Slight overactive thyroid gland does that mean ... - Thyroid UK

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Slight overactive thyroid gland does that mean I’ve got Graves’ disease

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Hi I have a slight overactive thyroid gland they said they wouldn’t normally give medications for this level but cause I was having shaking body and feeling ill he gave me a week course , is this Graves’ disease :(

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29 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Ponk

Graves disease is confirmed by positive TSI or TRAb antibodies. Were these tested?

What were your symptoms?

What tests were done and what were the results/reference ranges?

What medication have you been given?

What does your doctor expect to happen in a week? Are you being retested afterwards?

in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi, I just had bloods done as from October they were high but had lowered Over the months but I had been down for 3 weeks with my hole body shaking and that it itself warmed me out, felt tired didn’t feel like eating but did mange to force food as I’m only little so need food, I’m on Carbimazole 15mg once a night , took last night for the first night and this morning felt better not great just improved , just got to see doctor in five days to see how I was so not sure what next :)

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to

I don't really think your doctor knows what he's doing. You haven't had a confirmed diagnosis of Graves so why are you on Carbimazole?

It's possible you could have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, where TPO and/or TG antibodies would be tested. Hashi's is underactive but often starts with a "hyper" episode.

So you need antibodies testing:

TSI/TRAbs for Graves

TPO/TG for Hashi's

Have you got a copy of your results over the months? If so, post them with their reference ranges so we can see what's happening. If you have got them, ask at your surgery's reception for a print out (it's our legal right here in the UK to have our results).

in reply to SeasideSusie

I was at the hospital in ae and had bloods done twice this week so they had them on their screens so I didn’t have to wait 3 days for them , he did say they wasn’t to bad but cause of the way I explained I had been he gave me them for a week till I see doctors on Monday

in reply to

It had been the second day in ae cause of the way I was and also in and out the doctors for 3 weeks but they kept putting down to anxiety , but I new it wasn’t just that cause I couldn’t stop shaking all over it was like I had been standing in the snow even thou I wasn’t cold , I’ve not been shaking today so the tablet has help and I’ve eaten today to :)

Heloise profile image
Heloise

Listen to Susie but many sources affect the thyroid gland both ways. You could be having an autoimmune attack which may produce excess hormone being sloughed off. Usually this is due to gluten or something that stokes the immune system into action. Are you pregnant or recently gave birth which can affect the gland? The thyroid gland is fragile, even amalgams, mercury fillings could be a problem. Your doctor will only treat symptoms in my opinion and this a problem we all seem to have.

in reply to Heloise

No not pregnant and not just giving birth, I’m not sure why either but the tablet has help so hopefully it’s just a short lived thing I hope. Will see what they say on Monday . The hospital wasn’t over concern on the results it was only cause of the way I was and cause they were slightly high but not by much so I don’t no either but Thank you to both of u to reply so quick :)

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply to

Hopefully it will be temporary but it is some sort of warning sign so I urge you to be serious about your health and some people stay on carbimazole for months or years. You do not want to have your thyroid gland removed which is the last resort.

in reply to Heloise

Yea I won’t I’m sure the doctors won’t either but I have felt better today to what I have done in 3 weeks so it’s doing something right :)

Heloise profile image
Heloise in reply to

Of course, the carbimazole is blocking thyroid hormone. You should do some research and find out how.

Billyboy2u profile image
Billyboy2u in reply to

I don’t think the Carbimazole works that fast It took 10 days for mine to fully work by me feeling much better ?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Billyboy2u

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn't been tested yet

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Plus TSI or TRab antibodies tested for Graves' disease

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) Or Graves' disease diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and all thyroid antibodies

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

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

Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

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

For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Often on offer at £79

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

in reply to SlowDragon

Hi my t s h 0.23, t4 29.0 , not sure what they mean

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to

Hidden

You need to give us the reference ranges for those results. Ranges vary from lab to lab.

We can see that your TSH is low but it's not suppressed, suppressed would be <0.1 but we don't know about your FT4, it probably is over range but by how much? Ranges we see regularly here ae 7-17, 9-19, 11-23, 11-26, 12-22. So you may be very over range or just slightly over range.

My guess is that you have Hashi's and you will need the thyroid antibodies tested to confirm one way or another if it's Hashi's (hypothyroid with hypo>hyper>hypo swings) or overactive (Graves). The antibodies needed have been mentioned in replies further up the thread.

in reply to

T s h ref 0.27 4.20. T4, 12-22

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to

TSH slightly low and Ft4 slightly high .....might be Hashimoto's or Graves. Personally I would suggest Hashimoto's might be more likely

You need FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Essential to test TPO and TG thyroid antibodies for Hashimoto's and Graves

TSI or TRab antibodies tested to confirm Graves

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

If in the UK you are likely to need to test privately

GP might test TPO antibodies and should test vitamins

Would most likely have to get TSI or Trab antibodies tested by endocrinologist rather than GP

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Private testing for suspected Graves - TSI or TRab antibodies

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

in reply to SlowDragon

Is that bad then worrying now

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to

Most GP's woukd assume those results are due to Graves' disease (hyperthyroid)

But we see many, many people on here who have similar test results to this with early stage Hashimoto's (hypothyroid - but often starts with hyperthyroid phase)

Treatment for Hashimoto's is different to Graves

So you need to get thyroid antibodies tested and vitamin levels tested as these are frequently low with both Hashimoto's and Graves

So getting correct tests is next step.

What are your main symptoms?

in reply to SlowDragon

Did have fast heart anxious, and that was it really it just came on all off a sudden , now on Carbimazole so not really much apart from the tablet makes me feel abit sicky from two weeks ago I have improved got bloods in two weeks

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to

So you need full Thyroid and vitamin testing done in two weeks

Any testing not done by GP you will need to test privately

in reply to SlowDragon

Hi, antibodies, was 33 , rag 0-60, doctor said it’s normal,

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to

Which anti-bodies ? Are you sure it is Graves ?

Probably not. With Graves you tend to be very overactive and, to confirm it, you need TSI or TRab antibodies tested. Lots of other things can gives you shakes etc, eg low cortisol resulting in high adrenaline. What were you give a week's course of? I can't think of anything that would fix it in a week.

Hi yea just had a phone call from doctors they said going to give me a months worth then check bloods again to see if levels have gone down . He did say I should start to feel normal in a few days once’s the tablet starts so I’m hoping it’s only short lived.

They gave me Carbimazole 15mg only cause of the signs I was showing was overactive thyroid but did say my levels were abit high but normally they wouldn’t need treatment but did give me them and two days in I have not had the shakes but still not quite right but doctors said it was normal just give it a few more days :)

Hi does anyone have propranolol to help them as always wake up in morning hot heart beating and shakes ,

Billyboy2u profile image
Billyboy2u in reply to

It’s more than likely the propanolol that has stopped you shaking ?

tgirlnc profile image
tgirlnc

Hello- Ponk,

First of all, I have Graves (currently in remission for over a year)..and as what others have said, you need a full blood work-up.

But even with slight lower tsh and a high T4, that does not give you a good picture. And I am confused if you had a Total T4 or an FT4 done? That said- I have to disagree with the others as someone with Graves...elevation could indicate Hashi...but not necessarily so. Again, you need full bloods (as someone else stated- TSH, FT4 and FT3, TSI or TRab antibodies tested for Graves' as well asboth TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Getting B12, Ferritin and Vitamin D helpful as well as anyone with thyroid is usually low). Without this, your doctor is just guessing and taking any type of thyroid medication on a guess is not a good idea.

Also- just for you to be aware- a weeks worth of Carb will not resolve anything...90+% of the time. It is meant to be a longer-term management drug to help regulate your Thyroid production. That said..if dosed correctly (which is to the FT4 levels to be in mid-upper range of normal), long-term use can often bring people to remission (like me) if you tolerate the drug well and have no cancerous or pre-cancerous nodules.

With ANY type of thyroid issue- your best friend is information, patience and taking charge. Many doctors do not know how to test or treat thyroid conditions especially autoimmune conditions..that is why those of us that are answering you are so vehemet about getting a full picture of blood work, so you know what you are dealing with.

And to answer your last question- I took a beta-blocker for my first month to get my heart-rate under control, very normal to take one..but it may make you sleepy...and it is important that your carb dosage is (again) dosed to your FT4 levels.

This board has loads of great and supportive people-please let me know if I can help further.

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