Anyone know about thyrotoxicosis?

[DrMarthaMcMoo]

Dh has been generally not well for...well, ages, now and after much nagging went to the GP. His thyroid test seems to show he has thyrotoxicosis - the most likely cause of which (googling) is something called Graves' disease (it can also be a tumour - not thinking about that though). It's hyperthyroidism - as opposed to hypothryroidism (overactive, not underactive).

He hasn't been back to see the GP yet (he looked at his results at work, hence the heads up on his results) - but I'd be interested in any personal experiences, please?

I had Grave's disease in my twenties (quite unusual at that age & took a while to get a diagnosis approx 4/5 months) which was eventually treated by Radioactive Iodine & subsequently became underactive when I was about 31/2'ish. I was pretty ill to start with, 2 of my readings were off the scales but once I went on thyroxine I was like a different person. I didn't realise how many things in your body were affected by it. Unfortunately mine never responded fully to the drug therapy which is why I had RIT but it took several years before the hospital went down this route & I felt I was left to make a fairly major decision by myself. RIT or removal of thyroid (partly anyway). He'll get that he knows best himself how he's doing & not to rely solely on the blood tests. Some Drs are very accepting that patients often know better if their medication needs adjusting although their levels are within the normal ranges. But why am I telling you this you're a Doctor yourself Hope he gets treatment soon & feels better, he'll probably not be able to feel much worse.

Thanks for that, Jbck. I have been really worried about him of late so it's a relief, in a way, to have a "label" for how bad he's been feeling. He's only 34 but he's been like an old man lately. I'd read that treatment can eventually lead to a reversal - ie., so you end up with an underactive thyroid and subsequently need treatment for that...I guess we cross that bridge when we come to it.

When you say "I didn't realise how many things in your body were affected by it" - can I just ask what your symptoms were? Dh has been plagued by aching joints and muscles - in his legs, back and neck particularly (the GP referred him to a rheumatologist too initially as a route to explore). He has actually collapsed a few times when his legs have just given out from under him. He can't sleep - and "twitches" all night long (so I can't sleep either). He's permanently exhausted, feels quite anxious a lot of the time and is very hot a lot of the time too.

I am really hoping for a transformation when he starts on medication too - the last few months have been hard. I think he feels a little vindicated by the blood tests anyway (like Spike Milligan's planned epitaph..."I told you I was ill" )

Sorry I've not been on much this week, pg with horrendous hayfever & all day nausea. I felt as if my mind was constantly racing, my speech was actually quite bizarre some days. I speak quickly anyway but I sounded like someone on speed & when I read or wrote something I'd miss out whole sentences. I had tremors, night sweats my periods went haywire (your DH won't have that problem luckily). No appetite, constant thirst took a dislike to lots of foods some of which I still don't eat. I was tested for numerous things and eventually the locum I had been seeing more or less told me it was in my imagination as he could find nothing wrong. My own GP was on mat leave at the time & I didn't know this Dr but I think he saw I had a history of panic attacks & presumed I was neurotic. turned out they were probably the start of it all.
Anyway I eventually had a large swelling (goitre), had lost almost a stone in weight over about 3 weeks, looked like absolute sh*t and as it was the New Year period saw a different doctor in the practice. Straight away he mentioned Thyroid & I had a diagnosis by mid-January. I had been attending the clinic with the symptoms since the August.
If I'm tired I still get aches & pains I think they are a symptom of over or underactive & you can get pretty tired with both. Hyper makes you hot & hyper, hypo makes you cold & sluggish. It might take a while for them to get medication levels correct but he will get to know himself when things are going awry, I can tell if my levels are a bit off & see my GP. Good luck with it.

no experience of that kind of 'roid problem, Moo, but am always sympathetic to the 'roidaly uneven, Hope Dh gets the right meds for his condition