Update on my hyperthyroidism. Saw my GP yesterday.

[Madders14]

Saw my GP again yesterday for a F2F appointment to review my blood tests. I have been taking propranolol 40mg quick release x 3 a day for about a week and this does seem to calm me down a bit but it eventually wears off.

My GP says I have deffo have hyperthyroidism plus some health anxiety (exacerbated by the hyper). I am displaying quite a lot of the symptoms (nervy/anxious/sweats/insomnia). What I don’t have is an elevated heart rate. I’ve always had low BP (pulse oximeter was 55 yesterday).

He’s now changed my propranolol to slow release 80mg and started me on Carbimazole 10mg. He’s also referred me to Endocrinology at my local hospital so will see what the experts say.

We also talked about my high ferritin result and he assured me that as this is a just a spike (never been high before) and it’s likely due to inflammation and/or the hyperthyroidism.

Having repeat bloods in a month to monitor.

Feels like progress is being made and I’m not actually going mad - my body is just in overdrive.

[pennyannie]

Hello Madders -

So to have been prescribed Carbimazole - which is an Anti Thyroid drug - I presume now you have back the medical evidence of which antibodies were found positive and over range in your blood test -

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet - PIL - within the box of Carbimazole and should this drug not suit you - there is an alternative Propylthiouracil - PTU - you can be switched to.

When the thyroid malfunctions several sets of antibodies can be found positive but only one set are treated with an AT drug -

Do you have there a copy of which abs you had tested - TPO - TgAB - TSI - TRab - with results and ranges or maybe written as something like a TSH Thyroid Receptor reading and a single digit and cut off number ?

Was a T3 blood test analysis eventually run on the first blood sample ?

[Madders14 in reply to pennyannie]

My T4 was 25.5 so above normal range, indicating hyperthyroidism.

[pennyannie in reply to Madders14]

I'm afraid a single reading of a T4 at 25.50 does not, in itself, constitute a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism - let alone a prescription of an Anti Thyroid drug.

[Madders14 in reply to pennyannie]

Surely it’s an indicator that something is amiss with my thyroid?

[pennyannie in reply to Madders14]

Probably - and the antibody reading the medical evidence to what is going on -

as there is more than 1 reason for an over range T4 reading -

and to know how to proceed we need to know the result of the antibody blood analysis-

and why I asked you what the results were - as not all cases of an over range T4 are prescribed an AT drug :

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

suggest you reread all replies on your previous post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your GP MUST test TSI or Trab antibodies to confirm Graves disease

Are you now working on improving low vitamin levels. This will improve symptoms

[Madders14 in reply to SlowDragon]

This will be done at the hospital

[pennyannie in reply to Madders14]

Do you have on-line access to your medical recorded held at your primary care surgery?

As then maybe you can see your thyroid function test and antibody results and ranges - the abs might come through a day or two later after the TSH T3 and T4 readings and ranges ?

[Madders14 in reply to pennyannie]

Yes I have access but there are no new results. What would I be looking for?

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Madders14]

TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

TSI and/or Trab antibodies for Graves’ disease

TPO and TG antibodies - high with autoimmune hypothyroid disease (hashimoto’s )

Can also be slightly elevated with Graves’ disease

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with temporary high thyroid results as cells breakdown and release excess thyroid hormones

Maintain good B12, folate and vitamin D

Ferritin levels often higher with Graves’ disease

Ferritin often lower with Hashimoto’s

[pennyannie in reply to Madders14]

What I detailed further up - on my very first reply to you on this post.

[Madders14 in reply to pennyannie]

My TSH was 0.11 indicating a thyroid issue (range 0.3 to 4.2)

My TS4 was 25,5 (range 11.9 to 21.6)

My TS3 was 6.1 (range 3.1 to 6.8)

No antibody tests done yet

[pennyannie in reply to Madders14]

Ok - thanks -

so guessing that is a Free T3 reading - and in range at 6.10 -

with a Free T4 slightly over range at 25.50 with a TSH under range at 0.11 :

We need the antibody reading to know for sure what is going on but I think this looks more like Hashimoto's AI disease - and that would be TPO abs over range :

Maybe have a read around on Dr Izabella Wentz's website as many forum members find her research and suggestions of value - thyroidpharmacist.com

[Madders14 in reply to pennyannie]

I am hyper not hypo? Thought Hashimotos was linked to hypo

[pennyannie in reply to Madders14]

With Hashimoto's you can experience transient hyper type swings in symptoms as this Auto Immune disease systematically attacks and ultimately disables your thyroid and the T3 and T4 fall back down into range by themselves and this AI disease is not treated with an AT drug.

The beta blocker is generally prescribed if your experience heart related symptoms and Propranolol is generally chosen as this tends to also slow down the rate at which the T4 converts to T3 in your body -

as it is too high a T3 for you that causes the ' hyper type ' symptoms being tolerated.

Longer term with Hashimoto's you will find your thyroid gland damaged and less productive on a daily basis with you then becoming hypothyroid and needing to be prescribed T4 - Levothyroxine - thyroid hormone replacement.