Anyone else got hyperthyroidism?

[iwanttoridemybicycle]

I was diagnosed with it last week. Started taking the medicine for it, had all the symptoms, racing heart, shaking, headaches etc. But this week my legs are so weak am really struggling. Am usually very active and am struggling to walk upstairs.
Is this normal? It's really scaring me tbh

Is you are on thyroxine they will look at your TSH as a measure (thyroid stimulating hormone) - should be less than 2. If you aren't they look at the T4 which is how much thyroxine you have in your system. They look at the TSH when you are on thyroxine to see if your body is "happy" with the amount you are being given.

When in active thyrotoxicosis ( ie being poisoned by T4) anxiety was a massive issue.

Have been told to avoid soya. Seems like loads of food has it in including chocolate

I have Graves, it took a while for everything to improve. They told me there is a lag of 2-3 months between a change in levels and a change in symptoms and it turned out to be true so even when T4 came into range and I finally started producing TSH again it was a few months before the worst of it all passed. But it did pass!

I feel so much better today, legs not as weak. Almost feel normal again!

Thats great news! Hope it continues that way.
I had bloodtest today and gp app moved one day earlier...

Thanks Vino, that's good re earlier appointment, the sooner treatment starts the better.

Psycho, what level was your T4?

It had always been mid range (monitored it for years because on meds which more usually cause underactive thyroid) and one day the results came back at around 3x the top of the range, GP insisted I get to the surgery within the hour. She really panicked me, I thought I must be dying or something. We started on 40mg carbimazole right away and propranolol (resting heart rate had doubled) and I had to go for a scan but didn't see the endocrinologist until 4 weeks later and he increased the carbimazole. Mine got a bit worse before it got better, we zapped it with radioactive iodine but it didn't work, it's been behaving itself lately so I hope to avoid surgery if possible.

I developed hyperthyroidism in pregnancy, had a huge goitre - which was picked up when I visited the out of hours GP for a fever and unrelated infection.
Consultant drained the goitre (which was awful) - it was back within 24hrs.I had a total thyroidectomy at that point, and been on levothryoxine ever since. My heart rate took a long time to return to a more normal resting level, and I've nearly passed out at the gym several times after getting readings over 180

I had surgery this year and it was fine, walked to hospital and was back running 10 days later.

Thyroxine is stored and for about two months therefore you should start to feel better in around 6-8 weeks, hopefully in time for skiing.

I felt tierd and generally very unwell, but you will start to feel better. They will test your tsh thyroid stimulating hormone ,& t3&4 they will titrate your dose of carbimizole to match your results

Take care of yourself and be kind to your body

That's good to hear Ivy, I do feel miles better than I did last week, thank God! Hels, consultant told me not to do any strenuous exercise but said walking is fine.

Psycho, I hope it continues behaving.
My skin is starting to itch now, read that was one of the side effects of the drug

Hi. Will be having bloods soon for this but just wanted to ask what you mean by shaky. I am really shaky with pins and needles all over body. Bad anxiety. What's the other symptoms you have all faced ?

Racing heart rate & palpitations. Excessive sweating. Rapid weight loss. Thinning hair. A feeling of anxiety/restlessness.

racing heart, sweating, not able to sleep, restless, weight loss and poor vision but this is v intermittent. Skin seems to have improved as in no spots anymore but v dry. Oh and terrible mood swings. A few weeks ago I blocked a road with my bike as somebody dared to honk at me- before I knew it was off the bike talking in a raised voice ( shouting really) in the woman's face! So v v out of character.

Those symptoms all sound like me apart from the rapid weight loss. I seemed to have put on a huge amount of weight as I'm so hungry all the time. Also I've had bloods done before and no joy on the results for hypothyroidism. But my symptoms seem to continue. Can different doctors interpret the results differently by any chance. Or maybe is there a time that it's better to do the bloods so it's more accurate?

You need the blood test early in the morning , before 9 if poss, and they should check TSH, FT3 AND FT4, thyroid antibodies plus vit D, B12 and ferritin. Check your own results as high TSH in range with bottom of range FT3 and FT4 isn't ok. GPs often don't test antibodies but that's how I was diagnosed with Hashimotos even though I was initially dismissed as 'normal range'! Vitamins and ferritin need to be mid range for most people to feel 'optimum'. You are entitled to a print out of results.

My symptoms were a constant feeling of apprehension, waking frequently with my heart absolutely racing and my fists and jaw painfully clenched, my nails dug deeply into my palms. Later pretty severe pains in my thighs (progressing to arms and abs, it was as if I had overtrained to some extreme extent despite cutting back further and further on exercise). Weak and tired. Lost 2kg of lean mass. I went from comfortably running a long run of 15 miles or so plus shorter distances most days to being unable to walk half a mile without breathlessness and indescribable fatigue. It was all pretty horrible and seemed to take forever to recover 😩 Already had a tremor but it got much worse. Mentally it was a bit like a mixed episode with some symptoms of mania and some of depression (mostly anxiety).

I'm much much better now but I still fatigue far more easily than I used to but that could be age, post menopausal (menopause completely masked by thyroid disease).

Op be kind to yourself and body at this time. If you need to rest then do so etc.

I spent from doing 650km across India on a bike to not being able to walk down the road and back with ,4 weeks.

I got better though and slowly built up gym classes etc over time. What is important is to keep a close check on your heart rate and make sure you don't let your heart rate go over excessive rates or stay high for to long.

From you op name do you like cycling? I found people just didn't know anything about exserise and hyperthyroidism, which was frustrating. If you want to pm for more of my own experience please feel free

I found loads of hyperthyroid people online who were struck down mid or post marathon training (I was progressing nicely when my thyroid went nuts), don't know if there's any link between stress of training for endurance events and thyroid madness but it was good to know I wasn't alone. And a couple of years later I finally completed a marathon.

I found resources for people with ME/CFS helpful and still do, might be useful to you OP. Lots of rest lots of food and being patient about pacing yourself

I have now apparently. Found out today.

I just need to drop my meds down. I am on them for an under-active thyroid and I have now gone the other way.

My anxiety has been really bad recently and GP put down my heart racing and extra palps down to that. Now I'm wondering if it due to my levels. I have also been having night sweats but all other blood tests came back fine.

Thanks Pyscho, I am trying to take it easy.
Ivy, how long did it take you to get back to normal exercise wise? I love bike riding but not in horrible weather so usually run and walk in winter.

U2, I sympathise, the symptoms are horrible.

I just thought my anxiety was high again and my CBT wasn't working.

I am quite hopeful now I know my thyroid has gone the other way. I might just feel better with a dose change. I assume that is what they will do anyway. No idea of my levels, the receptionist just said I need to come in because I'm over-active now.

I was only saying to dh a few weeks ago about how I'm not as cold blooded as I used to be and I actually get hot for a change.