Brain function after carbimazole treatment.

[Lisa254]

Hi,

I am in my 6th week of being off carbimazole and I'm feeling so much better but my brain feels funny!! During my carbimazole treatment I suffered with brain fog and general brain groggyness which I expected to clear once I came off, it did for about 2 weeks then 3weeks ago I had weird poking sensation not painful in my brain and dizziness (not spinning just felt unbalanced) which has turned into what I can only describe as brain confusion. When Im Walking down the road or I go into a shop it's like my brain is confused by everything going on I'm unable to concentrate and gives me a feeling of being unbalanced but not (it's so hard to explain).

I went to the cinema yesterday first time since being diagnosed and I was really happy as I managed to consentrate the whole way through but when I left the cinema urggg that confused groggy feeling came back and I just felt like I needed to lie down in a room to let my brain chill out, it was with me throughout the evening and at work this morning. It's not a nice experience and my boss has suggested I sign myself off for a few more weeks as I'm still unable to do my job due to this confused issue (my work have been amazing)

I have now seen 3 gps about this as my endo says it's nothing to do with my thyroid treatment and all 3 said it's my body rebalancing ...it's so frustrating I want to get back to normal so I'll be on another gps door step tomorrow morning, am I being super impatient? Has anyone else experienced this? Is this my body rebalancing?

I just feel like my brain needs to be taken out washed with fairy liquid and put back in so I can think clearly.

I had my bloods done last week All in normal range

Tsh 2.11(0.27-4.2)

Ft3 4.8(3.1-6.8)

Ft4 18(12-22)

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you continue to feel unwell 6-8 weeks after stopping carbimazole then getting full blood tests is probably good idea

Have you had TSI or TRab antibodies tested to confirm you have Graves' disease?

Your FT3 looks a bit low

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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

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, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If TPO and/or TG antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease). Though you can also have high TPO and/or high TG with Graves

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's and Graves.

Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and TSI or TRab antibodies tested at least once .

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_...

Private testing for suspected Graves - TSI or TRab antibodies

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

[Lisa254 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks slow dragon,

You have just made me look back at my results saying about my ft3 being on the low side and it was at 4.8 back in January and my notes by it says about this groggy confused head so maybe that is the issue, I just don't know how to increase it!!

For vitamin d folate b12 ferritin and FBc they all came back in 'normal' range, I had my anti bodies tested in sept 17 they were TSH receptor anti bodies 2.2 (0-1.4) and serum anti tpo 45 (<34) since this test I have been gluten soya dairy and tried to stay off bad sugars no alcohol or caffeine, I was also tested for celiac which I was negative. I haven't been retested for my anti bodies since as my endo said there is no point!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lisa254]

Do you have the actual results and ranges on vitamins

Vitamin D most find level needs to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol is better

B12 over 500, and towards top of range may be better

Folate towards top of range

Ferritin at least half way in range

Low FT3 is suggesting you are hypothyroid, either due to too much carbimazole or due to Hashimoto's

You can have Graves and Hashimoto's at same time

Most thyroid patients need TSH around one, or less

[Lisa254 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I have got a docs appoitment today so will get him to print out the results so I can compare where I am to what you have posted 😊 I guess I just thought when I'm off carbimazole I would spring back to my old self straight away I'm so inpatient! 🙄