Subacute (De Quervain’s) Thyroiditis

[Ohrid]

Hello

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced of subacute thyroiditis they can share especially the swing from hyper and hypo and how long it took to recover from each phase?

I was diagnosed with subacute thyroiditis a few weeks ago privately after my GP kept telling me I had a throat infection and to go away. All the classic symptoms: pain, tenderness swelling in the thyroid and after a couple of weeks of thyroid pain pronounced hyper symptoms, sweating overheating weight loss / increased appetite, resting heart rate >100, hair loss, anxiety, shakes and tremors. The works! In the last few months I’ve had so many cold /upper respiratory infections so this also fits with diagnosis.

I was originally diagnosed by ENT (as I kept being told it was my throat) who diagnosed subacute thyroiditis but then mistakenly put me on Carbimazole which is contraindicated for subacute thyroiditis. Finally under the care of an endo who has taken me off Carbimazole and put me on steroids which have helped the pain and got beta blockers for heart rate.

My diagnosis was confirmed by Ultrasound and my most recent bloods from last week are:

TSH antibodies: 0.5 normal

ESR - 45 (0-20) elevated

TSH <0.01, low

FT4 45.7 pmol/l (12- 22), elevated

FT3 15.1 pmol/l (3.1 - 6.8), elevated

I am 6-7 weeks into the condition and have been off work for 3 weeks. I find the NHS page saying the hyper phase lasts a few days incredibly frustrating as my consultant said it’s usually 2 months!

I’m really nervous about the swing to hypo and how unpleasant this can be. Really welcome any else’s experiences of this condition? How did you manage the hypo phase? Could it be managed with meds? How long did it take?

Thanks for any experiences

[Dizzy444]

I was diagnosed with this 8 weeks ago I’ve had a scan and they found a 2cm nodule I’m having a biopsy next week. Pain and swelling has more or less gone and flu like symptoms are getting better. Lucky I’ve got a good GP who diagnosed it straight away.

[bajmon in reply to Dizzy444]

Hi, please let me know how your biopsy went when you know. I had biopsy which came back unclear and I was referred to have my right thyroid removed to rule out cancer after some giant cells plus others were found. All my symptoms of fever and very painful lump in my neck were ignored. Reading a lot my symptoms really fit subacute. I almost forced ENT to try other approach before the surgery. I've been on ibuprofen for a week exactly and the very painful large lump in my neck that I could feel under my fingers is gone.

I'd like to find out how were your biopsy results to compare.

I really appreciate it as it's been a terrible rollercoaster 3 months for me.

All the best!

[Dizzy444 in reply to bajmon]

Thanks for replying, I have biopsy next week, I think it’s around three weeks for results. Hope it’s definitive, I’m not sure I’d jump into surgery if it’s not. I think I’d have to do more research first. To be honest before this I didn’t even know where my thyroid was, so trying to get my head around it. I had swelling and pain on the left side of my neck, which spread to face jaw, and ears. After this went away I had the same on the right side, but with more swelling but less acute pain. I constantly felt as if I had flu and I couldn’t eat or sleep which I’m sure made me feel worse

The swelling has now gone down a lot but I’m still not feeling right.

Have you had the surgery?

Did you have bloods done ? I believe it’s one of the ways they diagnose SAT.

Please let me know how you get on, not many seem to have this,so it’s good to hear from someone who has.

It’s been 3 months for me also, I had flu jab early November and wonder if this may be a factor

Keep in touch and take care

[bajmon in reply to Dizzy444]

Hi, thank you for your replay. So you've been ill as long as me. I avoided flu jab. I'm only 40 but with at the hospital so flu jab is offered. The only time I've it, I was ill with the worst flu ever two weeks later, so I said no, thank you. I haven't had surgery yet. I went to see private ENT a week ago and in taking ibuprofen not which helped with the seeking and pain. I posted my case separately titles Subacute Thyroiditis or Thyroid cancer? Just after I replied to you. You might be able to find it.