Overwhelmed- Diagnosed Hyperthyroid yesterday - Thyroid UK

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Overwhelmed- Diagnosed Hyperthyroid yesterday

Kel07 profile image
10 Replies

Hey guys I was just diagnosed with Hyperthyroid yesterday- I have been unwell for 2 months but was told I just had a virus.

TSH 0.02

T4 24.9

T3 6.1

THYROGLOBULIN AB 4.7

I have just been put on 10mg of Carbizole. I am hoping it will settle my heart rate and ease the headaches and nausea.

Will it fix the awful symptoms and will it cause weight gain?

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Kel07 profile image
Kel07
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10 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Kel07

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have reference ranges for your results please, these vary from lab to lab and country to country.

Are your T4 and T3 results for Free T4 and Free T3 test or Total T4 and Total T3 test.

To be honest, your TSH doesn't look low enough, and your T4 and T3 don't look high enough for overactive thyroid (Graves Disease).

Was the Thyroglobulin antibody test the only antibody test?

Was Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibody test done? Or Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) or TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) test done?

I think it's possible that you might have autoimmune thyroiditis, known to patients as Hashimoto's, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism and it often starts with a "hyper" episode where TSH is low and FT4/FT3 are over range. If this is the case then Carbimazole is an inappropriate treatment.

Kel07 profile image
Kel07 in reply toSeasideSusie

Hi, I am in Australia- the TSH range is 0.40-4.00Free T 4 - range 9.0-19.0 and Free T3- range 2.6-6.0

TPO was 1.1

At the bottom of my bloods the lab has put- ‘consistent with hyperthyroid state’

I am really not sure what is going on this has come nowhere

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toKel07

Kel07

So we have

TSH: 0.02 (0.40-4.00)

FT4: 24.9 (9.0-19.0)

FT3: 6.1 (2.6-6.0)

TPO was 1.1

THYROGLOBULIN AB 4.7

Do you have reference ranges for the antibody tests?

I stand by what I said regarding your TSH, FT4 and FT3. I don't think they indicate an overactive thyroid, I would expect to see your TSH below what the testing equipment can measure, eg <0.005, and the FT4 and FT3 much higher.

At the bottom of my bloods the lab has put- ‘consistent with hyperthyroid state’

Hyperthyroid state is not the same as "overactive thyroid" as a diagnosis. As I mentioned, Hashimoto's tends to start with a hyper period and I think that's more likely to be the case.

To diagnose Graves Disease (overactive thyroid) you need the TSI and TRAb antibodies tested and they need to come back positive.

Kel07 profile image
Kel07 in reply toSeasideSusie

Thanks so much I will get another test done to see.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toKel07

Were there any ranges with those antibody results as that would be a clue as well.

lynzpower profile image
lynzpower in reply toKel07

Hello Kel,

make them do a confirming test. I think that I have been given carbimazole with 'consistent with' graves and I am in a very poor state which I blame on these tablets. ( as Seaside Susie says)

If you can afford it get a test done privately to confirm that this is the correct treatment for you. I wish I had know this earlier.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply toKel07

It does come as a shock when we're diagnosed with an Autoimmune Disease and the medical professionals don't often explain what is happening in our bodies.

A couple of hints for blood tests:-

Always make the earliest possible appointment - even if made weeks ahead. It is a fasting test but you can drink water. If having a blood test for thyroid hormones, don't take dose until after the test.

Take hormones with one full glass of water. I take mine when I get up and wait an hour before I eat. Food can interfere with the uptake of the hormones.

This is a link that may be helpful and it is from our 'mother website' and you will find some information within it. Thyroiudk.org.uk are behind this forum and it is they who are trying to change the 'attitudes' of the 'modern-day doctors' who seem to rely upon a blood test alone and don't appear to be aware of symptoms, which we try to relieve.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Kel07 profile image
Kel07

Will do thank you

PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator

I agree that you need further blood tests, TSI & or TRab to help determine if Graves is the cause of hyper-state. Graves often have exceeding high levels. If the rise is temporary eg caused by thyroiditis (under active autoimmune) your levels would drop naturally the carbimazole will hasten the drop and having low levels will be equally difficult.

Have your TSH, FT4 & FT3 levels rechecked as soon as you experience any new or worsening symptoms, do not leave a gap longer than 6 weeks. (6 weekly is standard)

As weight loss is common when hyper regaining it once on carbimazole is expected. We are advised to be careful as we have become accustomed to larger apatite. At this time you won’t have have much control over metabolism and appetite so focus on adding nutritious foods. Not everyone is the same. I gained weight when hyper & lost weight when low in range & eating a better diet. The priority is your health.

Propranolol is often prescribed with carbimazole. Propranolol helps with the immediate symptoms especially palpitations until the carbimazole brings down levels. This takes time as carbimazole inhibits production of new hormone it doesn't remove from the existing levels. Was propranolol considered for you? Asthmatics can’t take this medication.

Also important to test Folate, ferritin, B12 and vitamin D. These can be low when experiencing thyroid disfunction compounding symptoms.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

I would agree with other replies

These results look more like early stage Hashimoto’s

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid as thyroid is destroyed. Carbimazole is not correct treatment for Hashimoto’s

Both Graves and Hashimoto’s tend to result in very low vitamin levels

Insist that vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 are tested too

Coeliac blood test done as well

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