overactive thyroid

[sugarbabe]

has anyone got an oveactive thyroid?
I'm just waiting for the results of a blood test to see if mine is overactive...

Friends keep asking me if I'm loosing weight, despite the fact I am eating like a horse at the moment, I seem to have this constant hunger... I'm going through a seperation and thought it may be down to stress, even though I don't feel stressed out.

just wondered what other syptoms you get, and what treatment is available..

bumping this for you...
I'd like to know about this as well...

Hello
I suffered from this condition in my early twenties. My initial symptoms were sweating, fast heart rate (140 beats per minute at rest!), feeling on edge all the time, thirst and weight loss (despite eating loads). I was diagnosed with Graves Disease which is one of the more common causes of an overactive thyroid. My condition was controlled by tablets (called carbimazole) to combat the overactivity and beta blockers to slow my heart down. Once the carbimazole kicked in (took a while for them to find the right dose), I was able to come off the beta blockers. In all, I think I only suffered from the illness for 4 years and then it "burnt itself out". My thyroid has been normal for 12 years or so now, but they always do thyroid function tests during pregnancy as it's important to make sure it's properly regulated while you're pregnant. However, most people's thyroid levels fluctuate after pregnancy for a few months.

Other treatments for this condition include radioactive iodine or surgery. I don't think they usually give radioactive iodine to women who haven't completed their families. One of the drawbacks of surgery is that afterwards you often suffer from an underactive thyroid, and have to take pills for the rest of your life, but I guess that's no major thing really.

After blood tests establish that your thyroid is overactive, you will probably be referred to an endocrinologist to find out the cause of your condition. I had to drink a radioactive mixture then have a scan. Many people with Graves Disease also have a goitre (large swelling of the thyroid gland at the front of the neck), which often disappears once you start treatment.

Good luck with your blood results!

Hi I had this post-natally (apparently it's quite common but women put it down to the stress of a new baby).

I lost loads of weight, sweating especially at night, impatient, too much energy but tired at the same time, palpitations, tremor in my hands. No goitre or anything.

I was started on Carbimazole and put on the waiting list for radioactive iodine but then it cleared up which is they said it was definitely post-natal hyperthyroidism.#

Good luck x

thanks for the replies, I had my results back and my thyroid is fine, but I am anaemic, I think my count is 7 and it should be between 11 and 15 ?

I am now taking iron tablets,

hi sugarbabe, glad it wasn't your thyroid!

7 is quite low but hopefully the iron tablets will work, and orange juice can help absorb the iron.

Best of luck x