Hyper-Thyroid?

SassySocialite · May 22nd, 2008, 06:47 PM

I had some bloodwork done during my annual visit last week and it came back saying that I have very high hyper thyroid levels, well levels were low indicating very overactive thyroid.

Does anyone else have this? I know a few people with hypothyroid but nobody with this situation.

I have to go back for some more bloodwork next week to see if it was a fluke of not before they give me a referral to an endocrinologist.

I have been reading some of the symtoms and various side effects and I must admit I'm a little freaked out!

burberryprncess · May 22nd, 2008, 10:37 PM

My mom was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism five years ago due to rapid heart rate, excessive weight loss without dieting, and inability to sleep. The proper treatment depends on the signs and symptoms of the disease. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. Other common causes are thyroiditis, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenomas. Diagnostic begins with a thyroid-stimulating hormone level test, which you will take. When test results are uncertain, uptake tests are performed to distinguish the causes. Graves' disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma can be treated with anti-thyroid medication, radioactive iodine, or surgery. Radioactive iodine (one dosage in capsule form taken at the doctor's office) is the treatment of choice in patients. The major side effect of this treatment is permanently suppressing the thyroid gland from producing thyroid hormones, resulting in hypothyroidism. Thyroidectomy is an option when other treatments fail or when a goiter is causing compressive symptoms. My mom tired anti-thyroid medication first and suffered side effects, like skin rashes and weight gain without eating. After months, she opted for radioactive iodine as opposed to surgery. Her eventual side effect was hypothyroidism, which was easily dealt with by taking synthroid daily for the rest of her life to replace her own thyroid hormone.

Hope this helps.

SassySocialite · May 23rd, 2008, 10:24 AM

Thanks Sophie, that helps a lot I was wondering what treatment people sought most. I have to have my bloodwork redone today and then I suppose we go from there.

peach6 · May 24th, 2008, 06:30 AM

I have hyperthyroidism (graves disease).

When i was first diagnosed, the symptoms i had were: weight loss (I lost 7kg), I started getting very hot all the time, increased heart rate and increase in the size of thyroid gland. There are other symptoms as well but these were the main ones for me.

The endocrinologist started me on a medication called carbimazole which is to regulate the levels of thyroid hormones.

I have been taking this for nearly 2 years and hormone levels are nearly back to normal, but thyroid is still larger than normal. I dont have any symptoms now and have put back on weight i lost (how annoying!). I did not get any side effects from thenmedication. My mum had hyperthyroidism as well and experienced a natural remission after a while. Now she takes no tablets and is fine.

Its not scary though and its been fine, the most annoying thing for me was being hot alot of the time.

JumpUp · May 29th, 2008, 07:20 PM

Dear Sassy,
I just joined and this is my first post, and will probably just lurk mostly. But I wanted to share my experience with borderline hyperthyroidism with you.

A few years ago I was experiencing symptoms of racing heartbeat, night sweats, insomnia, and extreme mood swings. (I would get all ready for work, be driving in, and just start weeping uncontrollably, that kind of thing.) When my doc tested my thyroid, my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level was very low, and my T3/T4 levels (?) were borderline high. He advised waiting and retesting to see if it developed into hyperthyroidism. So I went to the library and read everything I could about this disorder. I learned that the thyroid gland needs only two nutrients from our bodies: iodine and L-tyrosine (an amino acid). I had been taking L-tyrosine supplementally for some time as it is supposed to help with moods.... a vicious circle. When I discontinued the supplements, everything went back to normal.

Needless to say, I am much more conservative with my use of vitamins now!

Just thought this info might be useful to you. I often wonder if hypothyroid people would benefit from supplemental L-tyrosine.

Wishing you all the best.

JumpUp · May 29th, 2008, 07:29 PM

One other thing about hyperthyroidism is that it can really accelerate osteoporosis, so you may wish to request a bone density scan if you are indeed hyperthyroid. Not sure if you need to be predisposed to osteoporosis (white, thin, family history, smoke, drink) for this to occur, but it's another thing to think about.

First time I went to the doc about my symptoms, I got a doc who just prescribed Xanax! YaHoo. Then they wanted to refer me to psych. Then I finally got a doctor who looked past my whiney perimenopausal self and did some testing.

Best wishes.

May 22nd, 2008, 06:47 PM	#1
SassySocialite Member Location: California	Hyper-Thyroid? I had some bloodwork done during my annual visit last week and it came back saying that I have very high hyper thyroid levels, well levels were low indicating very overactive thyroid. Does anyone else have this? I know a few people with hypothyroid but nobody with this situation. I have to go back for some more bloodwork next week to see if it was a fluke of not before they give me a referral to an endocrinologist. I have been reading some of the symtoms and various side effects and I must admit I'm a little freaked out!

May 22nd, 2008, 10:37 PM	#2
burberryprncess Sophie Location: Southern California	Re: Hyper-Thyroid? My mom was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism five years ago due to rapid heart rate, excessive weight loss without dieting, and inability to sleep. The proper treatment depends on the signs and symptoms of the disease. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease. Other common causes are thyroiditis, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenomas. Diagnostic begins with a thyroid-stimulating hormone level test, which you will take. When test results are uncertain, uptake tests are performed to distinguish the causes. Graves' disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma can be treated with anti-thyroid medication, radioactive iodine, or surgery. Radioactive iodine (one dosage in capsule form taken at the doctor's office) is the treatment of choice in patients. The major side effect of this treatment is permanently suppressing the thyroid gland from producing thyroid hormones, resulting in hypothyroidism. Thyroidectomy is an option when other treatments fail or when a goiter is causing compressive symptoms. My mom tired anti-thyroid medication first and suffered side effects, like skin rashes and weight gain without eating. After months, she opted for radioactive iodine as opposed to surgery. Her eventual side effect was hypothyroidism, which was easily dealt with by taking synthroid daily for the rest of her life to replace her own thyroid hormone. Hope this helps. __________________ *Watch this Turkey video:* http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=501sNcmrwGQ I'm one stomach flu away from my ideal weight -- Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada

May 23rd, 2008, 10:24 AM	#3
SassySocialite Member Location: California	Re: Hyper-Thyroid? Thanks Sophie, that helps a lot I was wondering what treatment people sought most. I have to have my bloodwork redone today and then I suppose we go from there.

May 24th, 2008, 06:30 AM	#4
peach6 Member Location: Australia	Re: Hyper-Thyroid? I have hyperthyroidism (graves disease). When i was first diagnosed, the symptoms i had were: weight loss (I lost 7kg), I started getting very hot all the time, increased heart rate and increase in the size of thyroid gland. There are other symptoms as well but these were the main ones for me. The endocrinologist started me on a medication called carbimazole which is to regulate the levels of thyroid hormones. I have been taking this for nearly 2 years and hormone levels are nearly back to normal, but thyroid is still larger than normal. I dont have any symptoms now and have put back on weight i lost (how annoying!). I did not get any side effects from thenmedication. My mum had hyperthyroidism as well and experienced a natural remission after a while. Now she takes no tablets and is fine. Its not scary though and its been fine, the most annoying thing for me was being hot alot of the time.

May 29th, 2008, 07:20 PM	#5
JumpUp Member	Re: Hyper-Thyroid? Dear Sassy, I just joined and this is my first post, and will probably just lurk mostly. But I wanted to share my experience with borderline hyperthyroidism with you. A few years ago I was experiencing symptoms of racing heartbeat, night sweats, insomnia, and extreme mood swings. (I would get all ready for work, be driving in, and just start weeping uncontrollably, that kind of thing.) When my doc tested my thyroid, my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level was very low, and my T3/T4 levels (?) were borderline high. He advised waiting and retesting to see if it developed into hyperthyroidism. So I went to the library and read everything I could about this disorder. I learned that the thyroid gland needs only two nutrients from our bodies: iodine and L-tyrosine (an amino acid). I had been taking L-tyrosine supplementally for some time as it is supposed to help with moods.... a vicious circle. When I discontinued the supplements, everything went back to normal. Needless to say, I am much more conservative with my use of vitamins now! Just thought this info might be useful to you. I often wonder if hypothyroid people would benefit from supplemental L-tyrosine. Wishing you all the best.

May 29th, 2008, 07:29 PM	#6
JumpUp Member	Re: Hyper-Thyroid? One other thing about hyperthyroidism is that it can really accelerate osteoporosis, so you may wish to request a bone density scan if you are indeed hyperthyroid. Not sure if you need to be predisposed to osteoporosis (white, thin, family history, smoke, drink) for this to occur, but it's another thing to think about. First time I went to the doc about my symptoms, I got a doc who just prescribed Xanax! YaHoo. Then they wanted to refer me to psych. Then I finally got a doctor who looked past my whiney perimenopausal self and did some testing. Best wishes.