Problems with overactive thyroid

[Thyroidsucksass]

Hi everyone.

I’m not 100% sure what I am doing here, I suppose I’m trying to answers and see if anyone else has had the same experiences.

I am 29 and I have had a overactive thyroid for 3 years now, I recently did 18 months on Propylthiouracil taking 200mg morning and night and working my way down, then I had less than a year being on nothing and now it is back.. once again I am on the tablets and now working my way down, I am due to have surgery (ill explain why in a minute) but naturally the NHS is rubbish.

Apparently the surgeon isn’t happy with my current thyroid level but the endocrinologist won’t increase my tablets.. yeah get your head around that one.

Anyway the reason for surgery me and my wife are trying for children and taking the radiation treatment doesn’t sound like the best treatment for this moment in my life.

Now the thing is I am having some recent problems and I’m hoping there is someone on here who has or know someone who has had the same experience.

Recently I have been suffering from a loss of sex drive and erectile disfunction. It is really really embarrassing but I think less and less me talk about this. It has really got me down, I tried taking to my doctor and he just palmed me off to the specialist and waiting for him is like waiting for paint to dry..

My wife is very understanding but It doesn’t help how I feel..

I have hated having a overactive thyroid. It makes you feel like complete shit and I honestly can’t wait for it all to be over.

Thank you all

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and members who have hyperthyroidism will respond when they read your post. We have a number of males on this forum but overall members are female. Men are welcome to the forum too.

I am sorry you have distressing symptoms but you will become underactive when you have the operation on your thyroid gland.

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

Do you have a copy of your current blood test results, with the ranges that you can post.

[Thyroidsucksass in reply to shaws]

Hi

Sorry I don’t at the moment, I am due for a blood test next week. It’s crazy trying to get into my doctors.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Thyroidsucksass]

O.K. I wish you well and you are a young man to have such health issues.

When you are hypothyroid these are some hints to follow:-

All blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting ( you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. Most members take their thyroid hormone replacements when they get up and wait and hour before eating. Food can interfere with the uptake of the hormones. Others prefer a bedtime dose - in that case you'd miss bedtime dose and take after blood test and night dose as usual.

Levothyroxine should be taken with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges and if you have a query you can post them for comments.

GP should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optimal.

You begin on a starting dose of levothyroxine and have a blood test every six weeks with an increase in levothyroxine until you feel well with no symptoms. Some doctors are apt to stop increase if your TSH is 'within' the range. We feel best when it is 1 or lower. I doubt most doctors are aware of this and many stop prescribing when TSH is within the range (maybe up to 5).

[carroll998]

Sorry I'm female so cant answer your question really. I also suffered for years with hyperthyroidism, they then operated when they found a sub sternal goitre, I had no choice than an operation. I felt so ill when I woke up, took me many months to recover but to make matters worse they damaged my parathyroids whilst removing thyroid, I now have hypoparathyroidism, had for nearly 2 years, have to take more meds. If It wasnt for the goitre I would have opted for the RAI. This happened to me may not happen to you. I just want you to be aware this can happen and please ensure your surgeon has had lots of experience. Good luck