Do these symptoms sound like hyperthyroidism while I wait for tests?

[SillyPiccalilli]

I've been having some symptoms over the last few months, that I'd brushed off as 'I have a toddler, I'm just busy and tired!' but recently they've been getting harder to ignore, and prompted me to book a GP appointment.

My GP has booked me in for an urgent blood test, and referred me to a neurologist, but I'm already wondering if I have a thyroid issue, and was wondering what other people's experiences have been?

Symptoms are:

Have unintentionally lost 2 stone in the last couple of months
Absolutely ravenous hunger, cannot stop eating
Extremely tired all the time (but I do have a teething toddler!)
Regularly too warm - wearing a t-shirt outside in 12 degree weather
Headaches
Increased number of BMs
Changes to appearance of my eye - one eye is very open, and googly looking
Occasional flashing lights and blurry spots in vision
Heart palpitations, and fast resting heart rate (100BPM+)
And most recently, occasional tremors/shakes

I also did wonder about anaemia, but to me, everything looks to point more towards thyroid. If you have had hyperthyroidism, does this list of symptoms look familiar? What can I expect once I get my blood test results back if that is the issue?

Thanks for any advice you can share!

Midwife here and yes, does sound like it could be hyperthyroidism. What are BMs? When is your blood test? Could also be diabetes so get them to test for that too. Update us when you know and good luck.

I came to say it could be(I've had it) or it could be diabetes (I also have that)

I had most of those with hyperthryroidism. The shakes/tremors came last, and were what made me go to the GP. I also had insomnia.

My first thought was also diabetes. Have they tested your HB1ac?

Very much like it. If this is the problem you need to get it diagnosed and treated asap.

Sorry - BMs = bowel movements!

They've asked for all the usual blood tests, FBC, liver function, folate, ferritin, TSH etc. I think they've put the diabetes one in there - but I'll double check, thanks for the advice.

I'm most concerned about the changes with my eye, but the GP seemed a bit confused by that and said she'd refer me to neurology and to see an optician in the meantime. Fingers crossed it's something that can be treated, or will resolve itself, as I don't want one big googly eye forevermore...

I had the same symptoms when I had over active thyroid. Its now been removed, medication for life but....
Still have buggy eyes tho 😔

On the bowel movements, seems tmi, but do they float and not flush easily? That happened with me.

Protruding eyes are common with Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism). It sounds like you do have thyroid issue but try not to worry, it’s mainly very treatable.

Glad the thyroid has been dealt with and hope you feel better for it, but boo to the buggy eyes! Hoping if it is permanent the other one changes too because I look very lopsided at the min😅

I have checked and that is being tested, yes. The only thing that makes me think not diabetes is I don't have excessive thirst or increased need to pee, which I know are hallmark symptoms. It's just excessive hunger I seem to have - I'm eating 5 meals a day and still losing weight - though I do seem to crave very sugary foods...no idea if relevant!

Absolutely classic symptoms, I had every one of those, except the eyes and the tiredness, when I had Graves disease.

If you hold your hands out in front of you, do they wobble? I didn't even realise that mine did that until the GP got me to do that.

In case anyone is interested, it turned out to be hyperthyroidism. My TSH came back at <0.05miu, free T4 at 63.5pmol/L, and free T3 at 34.3pmol/L. GP has asked for antibody tests as she suspects it's Graves. Not ideal, but feeling satisfied at least that I knew my own body enough to know what was wrong!

@SillyPiccalilli glad you got the results sorted. So its now medication to settle it down,? Good luck x

Thanks! Yes, starting with Carbimazole to hopefully resolve it🤞

@SillyPiccalilli luck 🤞 🫂 💐❤️ just don't make the same mistake as me and refuse surgery to have the thyroid removed. 💐🫂❤️🙏

Have you been referred to an endocrinologist? Graves needs specialist management.

Not yet, I only got my bloods back yesterday so have a GP appointment first thing Monday to discuss and they have said they'll do the referral then.

I'm really hoping it will all be straightforward from here, as we had been planning to try for baby number two this year, but I understand I need to get my levels under control first, and switch off of carbimazole beforehand...