Possible hyperthyroidism?

[Norm2014]

Hello all,

I'm writing this post because over the past year I have become very concerned with my health, I'm a very skinny 18 year old boy (I say boy because I don't look like a man at all) and I'm 178cm tall, my waist is less than 25 inches I can't remember exactly what I measured but it was definitely less than 25 inches. I recently did a BMI test on myself and my results came out at 17.3 which means underweight and this result concerns me. Furthermore, I get really severe belly ache in my stomach and my stomach is just growling, some of my friends are concerned I'm not eating but it's not it's because I really need to excrete my faeces! But when it comes to it, it's a struggle to get it out and that's what's causing my stomach pains and the embarrassing growling sounds it makes, I also had a friend straight up to tell me that my breath is just getting worse (in terms of smell), my hair is starting to go baldish in some places and I'm only 18 how can I be going bald at this age?? I also noticed that when I'm walking around the supermarket, I'll get tired easily and my body is just dragging myself to the floor, I can't stand for long without my legs feeling somewhat weak but this could be due to my sleep and feeling tired (I can't remember the last time I had a good 8 hours sleep without it being disturbed or me just tossing and turning). I have considered seeing my local GP but I feel like I could be wasting their time and I'm just overreacting, I even feel embarrassed writing this but I just don't know what to do?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Norm2014

To know if this is possibly hyperthyroidism then you will need thyroid function tests.

Don't consider that you are wasting your doctor's time, they are there to help with health problems. Make an appointment to discuss everything you have said in your post above. Write it down so that you don't leave anything out and go through it all with your doctor.

By the way, some people are naturally very slim, my 23 year old grandson's waist measurement is only 26".

[humanbean]

If your constipation is so bad that it is making your breath smell awful then you really need to see a doctor about it. It doesn't sound like a problem that should be treated with over the counter laxatives without the approval of a doctor.

One thing I should point out... If you are hyperthyroid it is more common to suffer from diarrhoea with it than constipation, but it isn't a cast iron rule.

[Gymgirl]

Hi Norm2014, I would urge you to see your GP. I can guarantee you that you are not wasting their time. You have a number of symptoms that you are worried about and they will advise on the best way forward to investigate possible causes, most probably by doing some blood tests. Good advice already posted about writing all your symptoms down for the appointment, then you won't forget anything.

[G2G2]

Glad you wrote. Nothing to feel embarrassed about. Something's amiss & the only thing to do is go to your doctor. Please don't wait until you feel worse. Report back to us, ok?

[Boon79]

Get blood tests for everything and go straight to the doctor. Never feel as though you're 'bothering' your doctor because it could be something serious so better to nip it in the bud now. Chances are it isn't serious though so get to the doctor to put your mind at rest.

Also, make sure you consume at least 2000 calories per day, eat at regular times, and eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to help with the constipation, flavoured if you don't like the taste ( but not fizzy).

It could be anemia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and a whole host of other things. You obviously won't know until you get tests.

My daughter is your age, and to think that she would be suffering in silence would really upset me.

Good luck and try not to worry. X

[Valarian]

As others have said, you need to see your GP.

Weightloss from beng hyper is usually quite sudden, and because the metabolism is running fast, people tend to eat more than usual (sometimes loads more) without any weight gain.

The problem with symptoms for thyroid conditions is that most of them can be symptoms of other things too. This could be something serious, it could be nothing to worry about 0 but the only way you'll know is to visit the doctor. No need for embarrassment, hearing about people's inner workings is an everyday event for a GP !

[Angel_of_the_North]

I would also ask for tests for diabetes, and a short synacthen test (which you probably won't get) for low cortisol.

[denoro]

Hi I lost huge amount of weight with graves it was my best friend who urged me to see dr and she probably saved my life I was I was diagnosed at 90 tsh and couldn’t walk breathing was so bad I stopped smoking after 42 years of doing it with graves I found constipation only when consuming bread(gluten) the rest of the time diahrea I weighed 36kg would go 3 days without sleep at a time so it is worth checking with dr