More over Active thyroid panic - what happens when I start to take the tablets?

[DorrisMcWhirter]

Firstly, apologies to anyone who replied on my other thread, I'm not discounting your advice, this is a different question along the same lines iyswim!!

I've just been diagnosed with an over active thyroid and have been given carbimazole tablets. I've only got them today and should have taken one but basically I'm a big coward.

This thyroid thing has taken me by suprise, to put it mildly! My main concern (as discussed on my 1st thread!) is that I'm a big lass and I don't want this medication to make me even bigger. But, aside form this, I have absolutely no idea what the tablets will do. The gp did tell me but I wasn't really listening - still in shock!

What happens next? She's starting me on one 5mg tablet a day and I remember her saying I'd be 'up and down' for a while till they got the dosage correct. What on earth does 'up and down' mean?

HAs anyone been on this drug? Any experience? I'm dreading taking my first one tomorrow (although I realise the effect won't be instantaneous!)

TIA

Hi - nothing will happen immediately - over a period of time your symptoms of over active thyroid should decrease - so, no palpitations, sweating, feeling like everything's racing at full speed etc. I had an over active thyroid and one of the more wonderful things was that I was losing weight while being able to eat a shop full of sweets at the same time - unfortunately that stops... So yes, you'll probably have to be more careful about what you eat.

You could be up and down in that it's sometimes tricky to get the dosage right and they'll keep checking your blood - it took a couple of years to get me right - in the end I had 2 lots of radioactive iodine which has made me permanently underactive so I'm now the opposite to you and have to take thyroxine every day!

Good luck and don't worry about any immediate side effects.

Thank you, it's a bit scary to think it may take that long to get me right and then I may go the other way!

I haven't really lost that much weight so i guess that's why I'm really worried about the weight I may put on . I've had a huge hunger but was so used to having to watch what I eat usually that I didn't really act on it.

Dear god, what size am I going to be if I haven't been eating shed loads more and then I take the drugs? I have visions of firemen winching me out of my bedroom window

Hmm - I'm afraid I can't give any comforting thoughts on that one as I'm of the larger persuasion myself and certainly haven't got smaller since becoming underactive!

But - (a) that's possibly because I eat too much chocolate and drink too much wine and (b) don't forget they're not trying to make you under active, they're just trying to sort out your levels so you're not over active - which you really shouldn't be 'cos it's not healthy!

Yes, I can see your point!!

She scared me a little (well, quite a lot really) by saying that I had to ring her or come in if I got anything worse than a cold. Something to do with white blood cells?

Bloomin' wish I'd listened a little more carefully!

ooh - don't know - I never got told about that - mind you this was 10 years ago so it's possible I've forgotten in the haze of children/alcohol....

I wish I'd never gone.
Maybe I would have lost loads of weight....[wishful emoticon]!!

It can be a dangerous illness Doris - it's a good job you did go. Your metabolism and heart rate are increased with over active thyroid and that is not good. My heart rate was dangerously fast, high blood pressure etc and I was in hospital and put on bed rest for three weeks when i was diagnosed.

Take the tablet - it won't do anything drastic to how you feel, it's a gradual process of getting your body back on an even keel.

Thank you Kbear, yes, rest assured I will take the tablet. I'm just scared about doing so! I also can't work out why I didn't particularly lose any weight in the first place.

(I think i'M throwing my toys out of the pram because I had no weight loss but may suffer the weight gain.)

Take the time now to think healthy then. If you want to lose weight, now is as good as time as any right? So, increase the good stuff and leave out the cakes, biscuits etc and give your body a good chance to sort itself out. It will take a few months to get your levels perfect and then you will stay on the dose with regular blood tests for years probably. I was on it (4.5 tablets a day in the beginning) for 9 years then my dose was gradually reduced until I was on half a tablet a day then stopped altogether and all was well for about five years until it went over active again. Took the pills again for a couple of years then it righted itself again. Been "normal" ha ha for 15 years now.

Good Luck Dorris!

What dose have they put you on?

Thank you kbear, that's great advice. Think I may start on the old weightwatchers again.
I'm only on one tablet (5mg) to start.

Mine was WAAAAAY over, dangerously, admitted to hospital same day in fact! For a month!

So, great idea about WW - get all the help you can, stick to it, get lots of walking in or any exercise you like to do, take your time to start with and check with the doctor first. Let Christmas be a two-day splurge event then back on the wagon and get fit and lose weight for the new year.

Start an online support thread here if you want, gets others to join in and encourage each other.

Feel great in no time! Go for it!

Support thread is a cracking idea!
Ok, maybe I can beat this, I may actually be able to lose weight whilst taking drugs for over active thyroid!
I can but try. Yes, you're also right about checking with the GP first (you're good at this!) shall do that first and then start a thread!

Feeling more positive now. Thank you

Dorris - go for it - I will keep my eye out and see how you're getting on!!

Thank you, thank you

You can be my unofficial Thyroid mentor!

OK - I accept!

I think support really helps when you're struggling, be it quitting smoking or losing weight or training at the gym. If you have a friend along side you it is much easier. Is there anyone in RL that can support you also or join you in a fitness campaign?

Hi Kbear (please excuse the christmas name, can't be bothered to change back after christmas name thread!)
Yes, I have a friend who would probably do weightwatchers with me. Also hoping to join a gym after I get my first wage packet (starting a new job in January!)
Will give the GP a buzz tomorrow to sort out an appointment, felt like I needed a day off of GP's today
Took tablet number one though - so far not a size 48!!