overactive thyroid advice please?

[del1]

I have been having bouts of hot sweats, headaches. really bad shakes, blurred vision, slurred speech, irritable, and palpatations for a few months now. I noticed it after the birth of my 3rd child.
I've got 3 children under the age of 4, so just presumed it was due to this? But since i started back at work, it seems to be getting worse, and more frequent.
I decided to go to the doctors, after an incident at work. The doctor said I had a really fast pulse, which was unusual, as I had been sat down in the waiting room, and my hands were visibly shaking quite badly.
He suggested going back next week for blood tests, as he thought it could be an overactive thyroid.
I am a police officer, so obviously have lots of confrontation, and have to go to jobs that can really get the adrenelin going.
Last week was awfull, I didn't even make it out of the building to an incident, as I started to shake that much, I nearly fainted.
I was wondering, if I am diagnosed with an overactive thyroid, will it restrict me from doing my job (getting into stressfull situations)?
I am concerned that i will get myself in a dangerous situaton, and put myself in danger, by having one of my shaking fits!
I presume i will be given medication, if I am diagnosed. Does anyone know how long it takes to work, and will I be quickly be back to 'normal'?
I am seriously thinking about changing my job because of this.
Any advice would be appreciated

Hi del sorry to hear that you are going through this. When are your results back? it does sound like an overactive thyroid. If the results come back and you have got it, then you will probably be on carbimazole. Your symptoms should improve after a few days and you will start to feel alot better, thats if you don't have any side effects from the medication, you might also be put on beta blockers for the racing heart, you will have to have a blood test every 8 weeks to see if you are inproving, if you are the consultant will put your dose down, you will probably be on the medication for about 18 months to two years.

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear that it's possible to have a quick recovery! Heard lots of people can then turn to being underactive after medication! Just want to get back to normal x

I agree, carbimazole will make you feel better in a few days. Yes, after a few months you might become underactive and will then likely also have to take thyroxine to compensate. There are different treatment options available depending on what is causing your hyperthyroidism and how well you respond to carbimazole.

Hey Del! I was diagnosed hyperthyroid in 2011. It was a huge relief to get the diagnosis and some of the worst symptoms went away in a matter of weeks once I was medicated.

If you are diagnosed hyperthyroid you will probably be referred to an endocrinologist who will advise you on the cause of your hyperthyroidism and your treatment options. My hyperthyroidism was caused by a solitary toxic nodule. Aside from nodules a common cause of hyperthryoidism is Graves Disease which is an autoimmune condition.

A year on I have had surgery to remove the half of my thyroid which contained the nodule. Surgery isn't the only treatment option btw. I am now hypothyroid (underactive) and feeling better than I have done in a couple of years. I feel like my old self again with all the anxiety and irritability gone so please don't fear going hypothyroid eventually which, once you are diagnosed hyper, is the probable end game.

Good luck with the diagnosis, if you are diagnosed please hang on to the fact that thyroid conditions are very treatable and manageable for many people and shouldn't necessarily impact on your job.

Thanks so much ladies for your responses. Don't actualy have my bloods taken until Friday. so a bit of a wait yet!