I just got told by my GP that I have an overactive thyroid and I have an endo appointment in November. I don't have the blood results but I was told I was very definitely out of range for TSH and FT4.
THe thing is I had the bloods done because I have been extremely tired and have had rapid weight gain. There's a strong family history of hypo and I just assumed that was the problem. I have also had trouble sleeping at night (but crashing out regularly through the day, feelings of anxiety, tremors and acne.
I was found to be B12 and folate deficient last year. I have B12 injections and took a course of Folate last year and they are both now ithin range. I am also prescribed vitamin B strong compound and thiamine and they are within range.
Does anyone know what's going on?
I feel really poorly at the moment...
Thanks!
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Miralise
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Autoimmune thyroid disorders can cause swings from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism. You might want to consider eating a gluten free diet which seems to help a lot of people.
I'm not using my computer, so can't provide you with links I've posted previously, but Chris Kresser's website has a lot of useful ebooks & articles on thyroid health & autoimmune disorders.
Sounds more like Hashimoto's (hypo) autoimmune thyroid disease. You can get swings that appear to show blood is hyper, but you feel hypo
Plus low vitamin levels are very common. Also want to check vitamin D.
First thing is do you have any actual blood test results? If not you need to get hold of them. You are entitled under data protection laws.
You may be able to view test results online - ring and ask about this. If you can then apply for online access to your account. All GP practices are supposed to offer this, in reality very few have blood test results available online.
If not then ask for print out of recent tests. Pick up in a day or two. They may make a nominal charge for paper.
You need to know results for TSH, FT4 and FT3. Do you also have high thyroid antibodies? You need to know. Did GP test these? If not ask that they are tested.
Suggest you ask GP to test for thyroid antibodies for Hashimoto's and antibodies for Graves, if they have not been done
But if you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
If you didn't stop this might account for hyper result
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting
I am slightly vit D deficient but not enough to be prescribed it, though I was last year (only just remembered this). I'm going to see the GP on Wednesday so I'll try to get more info then. My vitamins don't contain Biotin. Thanks for all the info!
I just checked and it doesn't contain Biotin. I am also slightly vit D deficient. Could this affect it? I'm going to see the GP on Wednesday so I'll try to get more info then...
Low vitamin impacts immune system i believe but wouldn't give a false reading. I'm not a hypo expert, or any thyroid expert tbh, but I've heard lots of people talking about hyper flares during hypo. On the other hand I do know graves n some of your symptoms could be hyper related -tiredness and shaking. Plus as humanbean says it's a myth that all hyper people lose weight. I never did n i believe it can sometimes cause weight gain (n not from eating too much which is what doctors think) but just because different bodies react differently.
GPs determine whether people are hypothyroid, "normal", or hyperthyroid based on the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone).
Their deductions from the TSH are (putting it very crudely) :
TSH below reference range - patient is hyperthyroid and needs treatment to lower thyroid hormone levels
TSH within reference range - patient is euthyroid (also known as "normal")
TSH over reference range but less than 10 - patient is suffering from subclinical hypothyroidism and doesn't need treatment
TSH over 10 - patient is overtly hypothyroid and should be treated with Levothyroxine to raise thyroid hormone levels
The above "recipe" for how to treat the thyroid is simplistic and doesn't cover all situations.
You could have hypothyroid symptoms and a low TSH if the condition you really suffered from was actually secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism. Doctors don't consider this scenario very often. They've been told that it is very rare so they rarely think of testing for it.
In the two conditions I just mentioned (secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism) the problem is not with the thyroid gland. Instead, there is an issue with the amount of TSH the body can produce - it can't produce enough. If the body doesn't produce enough TSH then the thyroid hormone levels, Free T4 and Free T3 will be low and the patient suffers from hypothyroidism that way.
The treatment for hypothyroidism of any kind is prescribed hormones, usually in pill form, to replace the ones that the thyroid doesn't produce.
I should add that there is a lot of crossover between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in terms of symptoms. If you believe stereotypes then people with hypothyroidism are all fat - they all gain weight, they don't lose it - and people with hyperthyroidism are all thin - they all lose weight, they don't gain it.
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence from patients to suggest that these stereotypes about weight loss or gain are not accurate.
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