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Adverse reaction to Carbimazole indicating start of blood disorder with tsh of 70

SickLeo17 profile image
22 Replies

I was diagnosed hyper in early Dec 2017 and been trated with beta blockers for tachycardia and carbimazole for hyperthyroidism. Auto antibodies test was inconclusive for Graves.

I was given a sml initial dose of carbimazole then given a shock treatment at a dose of 60 mg a day divided into two doses per day. Then my tsh was 60 so they cut my dose to 30 mg divided into two doses per day next bloods said my tsh is is 70 and that I have borderline normocrytic anaemia.

Dr halted all meds immediately. And didn't properly explain results.

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SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17
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22 Replies
Greybeard profile image
Greybeard

Hi leo, do you have any results for ft4 and ft3?

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17 in reply toGreybeard

Most recent. Free T4 is 5 pmol/L (10-20)

Free T3 is 3.6 pmol/L (2.8-6.8)

TSH is 70 mU/L (0.40-4.00)

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toSickLeo17

These are Hypo results. FT4 would be higher when Hyper - unless the treatment has made you Hypo ..

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17 in reply toMarz

Yes the treatment took me from being hyperthyroid to hypothyroid.

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toSickLeo17

Hyper or Hypo ?

Greybeard profile image
Greybeard in reply toSickLeo17

Hi Leo, I'm no expert but I think your doctor is barking up the wrong tree. Your blood results indicate an underactive thyroid ie hypothyroid. The treatment you were given was for hyperthyroid ie overactive. You need to find a doctor who knows how to treat thyroid conditions properly and you need to find them soon.

I don't know what normocrytic anaemia is or how it may effect you.

The normal treatment for high tsh accompanied by low ft3 and ft4 is levothroxine. The symptoms you have are common to both over and underactive thyroid conditions.

It is very common for doctors to be pitifully under trained as far as thyroid treatment is concerned so you would do well to read as much as you can so you are able to know if you are treated properly.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toGreybeard

Think there is a minor typo in there:

Normocytic anemias may be thought of as representing any of the following: a decreased production of normal-sized red blood cells (e.g., anemia of chronic disease, aplastic anemia); an increased destruction or loss of red blood cells (e.g., hemolysis, posthemorrhagic anemia); an uncompensated increase in plasma volume (e.g., pregnancy, fluid overload); or a mixture of conditions producing microcytic and macrocytic anemias.

Much more at link:

aafp.org/afp/2000/1115/p225...

Marz profile image
Marz

Surely with a TSH that high it would appear you are not Hyper but Hypo. Is it possible you have Hashimotos when you can swing from Hyper to Hypo ?

As suggested above you also need test results for T4 & T3 and. TPO & Tg anti-bodies.

Did you mean macrocytic anaemia - when your cells are large ? Full Iron Profile must be done - along with B12 - Folate - Ferritin & VitD.

Hope you soon have some answers.

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17 in reply toMarz

Normocytic Anaemia. When red cells are normal size but fewer cells

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toSickLeo17

Other members here will know more about anaemia. What has your GP said ? Have you seen an Endo ?

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17 in reply toMarz

Not yet. Had been under care of a public hospital consultant with a special interest in thyroid disease

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toSickLeo17

Ummm ? We have seen another member treated with Carb when they had Hashimotos. Please have those tests I mentioned earlier.

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17 in reply toMarz

My original test was

Free T4 34.4

Free T3 25.5

TSH <0.01

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toSickLeo17

Ah - yes that does suggest Hyper but you are now Hypo. I would still insist on having anti-bodies checked 😊 Low B12 and Folate can affect red cell production. Often overlooked - so have them tested ASAP.

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17 in reply toMarz

Will do

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toSickLeo17

Agree with Marz. Very strongly.

A combination of iron deficiency and B12 (and folate) deficiency can result in normocytic anaemia. Often the Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW) helps to identify this - it highlights when the sizes of the cells include big and small cells which might average "normal".

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17

Dr admitted he had over medicated.

My gp is doing more comprehensive bloods to follow up pathology summary regarding the indicator of adverse reaction to carbimazole

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toSickLeo17

Ensure you obtain all copies of your test results. The tests I have mentioned need to be requested - they are not done routinely 😊

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17

Only checked for graves auto antibodies so far and that was inconclusive.

Have requested another for both hashimoto's and for graves auto antibodies.

Dr refused for the moment. But looking for a thyroid specialist endocrinologist to treat me

Marz profile image
Marz in reply toSickLeo17

They are a bit llke hens teeth - Thyroid UK have a list of Thyroid friendly Docs - sorry cannot remember the e-mail address for the lady with the info !

thyroiduk.org

The website for this Forum - perhaps the info is there :-)

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle

Hi leo i have hashis and on titration carbi 2.5mgs now as i was hyper back in july 2017 i was on 20mgs, i think i was on a hyper swing back then, endo says no!! I finally pestered my gp for tpo test for hashis in the october when it was confirmed but tsi for graves i could not get done for love and money!! I am on my 2nd endo and both refuse tsi test saying that i do have graves aswell as everybody who is hyper has graves!!" Em yeah ok" so i have both-like you i am now hypo and carbi is slowly being reduced i have titrated myself on a couple of occassions as endos are idiots wanting to keep me on a higher dose and make me more hyPO, 1st one even threatened me by saying he would strike me off if i changed my meds again, i gave him the boot anyway!!

I hope you are being titrated down now?x😊

SickLeo17 profile image
SickLeo17 in reply toRmichelle

They cut all treatment atm and waiting for future blood results. The consultant thinks I don't have graves or hashimoto. He thinks I had inflamed thyroid and after high dose carbimazole that it will go back to normal on its own and if it doesn't then I have graves or hashiimoto. I have had adverse reactions to cardiac meds yrs ago. So I'm sensitive. They had no business giving me the maximum dose with my history and especially at my age as it gives a higher chance of blood disorders forming.

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