New Diagnosis

[karenphillips]

I have just been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid and my GP is now sending a referral to an Endocrinologist.

My question is what should I expect and what treatment is there?

[Fruitandnutcase]

Well, I knew from the start that my thyroid was over practice and I had antibodies which is Graves Disease. My GP file shares with my local teaching hospital so I was given a prescription for 20mcg carbimazole a day, an antithyroid drug that would make me less hyper. Was also booked to see an endo and told to go back in fine weeks for more blood tests. Some people are given beta blockers to stop their heart pounding but I've got asthma so I couldn't do that.

After four weeks my results weren't much different so I got a letter from the endo I still hadn't seen telling me to double up to 40mcg carb a day. I did that and by the time I saw the endo I was pretty hypo. I then started on levothyroxine as well - that's known as block and replace - and was told my treatment would take about a year, which it did. The other way of treating an overactive thyroid is by titration where the dose of carbimazole or PTU, whichever you are taking, is gradually reduced. I don't know all that much about PTU though.

On my first visit I was weighed and height measured and had blood pressure taken sitting and standing. After that it was just weight. I saw the endo, to be honest my hospital visits were always a bit of a let down, don't know what I was expecting but I only ever had one appointment where I came out feeling really great.

I'd say make sure you get and keep a record of all of your blood tests along with their ranges. I used to keep a notebook with me with any questions I wanted to ask my endo and a quick note about how I was feeling, otherwise I found that if a doctor asked how I was feeling I would say Fine, then realise I hadn't been feeling fine at all so it was handy to be able to look back and see exactly how I was. I also kept a note of what medicines and doses I was on.

Also read as much as you can about your condition, online or from books and articles and ask questions, show that you are taking an interest and not just having your treatment done to you.