Hyperthyroidism advice : Hello I have been... - Thyroid UK

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Hyperthyroidism advice

9 Replies

Hello I have been recently diagnosed with graves disease and have been put on carmizomole. Been on them for 3 weeks and also on the mini pill.

I wasnt really getting any periods (bleeding) for the last 6 months only slight spotting. For the last week I have a really heavy painful period. Does anyone know if this is normal? It's just they were so light before or not getting it at all.

I dont really understand by blood results very well but it looks like my thyroid has gone down asAugust 2021

T4 = 48 pmol/l

I had a blood test 2 weeks ago and now

T4 = 30.9 pmol/l

Serum tsh 0.01 mu/l

Many thanks

Gemma

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9 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Most important question - if I don't ask it someone else will :) - but have you had any antibodies tested?

TRAB or TSI for Grave's

TPOab and TgAB for Hashi's.

Your doctor should not have put you on carbi without testing those. :)

in reply to greygoose

I saw a private endocrinologist who got my doctor to do tests for me who was quite sure I had graves ( but I hope not). The blood tests were 2 weeks ago but my doctor has not followed this up with me properly. I am meant to have another appointment with the private endocrinologist once I have been on carmizomole for a month.On my blood results from 2 weeks ago I have s thyroid peroxidase AB serum peroxidase 188.0 iu/ml

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to

s thyroid peroxidase AB serum peroxidase 188.0 iu/ml

That is an antibody test for Hashi's, not Grave's. And the main problem is that a lot of doctors don't know the difference.

Hashi's can start out with a 'hyper' phase, but it is transient, and you will, with time, go hypo. Taking anti-thyroid drugs can make you hypo a lot faster.

Hashi's swings between hypo and hyper and back again. But, the end result is hypothyroidism as the immune system slowly destroys the thyroid.

Your private endo should have done the tests for Grave's himself - I don't think GPs can order those tests, and it is down to the endo to do it. So, if I were you, I'd get back to the endo and ask for them to be done. :)

My doctor has been pretty useless to be honest feel like they dont care. I will go back to the private encringolgist thank you for your help :) much appreciated

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to

That's often the case. GPs don't care very much about thyroid problems, and know next to nothing about them.

Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator

Please ask for a print out of all your tests, as I was initially diagnosed as Graves, but followed advice from greygoose & other members and antibody tests showed Hashimotos. If you are able, you can always test privately (I use Medichecks; often discounted on Thursdays). Very best wishes 😊

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Buddy195

Aaaaaaaand, today is Thursday!

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

:)

PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator

This is quite common. I’ve heard from others with similar experiences.

It’s the sudden affect on thyroid levels interfering with other hormones, not a direct side affect of the medication.

When I had hyper levels I had a 35 day total cycle 5 day light period. I had elevated levels for many years.

When I started Carbimazole and my thyroid levels came down my cycle changed, at one point I had a 21 day cycle 7 day much heavier period.

It’s settled a bit now but I really prefer how they were when I had hyper levels!

Is that a Free T4 test? it’s come down from 48 to 30. Is that still above range? Lab ranges vary so would need range to fully interpret.

Do you know the cause of your hyper? Doctors should confirm, but often don’t and treat all low TSH as Graves disease.

Sometimes the hyper can be transient and levels drop soon after, taking carbimazole it will hasten the drop.

If doctors suspect Graves which causes continuous hyper you must have either TSI or Trab tested to confirm.

Your TSH (a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone) is currently suppressed as it’s signalling the thyroid that you have sufficient thyroid levels. Usually Carbimazole doses need to be adjusted, ensure doctors measure FT4 & FT3 for this. Your TSH might remain low so do not allow doctors to adjust dose by the TSH. My TSH has remained below range & I’ve taken Carbimazole 3 years now.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3

plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested for Hashimoto’s (and Graves’ disease)

High TPO could be due to either hashimoto’s or Graves

With BOTH Hashimoto’s and Graves

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 as low vitamin levels are often linked

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Graves’ disease

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

Graves Disease antibodies test via Medichecks

medichecks.com/products/tsh...

Good info on Graves’ disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

It’s important to confirm Graves’ disease by testing TSI or Trab antibodies

It’s possible, but rare, to have both Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease together

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