Not sure what to do about my symptoms and they are getting worse :(

[blue-angel1001]

Went through a hyperthyroid crisis last year around this time: lost a ton of weight, no appetite, hot flashes, jitters, fatigue, moood issues. It was awful! My blood tests and PET scan showed hyperactive but then slowly my levels returned to normal over the year with the help of propranolol.

Now I am feeling lightheaded, rapid heart beat and palpating, cold and jittery as well as not being able to digest anything well!! Like every time I eat my stomachs feels upset. I had tests done a few weeks ago and they were “normal” but I am feeling like I might be going back into an abnormal thyroid “crisis” or whatever. Does anyone know what may be going on? I am 21 years old female. Could this be caused be stress???

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First step is to get full testing

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

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

Link about antibodies

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

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative and GP rarely tests TSI or Trab antibodies for Graves’ disease (Usually tested by endocrinologist)

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

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)

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

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[Tapper67 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have been told this about the thyroid test that docs dont do a full test for it.

I have all the symptoms of over active thyroid but docs say my results came back normal 😏 I am hoping to get a second opinion from a private doctor

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tapper67]

We would ALWAYS recommend getting full blood test privately BEFORE seeing any thyroid specialist

A) almost always a lot cheaper that testing via private doctor

B) if you don’t test beforehand, the first appointment is waste of time and money

C) important to test early morning

D) improving low vitamin levels frequently helps improve symptoms

[blue-angel1001 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I am going to bring this up to my endocrinologist

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to blue-angel1001]

Come back with new post once you get results and members can advise on next steps

[pennyannie]

Hello Blue-Angel

When you had your first ' hyper ' phase last year were any blood tests taken and do you have a copy giving the readings and ranges ?

To receive a responsible reply it does need for you get actioned a full thyroid blood panel as already suggested, and yes, in my experience ' stress ' can trigger thyroid health issues.

[blue-angel1001 in reply to pennyannie]

Last year I was tested and it came back abnormal and I do not have those but I was tested shortly after and had low Free T3, high T4 and normal TSH. The PET scan showed I was 54% match for thyrotoxicosis. So basically the uptake and scan showed hyperthyroid but blood tests were not as much. Tests were taken again with the same blood results after the scan! Although both times TSH came back as 0.9 and 1 and the normal range is 0.4-4.50

Do these results sounds familiar?

The first test was done in April when the crisis occurred and then taken again in July when symptoms were a little better

[pennyannie in reply to blue-angel1001]

Hey there,

Honestly. I have no idea - I'm no one special just another person with thyroid issues.

It sounds like a ' blip ' but without full blood test results it's anybody's guess.

Simply solution is to run a full thyroid hormone blood test and post the results and ranges back on here and you will receive considered advice and help.

[Tapper67]

This is me all over. I also think it's something to do with my thyroid but tests came back normal.

I've also lost alot of weight n my stomach feels upset all the time, I dont know wat else to do 🤦‍♀️

[Lora7again]

I think I am slightly hyper because I do have symptoms but my TSH is 0.38 so normal according to Doctors. I am just hoping I don't have another thyroid storm because all this stress about the coronavirus is not helping.