Hyperthyroid help please for my niece

[dizzy1979]

Hello, I am

Wondering if anyone can help, my niece is 26 and had a call from the gp to go in for an urgent appointment, they said she has hyperthyroidism and they are referring her to the Endo as urgent. I have a copy of her blood results and wondering if anyone can shed any light please? She has been prescribed Carbinazone and beta blockers.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Before assuming that these results are due to Graves’ disease she needs thyroid antibodies tested

True hyperthyroidism - Graves’ disease must be confirmed by testing TSI or Trab antibodies

Autoimmune hypothyroidism - called Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid. Often mistaken for Graves’ disease if antibodies aren’t tested

Carbimazole and beta blockers are not correct treatment for Hashimoto’s

To confirm Hashimoto’s testing TPO and TG antibodies. Though it’s possible to have slightly raised TPO or TG antibodies with Graves’ disease too

For BOTH Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease she needs vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested. These are frequently very low and improving low vitamin levels by supplementing can improve symptoms

What are her main symptoms?

Those results look more like early stage Hashimoto’s

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Link about Graves’ disease

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...

[dizzy1979 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your help, she was being tested for something else and they added in thyroid, she has awful spots, dry skin, exhaustion and hair loss, although if I shoved a list of common symptoms under her nose she could quiet likely pick more.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to dizzy1979]

Spots/acne is frequently linked to being hypothyroid, especially Hashimoto’s due to B12 being affected

Dry skin.....common hypothyroid symptom

Hair-loss often linked to low ferritin (storage form of iron)....common when hypothyroid especially Hashimoto’s

See GP tomorrow and request

Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies

Thyroglobulin antibodies

Thyroid stimulating antibodies or TSH receptor antibodies for Graves’ disease

Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

[dizzy1979 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you slowdragon, I have passed on your advice, she will request the blood form tomorrow from the gp and will go Monday morning. She isn’t going to take the prescribed meds until she has these other blood results back.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to dizzy1979]

You can say you took advice from Thyroid U.K. the NHS recommended support group

[dizzy1979 in reply to SlowDragon]

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, she has the same GP as me, and he is used to me requesting all the same bloods for my hashis/hypo, he fully supports and encourages my self medicating. He didn’t realize until today that she was my niece, so I am sure he is fully expecting her to return tomorrow to request further testing 😂Thank you as always for your reassuring advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to dizzy1979]

Then even more likely she has Hashimoto’s

We see so many people where GP incorrectly assuming it’s hyperthyroid. Very very poor

[dizzy1979 in reply to SlowDragon]

She is niece by marriage not by blood, but he doesn’t know that, so hopefully he will be happy to investigate further on the basis it could be hereditary.

[Lora7again]

I agree with what SlowDragon has said because I would think her levels would be a lot higher if it was Graves' disease or hyperthyroid.

[eachpeach in reply to Lora7again]

This isn't necessarily the case Lora7again. My levels were similar to this and I did have Graves' and had awful symptoms. TRAb test can take a while to come back (mine took around 2 weeks) so if she has a high heart rate I'd def start taking the beta blockers. Hope she soon gets the TRAb or TSI test to confirm if it is Graves' .

[NIKEGIRL]

Hi. Sorry to hear you are in the predicament. But good in you for supporting your family. I have only chimes in because I am hyper and my levels are a lot higher than this young ladies. Although I appreciate it’s not a competition. I’m 4 times higher than the results you posted. I hope sincerely you get the testing done and get some answers. There are lots of good people here who will support you and your neice through this journey. Kindest regards always NIKEGIRL

[dizzy1979 in reply to NIKEGIRL]

Thank you for your reply, I am sorry to hear your levels are so high, she is requesting bloods this morning and will get results The middle of next week, Hopefully we will know more then.

[NIKEGIRL]

Slow Dragon is amazing. I wish you both all the best. I have been diagnosed 6 months and struggle with the side effects from the carbimazole that’s why my levels are high. It just said that to show an example of graves which is hyperthyroidism with TSI, TRAB, TPO antibody positive. Slow Dragon is 100% correct. In order to know what you have you need the antibodies tested. Sorry I’m waffling. You are amongst friends here

[Lora7again in reply to NIKEGIRL]

How are you feeling at the moment?

[dizzy1979 in reply to Lora7again]

It is my niece, and she is ok, just very tired. She was being tested for something else when this was discovered. She does have she thinks excessive hair loss too.

[Lora7again in reply to dizzy1979]

That was directed to NIKEGIRL

About your niece has she had her ferritin levels checked? Low ferritin can cause hair loss and as well as high thyroid levels.

[dizzy1979 in reply to Lora7again]

Sorry🤦🏼‍♀️ It’s early. She will be getting that checked next week.

[kittyelen]

I have similar T4 30 so higher and same T3 however someone on this forum said that is not "really high" so I hope that reassures you.

I've also been referred and should speak to the consultant beginning of Jan (well fingers crossed) via telephone, as with covid it is mostly by phone first. Just waiting for an appointment date. I would try not to worry too much as they said normally results are triple if this is graves. My GP is calling me back today at last as I got a really dry throat and more fatigue on it, I stopped it after 2 days (last sun so also new to this), I think I may try the same trick and say happy to try it again once antibodies etc tested, then if I get a sore throat again I know it is down to the med.

It probably is still worth starting meds asap though, even urgent reviews could be a bit of time with delays. There are some private links I checked from here where you can get it done if the GP is being difficult but up to £100. Alternatively I assume once endo picks up they would run further tests anyway, so try not to worry as referred urgent.