Borderline, overactive, thyroid: I’m borderline... - Thyroid UK

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Borderline, overactive, thyroid

Prudypruds profile image
29 Replies

I’m borderline hyper, question I have when sitting my bpm is normally 50-66, now it’s 70-80 could this be another sign of overactive thyroid? Gp won’t treat as it went back to normal range got another blood test on the 30th feel like death!

Tiredness

dizziness of balance

palpitations when trying to sleep

Weak and achy muscles, tired eyes, nervousness, fidgety, sweaty cold hands and feet, problem sleeping

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Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds
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29 Replies
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator

Higher heart rate can be sign of higher thyroid hormones.

Can also be caused for many other reason too.

Is GP looking at FT4 & FT3 or just going by TSH.

With elevated FT4 which then drop into again sounds as of autoimmune thyroiditis ( Hashimoto’s) could be the cause. 

It’s common for early stages to have fluctuations on levels & over time levels become low.

With autoimmune hyper it tends to rise very high or remain high. 

Have you had FT3 tested? Any thyroid antibodies? recent folate, ferritin, B12 & vitamin D?  

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

no FT3

T4 in October was (11-22) 25.4 and tsh was (0.27-4.20) 1.8

T4 in November was 19 and tsh 3.12

Ferritin was fine 200 (30-400)

B12 and folate was low 251 (197-700) 5.2 (1.0-25)

PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

So TSH quite high in range in November. 

Definitely look to test FT3 & Thyroid antibodies. 

Privately if GP can’t.  Specifically- TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies)TGab (Thyroglobulin antibodies) 

If your FT4 & FT3 rises & stay high again & doctors look to treat with anti thyroid medication then testing TRab & TSI important. TRab (TSH receptor antibodies - which measures stimulating, neural & blocking antibodies) TSI (Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin).

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

is been going up and down since 2018 and they have done nothing, did antibodies

See
Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

2018

2018
Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

2020

2020
Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

No results on the other test

2022
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

11 November 2022. THYROID RECEPTOR ABS:

This is listed - was a result ever added?

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

Comes up with this

G
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

ok, so the lab decided not to test as your TSH was in range and FT4 was (just) within range, TPO antibodies were also negative so that is often taken as nothing autoimmune is happening with thyroid.

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

my question is my heart rate has gone up I did have an ECG done the last Monday which was fine. I’m guessing it’s not urgent yet and I should be able to wait until the 30th of this month to have another blood test? Also, for the last month, I have been very bedbound so haven’t done a lot. I’m guessing that could be the case for my heart has gone up?

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to PurpleNails

You can see over the years it’s gone up and down when it’s up I feel really tired and lose weight and just anxiety really bad ones that settles I seem to be alright for while awhile, some doctors have said that it’s only just over and you probably get more symptoms from taking the tablets.

PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

Are you usually very active?  

High activity causes thyroid hormones to be metabolised quicker. Provided the thyroid & feedback mechanism are working well the hormones are replaced to correct levels.  

If you are unwell that can cause FT3 to lower. 

I personally find heart rate well correlated to thyroid level & use a fit bit to track heart rate. I have a hyper nodule so levels become elevated but I’m relatively stable compared to those who have fluctuating levels caused by autoimmune issue.  

I take an anti thyroid medication to reduce what hormones the thyroid can make, but if taking too much the levels become too low & heat rate lowers.  

It common to gain weight when hypo & lose weight when hyper but it’s not always the case.  I had elevated levels a long time & steadily gained weight.  

Because symptoms experienced can sometimes be delayed or linger past an abnormality - symptoms and results don’t always exactly correlate.  So symptoms warn us something is abnormal but we have to be guided by results.  

Doctors are usually overly eager to treat those with signs of hyper but anti thyroid medication is a medication with risks.  As your levels have returned to being range it’s a sign that commencing the treatment would have been wrong as it would have pushed you toward hypothyroid levels.  

I do think you need regular complete testing eg every 2-3 months to monitor you levels a bit more closely with the FT3 levels. Also testing TG antibodies on next test as TPO negative & lab refused TRab.  

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

What are you doing to improve low B12 and folate

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to SlowDragon

not a lot I did stop dairy for a long time and was on ppi’s, since the test I’ve add semi skinned milk(porridge) fortified cereals and a multivitamin

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

Multivitamins never recommended on here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Stop any supplements that contain biotin 5-7 days before test as biotin can falsely affect test results

Are you still taking PPI

Come back with new post once you get results

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done privately

Hashimoto’s (autoimmune HYPO thyroid) frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

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

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)

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

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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

 

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies 

 paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Link about Graves’ disease

Graves’ disease- autoimmune HYPERTHYROID…..also linked with low vitamin levels

thyroiduk.org/hyperthyroid-...

Graves Disease antibodies test

medichecks.com/products/tsh...

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to SlowDragon

with my results because it’s in the higher end. Would that mean that I have a high metabolism and that I would be losing weight and it being hard to keep Weight on?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

are you loosing weight?

Not all Graves patients loose weight, some gain as so hungry

Similarly majority of Hashimoto’s patients gain weight, but lots don’t….some really struggle to maintain weight. Especially if gluten intolerant/dairy intolerant

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to SlowDragon

yes I have, struggle to put it back on too, how would I know if I had a thyroid storm?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

Your results would be very different

If very obviously hyperthyroid….TSH would be 0…..Ft4 and Ft3 substantially over range

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to SlowDragon

so you I could be hyper? Might ask to have the blood test either tomorrow or Thursday instead, acid reflux and all other symptoms are killing me

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

Acid reflux is HYPO symptom

Have you been tested for coeliac disease yet

I would suspect…..more likely early stage Hashimoto’s

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to SlowDragon

yes and it was négatif

Prudypruds profile image
Prudypruds in reply to SlowDragon

if they did do treatment would my heart rate go back to normal low or would it be damaged?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

it would go back to normal

PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator in reply to Prudypruds

You would be very Ill with Thyroid storm & cases are rare. You’d have to have had an undiagnosed or poorly controlled overactive thyroid can lead to a serious, life-threatening condition called a thyroid storm.

This is a sudden flare-up of symptoms that can be triggered by:

an infection 

pregnancy 

not taking your medicine correctly 

damage to the thyroid gland, such as a punch to the throat 

Symptoms of a thyroid storm include:

a rapid heartbeat 

a high temperature

diarrhoea and

being sick

yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

severe agitation and confusion

loss of consciousness 

A thyroid storm is a medical emergency. If you think you or someone in your care is experiencing it, call 999 to ask for an ambulance immediately.

Pomegranate64 profile image
Pomegranate64

hi there! Your description of heart racing, anxiety, palpitations and irregular heart rate when going to bed etc. just sounds like me before I was diagnosed with ‘sub-clinical’ hyper. I also got VERY cold and symptoms got a lot worse when I had been active, e.g. gardening, going for longish walk, doing the housework etc. My first blood tests in May this year showed virtually no TSH and raised T3 and T4, no indication of autoimmune, but a few nodules on thyroid that no one seems worried about. No weight loss, but felt tired, looked grey, muscles and joints ached (made osteoarthritis feel much worse) and had little energy or motivation to do much and felt just awful. I’ve been on lowest dose of Carbimazole (5mg)/day since then and what a difference. Last tests results in Nov showed everything in normal range. I’d worried about a holiday planned in October in the States, how would I cope? Having spend most of two years sitting working at home, I gradually made myself go out for more regular short then gradually longer walks, and was able to have 4 weeks of travelling, sightseeing and meeting friends snd relatives that at one stage I thought I’d have to cancel. I do have to recognise when the batteries are running low, and pace things, and if I’ve had an energetic day, just take it easy then and go to bed early. Sometimes I get unusually panicky over something and have a hot flush ( though I’m way passed the menopause) - so know it’s time to stop and try to calm down. But I can now walk 4 miles ( on the flat) with no ill effects. I do take vit D (prescribed) and iron but think I don’t need the iron any more probably. I’ve decided to double the vit D dose over the winter (taking 1600iu). Oh and I had to give up alcohol and coffee as they set my heart off and made me feel worse. (24 hr heart monitor came up with nothing abnormal-but but found good decaf and loads of great alcohol free alternatives). I have no idea if/how things might change but for now, things seems stable. One thing I’m very sure of is that working at home for 2 years did me no favours. Sitting at my desk at home all day had a terrible effect on me, and the combination of overactive thyroid and inactivity wasn’t great. My symptoms were very similar at times to my husband, who had long covid for nearly 18m, and we’ve both had to learn to pace life. ( he did amazingly well in the states too!) Hope that some of this might help and gives you hope!

birkie profile image
birkie

Hi prudypruds❤️

I can tell you my experience with what a endo told my gp in a report for which I knew nothing of.. The endo said I'd had a couple of episodes of thyroiditis with a short suppressed TSH suggesting subclinical hyperthyroidism I recommend regular thyroid blood tests because of her episodes of thyroiditis and her short suppressed TSH.

This was in 2014, again I stress my gp never informed me of this report, and although like you I was having awful symptoms which also included my heart rate becoming higher, slight tremors in my hands, insomnia, sweating and what I can only say felt like my body was buzzing internally, my gp did nothing saying all my symptoms were menupausal.

I continued on with these symptoms becoming worse by the end of 2017, I'd been to my gp more than I ever have as the symptoms were by now life changing, again gp said its menupausal, my last interaction with this particular gp was in August 2018 when again I was at the surgery nearly every week, I'd put my symptoms in to a search engine and it kept coming up with overactive thyroid, I mentioned this to my gp who dismissed it, again saying menupausal symptoms.

Skip to sep 2018 when I again collapsed at home were taken to the surgery where I saw a new gp who immediately saw the symptoms of an overactive thyroid, bloods later confirmed this, unfortunately for me I lost my thyroid in 2019 as it was so toxic by now, and I was rushed into hospital in thyroid storm as the anti thyroid drugs didn't work.

My situation was because my gp never took me or my symptoms seriously, even after my episodes of thyroiditis and my short suppressed TSH, because of his lack of care I fully believe he lost me my thyroid😠 I hope you push your gp to do further blood tests and to do TSH, T3 T4.. Regularly 👍 I wish you all the best with your thyroid journey ❤️

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