Hyperthyroidism with hypothyroidism symptoms - confused

[DunCaan]

Hi My granddaughter aged 20 has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism with large cysts on both sides of her thyroid gland. However her symptoms are those typical with hypothyroidism? Confused!! Consultant treating cysts says that as she has quite a few on both side of the gland he is recommending removal of the thyroid. Can anyone advise us with this particularly diagnosis and symptoms? She is struggling with weight gain, excessive tiredness- lethargic, walks very stiff. Thanks

[cjrsquared]

Is your daughter on treatment for hyperthyroid? If so that could explain hypo symptoms could be overmedicated. Do you have copies of her blood results plus ranges plus any meds that she is on. It would help members to offer better advice.

[DunCaan in reply to cjrsquared]

Thanks will find this blood info out and post. Thanks

[greygoose]

She needs her antibodies tested. She possibly has Hashi's. Although people with Grave's can put on weight and have fatigue.

Do the cysts show? Have they been aspirated and analysed? Do they affect her in any way? Are they really cysts and not nodules? Questions you need to ask the consultant.

[Marz]

We have read of more than one case here where the member had Hashimotos and did not have an over-active thyroid. Obtaining copies of her results is so important. As you probably know you can swing from Hyper to Hypo and back again - with Hashi's .... Hope you get some answers soon 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation she needs TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.

Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4, plus vitamins

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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 ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If TPO and/or TG antibodies are high this is most likely Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

It is possible to have raised TPO and/or TG with Graves' disease

Graves needs TSI or TRab testing to be sure

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's.

Food intolerances common with both Graves and Hashimoto's too, especially gluten. So it's important to get tested.

[Fruitandnutcase]

Do they know for sure that the lumps are cysts? Make sure that her doctors have checked them out. My sister in law felt a ‘’cyst’ on her throat, she was about the same age as your grand daughter and breast feeding her new baby at the time and so they left the ‘cyst’ until she stopped breast feeding at which point they discovered it was malignant - so I definitely wouldn’t accept ‘cyst’ unless I knew it had been thoroughly checked out and definitely was a cyst. Like GG says - there are questions you need to ask her consultant.

My sister in law then had her thyroid removed and had chemo etc afterwards. That must have been about 45 years ago and she never looked back worked went back to uni - with two little kids! Taught for years, led a very active outdoor life - sailing, climbing etc and she is still going strong so even if they do decide to remove her thyroid her future can still be great.