but that's it so far. All through gp.

Tomorrow I go to get Carbimazole from gp (someone at the hospital reviewed my results and has issued a prescription).

I am being referred to endo but seen no one yet. No date as apparently there are no appointments available.

Nothing else has been checked. I will request full blood tests tomorrow.

[Ciabatta]

Right I have my results as follows

TSH <0.05

Serum free T4 28.6

Serum free triiodothyronine 8.8

I have no idea what any of that means.

I had a full blood count back in march and everything there was fine apparently. All normal, including vitamins and iron (ferritin etc..)

[humanbean in reply to Ciabatta]

What a doctor calls fine and what a patient calls fine aren't necessarily the same thing. For example, if you had a ferritin (iron stores) test from a lab where the reference range for ferritin was (13 - 150), then many doctors would say that a result of 13 or 85 (approx mid-range) or 150 was normal. Some doctors even say a ferritin level of 8 or 10 is normal too because its only just under the range, and the reaction is "Well, that's close enough".

In order for the body to make use of and metabolise prescribed thyroid meds it is essential to have a ferritin level of 70 (minimum) and preferably a level of mid-range or a little bit higher - up to about 120 or so. It depends on where the patient themselves feels best. Optimal levels for different nutrients are not always mid-range. It depends on the specific vitamin or mineral. You really need to get hold of any results and reference ranges that you can get your hands on from your GP. Once you have them copy them into a new post on here and ask for feedback.

It is this problem - doctors believing the reference range is never wrong and any result within the range or within spitting distance of the range is normal - that leaves so many of us feeling really ill.

****

There is another thing you really ought to find out...

It is important for you to find out whether you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and/or Graves's Disease or some other cause for your hyperthyroidism. It could make a big difference to how your condition should be treated, how you can influence your own health for the better, and what is likely to happen in the future.

This page is informative on the subject of thyroid antibodies - there are several different kinds :

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

I forgot to say - if you take iodine in any form - perhaps contained within a multi-vitamin or multi-mineral, you should stop taking it. Iodine and thyroid problems do not mix unless someone has a confirmed iodine deficiency.

[Ciabatta]

Ok thanks. I'll request the blood count results asap. I start my carbimazole tomorrow and then follow up blood test in 3 weeks to see how it's affecting me.

Really do appreciate all the info.

The doctor was happy to chat with me. I did say, oh so it's not much over then and he said that didn't matter because it is all about how I feel and my symptoms, not the amount it's over. I thought that was a good start.

[ChristinaT]

You could ask for results on your vitamin/mineral test , including ranges. (Just echoing) one of the above replies. Deficiencies do and can occur as a result of hyper and hypothyroidism, and they should be checked periodically. Your doctor may say your results are 'fine', but a doctor may/will say that even if you're just scraping above deficiency range. If you do decide to/want to obtain your specific results then Just make a note of the ones you've already been tested for, and any future ones and compare them.If you ever see a substantial decrease in any particular one just keep an eye on it (obviously I hope this doesn't happen) but just incase.

[Ciabatta]

Saw endo today. He suspects thyroiditis and sent me off for blood tests to check for antibodies. Will see what results are.

Lund out my ferritin was 77