Overactive??

[France92]

I put a post on the other day that im in a london hospital poorly and they were not sure if i had thyroid problem. This is not my normal hospital its 120 miles away. Basically told my t4 is high and i had overactive and they want to treat. Now been told as the other level is ok even though i had all the symptoms they want me to trial betablockers and speak to endocrinologist for advice as treatment is harsh and got to get it right. So my gp got to monitor closely i will also be under the london endocrinologist as well. Also ive got to have cortisol done again at 9ock as it was on low side and prolactin level as my sister had problems. Any advice apreciated? I take b complex vit d spray probiotics do i stop any before my tests?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

France92

If they want to put you on medication for overactive thyroid (usually Carbimazole) then insist on Graves antibodies being tested first:

TSI (thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin) antibodies and/or

TRAb (TSH receptor antibodies)

These must be positive to confirm Graves disease (overactive thyroid).

As it might possibly be autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's) then these antibodies should also be tested:

TPO (Thyroid Peroxidase) antibodies

Tg (Thyroglobulin) antibodies

Hashi's often starts with a transient "hyper" episode which gets mistaken for overactive thyroid and the wrong medication given. Many endos have got this wrong.

[France92 in reply to SeasideSusie]

who will do tests my gp or endrocolgist? It could be why they want to put me on betablockers to see how i respond and tests are is this correct? Sorry this is all new to me couple of members on my mum side have underactive thyroid? How is Hasimo treated if that one dr said about thyroid being inflammed?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to France92]

GP can't get all done, usually only TPO so if you are in hospital hopefully you can get them all done there.

Betablockers usually to slow heart rate.

Family history of underactive possibly suggests yours might be underactive/Hashimoto's starting with hyper episode but not definitive.

Hashi's isn't treated, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that's treated.

Hashi's is where the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the thyroid, causes fluctuations in symptoms and results and you can swing from stable to a false hyper episode then to hypo. Lots of information but best not get bogged down until you know exactly what's going on.

[France92]

Thankyou for your advice im getting discharged today now waiting so no more blood tests here. Is it something i can pay private and get done?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3

plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune HYPOTHYROID Disease also called Hashimoto’s

TPO /TG antibodies can be mildly raised with Graves’ disease too

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

Graves’ disease is confirmed by high TSI or Trab antibodies….usually have to be tested via endocrinologist, not GP

Link about Graves’ disease

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

Private test via Medichecks. Has to be private blood draw…not DIY finger prick test

Graves Disease antibodies test

medichecks.com/products/tsh...

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

STOP vitamin B complex 3-5 days before all blood tests as biotin in vitamin B complex can falsely affect test results

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

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

List of private testing options and money off codes

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...

[PurpleNails Administrator]

High T4 could means many things. You need exact results & ranges. What was tested? Total T4 or free T4.  Was it high in range or over range. What was TSH and was FT3 tested? If hyper Graves or autoimmune thyroiditis suspected the cause needs to be found.Usually medics prescribe carbimazole as first sign of low TSH or high FT4 or FT3. Then look to check possible causes later.  If it not continuous hyper the levels with quickly drop to hypo, but that’s considered safer than hyper.   So getting the right tests early on will help in long run.

[France92]

they orginally were keeping me in and puting me on carbimazole. But what i gather just t4 high so endo said no and closely monitor and put on betablockers ??

[humanbean]

If you end up taking beta blockers, be aware that if you ever need to, or want to, come off them you would need to wean yourself off slowly.

[France92 in reply to humanbean]

thankyou