Carbimazole and severe bloating

[Spagbol24]

I've been taking carbimazole now for 3 weeks but have been having extreme painful bloating in my abdomen. Not feeling sick and bowel movements are normal if not less regular. I cancelled my appointment for RAI to opt to try tablets first but this tummy ache is debilitating. Do side effects wear off with time? Or is this a good as its going to get?

[PurpleNails Administrator]

welcome to forum

Side affects can improve.

What dose (mg) are you taking?

3 weeks is no time at all, it can take longer for it to settle & if levels are not right that will cause symptoms too, you may need to adjust dose.

Have you had a Graves’ relapse? RAI after 3 weeks is far too soon.

Do you have any blood tests results to share?

[Spagbol24 in reply to PurpleNails]

I've been on polythourucil or whatever its called since end of January after a suspected thyroid storm in January while waiting a long time for my first consultation appointment in March after blood tests showed overactive thyroid in November! I have Graves Disease. Was told had two options, tablets or RAI. Don't have up to date blood tests at the moment. My liver was very deranged so I'm concerned that it's recovering. So booked in for blood tests next week which will also check thyroid levels. But doctor today was unhelpful after discussing the side effects... seems to be you need to talk to a specialist really

[Spagbol24 in reply to PurpleNails]

My thyroid levels were almost normal when they changed me onto carbimazole. So I think the bloating is more likely to be the tablets and not my thyroid levels. But I look about 6 months pregnant and I am in a lot of discomfort

[Spagbol24 in reply to PurpleNails]

Think things are settling. Think slowing my thyroid down had caused my IbS to flare up, so back on medications to control that and the bloating has eased substantially

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Spagbol24]

Difficult to know if it related to thyroid, the medication or the strain of being unwell. Hope it settles soon.

[jimh111]

RAI is not good with Graves' disease, it can make antibodies go higher. There is a third option of surgery if it can't be controlled with drugs.

[pennyannie]

Hello Spagbol and welcome to the forum :

Why were you switched to the Carbimazole - ask to switch back to the PTU - Propylthiouracil as it reads that this Anti Thyroid drug suited you better.

Most current research you may like to read :-

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/306...

[Spagbol24 in reply to pennyannie]

I think it a because my deranged liver wasn't improving. So they thought better to take me off the other tablet cause it can affect liver. I'm going to see what blood tests reveal next week and if my liver levels are lowering I might ask to go back on other tablets. Though the GP seemed reluctant to change anything and I haven't even got a date to see the consultant again.

[pennyannie in reply to Spagbol24]

Your doctor will likely be taking advice from and liaising with the endocrinologist as to your treatment so just make sure s/he is aware of how you are feeling.

[Spagbol24 in reply to pennyannie]

My doctor hadn't even been notified that I'd cancelled my RAI treatment and decided to try ATD. There's a bit of a delay in communications

[pennyannie in reply to Spagbol24]

Oh - I'm sorry :

I was very well on the Carbimazole - and diagnosed Graves after having struggled for a couple of months with insomnia - but told at my very first hospital appointment the AT drug was too dangerous to stay on long term and that I had to have RAI the following year 2005 - a treatment I came to deeply regret.

If push comes to shove I believe a thyroidectomy the safer and ' cleaner ' definitive treatment option but very many people can get by on the AT drug -

If diagnosed with Graves Disease - this is an auto immune disease for which there is no cure - and all the AT drug is meant to do is semi-block your new daily thyroid hormone production while we wait for you immune system response to calm down and your thyroid hormones - T3 and T4 to fall back down into the range.

With Graves the thyroid is not the cause of your health issue - but the target of an attack from your own immune system - which mistakenly turns and attacks your own body - rather than defend it - and quite why this has happened is of course the 64 million $ question - there is likely a genetic predisposition with stress and anxiety being common ' triggers ' for many.

All things Graves Disease - the books and website of Elaine Moore - elaine-moore.com

[Suzi-B]

i’d say it’s a side effect go back to doctors may be they can change your dose or even your meds

[Angel20]

hi there

You may want to have your liver checked out

Just to eliminate any issues whilst taking carbimazole

[Spagbol24 in reply to Angel20]

Good news... liver levels have returned to normal. In 3 months dropped from 198 to 21. So happy it's nothing else going on