Hyperthyroidism Support Group
Hyperthyroidism (or "overactive thyroid gland") is the clinical syndrome featuring weight loss (often accompanied by a ravenous appetite), fatigue, weakness, hyperactivity, irritability, apathy, depression, polyuria, and sweating. Additional symptoms may include palpitations and arrhythmias (notably atrial fibrillation), dyspnea, loss of libido, nausea, vomiting, and...
My PCP just told me I have Hyperthyroidism due to Thyroiditis and I need to see an Endocrinologist. I was given no other information. What causes this? Is a symptom shortness of breathe? What is the treatment?
Go to your PCP and get a copy of your blood test results. It is your right to have this information. Then we can take it from there. I hope your PCP had you take the T.S.H., Free T3 and Free T4 blood tests. MMztcass recommends having the tests, TSI and TRaB to test for Graves Disease antigens and there are 2 other tests to test for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. (The HYPO side) I cannot tell you what causes this until we get certain blood test results and you have an ultrasound of your thyroid. There is a possiblity that you might have nodules or goiter that have an influence on thyroid issues. If you are over exerting yourself and you have HYPERthyroidism, your metabolism would be over taxed and it can result in shortness of breathe. Go to the endocrinologist to get an accurate picture of which thyroid issue you have and what caused it. Let us know when you have that information from the Endocrinologist. Take Care.
Please post the lab reference ranges for the labs done. Many of the different lab companies have their own set of lab reference ranges.
Any positive thyroid antibodies mean that one has an autoimmune thyroid disorder.
If the TSI and the TgAb thyroid antibodies could be tested, a better picture can be seen.
Are you on any meds? If so which ones, how much and how often is the dosing?
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Funny that your thyroid was described as heterogenous. So was mine. If you were wondering what that means.....it was explained to me as such. Our thyroid gland is normal when it has a smooth texture. Since the texture is heterogenous, it means it is mixed. Part smooth and part not smooth (textured), which means that part of the thyroid is not normal/diseased. It’s a good thing that you have no nodules. (Neither did I)
MM is asking for the ranges because the different labs have different range numbers - so you can understand that the numbers you wrote don’t have meaning unless compared to a range chart.
What I didn’t take into account about your shortness of breathe is....how long has that been going on? Are you exhausted or very tired? I was exhausted from my heart beating fast and lack of sleep (it keep me awake) and weight loss from my metabolism running high. I am HYPER. If you have shortness of breathe it could come from HYPO, too. Have you lost any weight or gained weight? Are you feeling tired or anxious?
Just so you know about your numbers, eventhough it is out of range or even in normal range , it doesn’t tell the whole story. Mine are in normal range BUT I function better now that my numbers are pushing higher up in the normal range.
I know your numbers are abnormal - that’s what got your doctor to tell you to go to an Endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid issues. (So, your PCP did the right thing)
I am assuming you are not on meds because you haven’t seen an Endocrinologist to tell you what you actually have.
Please let us know what the doctor tells you. We are here to explain and support you in this. Take Care. (Try not to worry - you are going in the right direction) PS - I hope the Endocrinologist gives you other blood tests to see what might be causing this. They gave me lots of blood tests for cortisol, Vit D, “female hormones”, etc. to see what might have been affected or is affecting the condition.
I am sorry you are experiencing all this. It wasn’t that long ago that I was going through all that. I can give you hope that you will feel better if you take this seriously and do whatever is needed to restore your health. When I explain to newcomers what I did, it sounds almost impossible to do. But, it worked for me. Also, I admit that I backtracked, many times.
For now, going to see an endocrinologist is the best that can be done. They will give you the appropriate blood labs and other tests (ultrasound) to get a better picture of where you stand. Do some research for the conventional way doctors DEAL with HYPER thyroid issues. 3 choices: ATD (anti-thyroid meds), Albation (radioactive pill that knocks out the function of the thyroid) and surgery. The last 2 are usually for patients with cancer. Personally, I, stood clear of them. It took me a month to make that decision. The doctors wanted me to Albate. Had a taste of it through radioactive uptake & scan - experienced HYPO symptoms from taking radioactive pill. (It messed me up for a couple of days).
If you are not having any heart issues (palpating) then do not taking any beta blockers. MMI (Methimazole) is usually used. For me, start off with smaller amount per day. (I did 10mg/day for a month) Some doctors prescribe 20 - 30mg/day. I have heard a lot of patients complain of itchiness and rashes, that is why one should start with smaller amount and then build. Especially, since you don;t have that heart symptom. I am in my 8th month (on meds) and have been feeling much better. Better than I have felt in many years, let alone the beginning of all THESE symptoms from approx. 1 year ago.
I do not know what you are eating, but I lost 35 lbs in a few months. So far, I have gained back approx. 5. I remember eating like a feind. 10x worse than the carvings I would get when I had my period. I don’t have my period anymore (approx. 3 years)
The only advise I could give you right now is, TRY to lessen the amount of sugar you are consuming as with anything that has sugar in it - it get you high and then you crash. Supplement with protein. (Chicken, turkey, etc.) you want to keep your energy levels even. Sugar will not let you do that. Also, caffeine is not a good idea, either. Not with this condition.
Let me know how things are going.
MM will let you know where you stand with your numbers. Take Care.
Thanks for the lab reference ranges. :-)
I do see that your FT3 is out of the high end of range and the FT4 just slightly. For treatments like this would be taking a beta blocker for the FT3 and an ATD (antithyroid drug) such as MMI and PTU to help lower down the FT4. PTU lowers both FT3/FT4 whereas the MMI (Methimazole) is just the FT4 only.
The TSH at .01 is likely that the TSI antibodies are active and Graves' Disease is possibly going on. The Endo should determine from this and from the lab results. Although finding out the TSI and how high is it for the low TSH would be helpful.
Your shortness of breath and other hypER symptoms should improve once the meds are started.
I would make sure to get labs in four weeks from starting meds to make sure that crashing low to hypO doesn't happen. It would not be fun to be hypO as it would be hypER.
Keeping the FT3 at the mid range of the lab reference range and the FT4 at the upper third range will help as not to have many thyroid symptoms. List is down below of hypER and hypO to get an idea:
https://www.livingwithgravesdisease.com/symptoms
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I’m earlier in the process than StillLearning and MM. they are teaching me too.
Lots of my muscle mass was lost. I have a BIG concern about “working out.” Over exertion is not the way to go when your metabolism is running on high because of the hyperthyroidism. I agree, this was NOT a good way to drop my excess weight. But, I would highly recommend eating proteins. It’s the best way to keep some of the muscle mass. Eating carbs and sugars just bring you up and then down quickly. Proteins are the way to go. Tolunda, you just started with GD - think about light stretching for now. How are you feeling? Are you still very itchy? What did the doctors recommend? Take Care.
Keep track of how much of the ATD is being taken, how often is taken during the day (once a day dosing may not cut for some people) and to be sure to lab in four to six weeks from starting to allow for any dose reductions as not to drop hypO.
Has a beta blocker been prescribed for the Free T3?
When thyroid levels comes down to within the normal lab reference ranges such as mid range for the FT3 and the upper third range for the FT4, many of the symptoms are improved.
{{{hugs}}}
For starters, try to have a positive attitude. I promise you, you will feel better. (Don’t listen to the doctor) It takes approx. 5 weeks for the meds to kick in. The dosage you got 5mg 3x a day is a good call. It allows the meds to be in your system, in a balanced way. MM, always told me to do that. I started on 10mg 1x per day. (But it worked for me) So, I see your doctor’s point to divide it up to 3x a day. Some of the GD patients spoke of itchiness after taking MMI (Methimazole). I experienced some of that but I knew that was one of the side effects of the meds. (I dealt with it) If after a month when you take labs, your Free T3 and Free T4 will show you the direction you are going in. Your symptoms will subside BUT if your numbers are pushing towards HYPO, then you will feel tired. And, the doctor will reduce your meds.
Try to think of it this way, you know what you have, NOW you can do whatever is necessary to overcome the symptoms. You have a whole new life. You will take care of yourself in a “cleaner way” (non GMO, organic, hormone free, SLS free, etc.). Please keep this in mind, ATD (Methimazole for me) and a change in the way I eat, clean and use personal products have gotten me in a very good healthier position after 8 months. Better than I have felt in years (because I was walking around with thyroid issues for so many years) I am at peace with my diagnosis because I can do something about it.
We are here for you. Take Care.