Recently diagnose overactive thyroid due to nodule

[BentsandErnie16]

Taking 20mg carbimazole. How long before you feel better?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose changes

Did GP warn you that On carbimazole you need to watch out for sore throat

patient.info/medicine/carbi...

Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid?

Is this a “hot nodule”

mythyroid.com/hotnodule.html

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 autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies Or Graves’ disease (hyperthyroid)

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 and only Endocrinologist can test TSI or Trab antibodies for Graves’ disease

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 as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks currently has offer on

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Graves Disease antibodies test

medichecks.com/products/tsh...

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Most find they feel better in 2-3 weeks once the right level is found. Carbimazole works by stopping iodine being converted to a usable form for the thyroid to make new T4 & T3, the body must use up the existing hormones which already in your system. In theory this process can take up to 8 weeks but most feel better much sooner. Regular testing is important as dose adjustments are often required to ensure you remain at the right level. You will feel symptoms if you remain too high and if you fall too low. Make sure you are dosed by T4 and T3, not TSH.

Do you take your dose once a day? As It may be beneficial to split the daily dose for first few months but not necessary once stable.

Propranolol is also often temporarily prescribed when diagnosed hyperthyroid as this helps with symptoms of heart palpitations until you are stable. But it is not suitable for everyone, as unsafe for asthmatics. I have also had to remain on it long term as reducing the dose triggered my margarines and I found my T3 rises disproportionately when I don’t take it.

How was your hyperthyroidism diagnosed? I had a of thyroid (radioactive iodine uptake) scan to confirm my diagnosis of toxic nodule and TSI blood test to exclude Graves.

Fortunately I had very minor symptoms at diagnosis and didn’t have bad reaction to carbimazole. I’ve required many adjustments to my dose. I did feel much worse when my level were very low although this coincided with being diagnosed with a separate condition.

Do you have any results with ranges you can share? Do you still have symptoms troubling you and how long have you been taking your medication?

[BentsandErnie16 in reply to PurpleNails]

Hi. Have received letter from endo with test results, as follows,

Free T4 32.1, Free T3 11, TSH 0.01, TPO and TSH Receptor Antibodies negative

I have been taking carbimazole 20mg since 17th April.

I'm still having symptoms but really it's only been a couple of weeks.

I've not had a scan due to pandemic. The diagnosis on letter says Hyperthyroidism (likely nodular disease). I have a blood test on 19th May.

I will give splitting the tablet a try. I have asthma so wouldn't be able to take beta blocker.