Does anyone know about hyperthyroid/supplements?

[iloveeverykindofcat]

I went to the GP yesterday because I was concerned I was diabetic (there is a lot of diabetes in my family, T1, T2, gestational, LADA, all of it). Symptoms were:

• unexplained weight loss despite deliberately eating loads, gradual but definite, taking BMI from natural 18ish to 16.8, which really does not feel good
• very thirsty, peeing a lot
• fatigue
• pins and needles
• weird temperature fluctuations

Anyway he said he would put diabetes in the blood tests but by looking at a swelling on my neck and seeing on my records that I'm anemic and have anxiety, he is almost sure I have hyperthyroidism. He told me to get some supplements but he was running very late the appointment was rushed, and I'm afraid I've forgotten what he said. One of them was B12, but something like iodine or maybe iron as well? And something else starting with S? Google is just confusing me and seems to suggest an entire alphabet of supplements 😕

Selenium maybe?
Do you know why he suggested supplements? You need proper investigations, blood tests etc.

I think you're right, it was selenium - thank you! Yes I'm having blood tests next week, he put in a bunch of other things to check but said based on symptoms he was fairly confident its hyperthyroidism, especially because there is a swelling in the exact location of one side of the thyroid gland. I've looked online and its not as big as some, but its definitely there. I think the supplements were just because he wants me to start something now - but I probably didn't ask enough questions, I was a bit taken aback because I thought I was going for one condition (which I know about) and the GP seemed pretty confident it was something else completely (which I don't know anything about).

I wouldn't take any supplements without double checking

Iodine could make it worse

Iodine is also in dairy and some fish

He might have suggested selenium as it can reduce the antibodies but again I'd ring the gp and ask for clarification

Beta blockers are often also given to help manage symptoms before different drugs are considered

An excellent charity for support. Also have helplines

www.btf-thyroid.org/

If you donate regularly you get quarterly magazine with lots of helpful info

See here

www.btf-thyroid.org/hyperthyroidism-leaflet

Whisky selenium could reduce antibodies if also be worried it could increase levels so perhaps don't do anything for now unless the gp says so. I'd personally ask for beta blockers

You shouldn’t be taking anything until after your blood tests, in case it skews the result.

Thank you, I will definitely sign up to the magazine if/when results are confirmed as I feel a bit 'at sea' at the moment. I had the same thought about maybe I should wait until I have the tests. In retrospect it was a slightly weird appointment, or maybe just rushed. I've never had a GP tell me to buy OTC supplements before. Might try to book with someone else to follow up, although perhaps being rushed is just how it is now, its been a long time since I last saw a GP.

(Not sure where whiskey came from)

Vitamin b7/ biotin can affect thyroid test results so definitely not that for a week before any test

I eat Brazil nuts, which are high in selenium, but agree you shouldn't change anything in your diet until after your blood tests.

Sounds crazy but I almost hope it gets confirmed so I can get on some medication. Its always been a bit of a joke with my friends that I eat a lot and stay thin, but it starts to get a bit unnerving when you know full well you're eating more than usual and you continue to slowly but surely lose weight. Also I'm really tired, which I thought was more hypothyroid, but apparently it can be hyper as well because your body is working hard.

I did have the 'do I have cancer' moment after the doctor pointed out the lump but Dr. Google says that 95% of thyroid swellings are benign, so I won't follow that train of thought too hard!

'Tired but wired' is how I would describe the fatigue that goes with being hyper!

Yep, that's the one. Tired by but wired describes it perfectly.