Fatigue and Constipation on Carbimazole

[LaraEddiex]

Hi Everyone!

I've recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism after 4 years of being on sertraline for anxiety and panic attacks.. which obviously now were just caused by my thyroid but my GP wouldn't listen when I tried to explain my weight loss too.. 🙄🤦‍♀️

Anyway they have only found out because I had 3 miscarriages in 2019.. ffs it really shouldn't take going through that to get properly looked at but that's the NHS for you I guess..

So I've been on carbimazole 20mg for nearly a month now and I'm so tired its ridiculous I could sleep for 11 hours straight if I was left to it, when I have to get up for work I'm so tired I feel sick and can barely focus.. and my eyes are so dry and blood shot. On top of that I can barely go to the toilet properly so I end up bloated for hours after a meal.. it's really starting to annoy me now.. has anybody else experienced similar?

Thank you for your help in advance x

[greygoose]

Hi LaraEddiex, welcome to the forum.

May I ask how you were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism? What tests were done? Because, to be honest, you don't sound hyper at all, to me. You sound hypo. And, I'm wondering if any antibodies were tested before they put you on carbimazole. If not, you could have had a mis-diagnosis and put on the wrong medication, which wouldn't help your symptoms at all.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As greygoose says

We see many Hashimoto's (hypothyroid) patients who are misdiagnosed as having Graves' disease (hyperthyroid)

At very least sounds like you need dose reduction in carbimazole as symptoms you describe are now hypothyroid......

If you do have Graves' disease (confirmed by high TsI or TRab antibodies) carbimazole is correct treatment but often needs very fine tuning

If you have Hashimoto's then carbimazole is not correct treatment

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.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone 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

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested.

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

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

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 .

Hashimoto's frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid symptoms and test results.....that's why it's important to get all relevant antibodies tested

See post above yours for further info .....

[greygoose in reply to SlowDragon]

At very least sounds like you need dose reduction in carbimazole as symptoms you describe are not hypothyroid

Should that read '... not hypERthyroid'?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to greygoose]

Meant it to read "now hypothyroid "

Added a bit more info

[LaraEddiex]

Thank you both! Much appreciated! Well I had about 36 different blood tests done after my miscarriages and the consultant said my tsh level was 0.05 so I had to go back to my gp to have more blood tests for that and he confirmed hyperthyroidism I then went private and saw a specialist endo who looked at all my results and again confirmed hyperthyroidism.. he took more bloods which I'll be seeing him for results Wednesday but I'll try to get the levels this time to share with you all and I shall definitely be letting him know what I'm going through x

[greygoose in reply to LaraEddiex]

If you live in the UK, it is your legal right to have a print-out of your results, just ask at reception. They cannot say no.

True your TSH was low, but that in itself does not automatically mean hyperthyroidism. So, you need to know the results of any other tests they did. Especially any antibody tests. If Grave's antibodies are positive, then carbimazole is the right treatment. If they didn't test the Grave's antibodies, they had no business putting you on carbimazole. Trouble often arises because doctors - especially GPs - do not know the difference between Grave's and Hashi's. So, imperative that you get those results.

[Sue394]

I was on 10mg of Carbimazole for an overactive thyroid this was the minimum dose my doctor would give me and initially on that strength I still had troubles sleeping, overheating and racing heartbeat. I sometimes felt tired due to lack of sleep. My doctor told me it would take 2 or 3 weeks for the medication to work and it did. After about 14 days I woke up one morning and my heart rate was back to normal and then my recovery started. My doctor talked through my blood results with me so I felt confident with my diagnosis. Your dosage sounds too high. I recommend that you go back to your doctor/specialist.

[Milynda]

Yes I have the same problems. I also have fibromyalgia which has the same symptoms so I was glad to read your post about the fatigue.