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Over active thyroid - but under active thyroid symptoms...

Posted , 5 users are following.

Mrs_Preacher
Mrs_Preacher

Hi,

I am 33 years old and have just been diagnosed with having OA Thyroid, but have symptoms of UA Thyroid. I have always struggled with my weight and bloating (from having food intolerances), but have recently gained a lot more weight than normal, despite eating sensibly, walking everywhere (as I don't drive) and swimming.

I have days where I feel really thirsty and have to drink lots and lots of water, unable to concentrate, have a husky voice and morning coughing/ gunk on my chest, rapid heart rate, anxiety, feel achey and exhausted all the time. I also have Fibromyalgia (was diagnosed in 2005). I used to work full time for 17 years, but recently had to reduce my hours to part time, where I constantly felt ill...and I have now had to leave work all together.

What I don't understand is how I can have the symptoms of UA but be OA. The Doctor has prescribed me 5mg of Carbimazole to take 3 times a day. No Propanolol yet, but I have taken these before as I used to suffer with high blood pressure.

I am worried that I am going to gain even more weight on this medication, when I have already gone up nearly two dress sizes from being so ill. Is this medication usually only given for people with OA? Will the effects be reversed in my case, where I have UA? Are there many of you out there who have the same symptoms as me and who are taking this medication and if so, what has happened in your situation?

Any advice/ information would be greatly appreciated...thank you smile

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Deb05
    Deb05

    Posted

    Many years ago I was diagnosed with an overactive and underactive thyroid, I saw a private doctor in London, he put me on high doses of carbomizole to squash the thyroid function and gave me thyroxin to lift the thyroid to a normal level, I was on these drugs for two years after which they were slowly reduced and my thyroid then functioned normally again.
  • Tripper24
    Tripper24

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with an OA thyroid 18 months ago, I was on a high level of carbimazole 20mg for the first 8 months, it was then reduced slowly to 5mg which I've just stopped taking, I have an appointment to see my specialist in 6 weeks, if my levels are high then I will be offered the radio active iodine drink. It's been awful, I was very poorly when they finally diagnosed my OA thyroid, I'd been ill for 8 months, since being on the carbimazole I've felt much better but I have gained 3 1/2 stone!! My specialist has told me not to worry as I should hopefully be able to lose it once everything has settled. I sympathise with what you are going through, but the alternative is much worse.

    Good luck I hope you are better soon.

  • Mrs_Preacher
    Mrs_Preacher

    Posted

    Thank you for your comments smile Its great to hear that this may be a short term thing that I might hopefully recover from with taking the medication.

    I have been taking the medication for 6 days now and have already started to feel a bit better and less lethargic and achey. I even went for an hour power walk yesterday and went swimming! A big improvement from lying on the sofa resting up feeling really ill for weeks on end. Am going to try and keep up with the exercise, as I am really worried about the weight gain. This may sound silly in comparison to the actual illness (which obviously takes priority) but I have always struggled with my weight anyway and seem to have just ballooned lately and feel like a huge useless lump! sad

    I am really hoping that because my symptoms are reversed, that the medication won't make me gain too much. As I've put so much weight on from just being ill, that I am hoping this will get me back to normal again. Don't really understand how it works. But it is worrying that one of you have experienced weight gain from the tablets.

    Guess I am just gonna have to carry on and see what happens! The rapid heart beat has settled down since last week and I was experiencing that for about 4 months and I definitely feel I have more energy...already. Going to take things slowly though, so that I don't over do it.

    The saga will continue... !

  • Mrs_Preacher
    Mrs_Preacher

    Posted

    Tripper 24 - am really sorry to hear that its been such a nightmare for you and I hope all goes well with the Specialist sad The weight gain is just awful isn't it and you end up feeling like giving up, as you feel like whatever you do won't make any difference, you just keep gaining anyway. It can really get you down and make you depressed. Best of luck with everything...

    I hadn't ever heard of the radio active iodine drink until i've been reading up on the forum, so am going to look into this now. Thanks again for your advice...

  • Deb05
    Deb05

    Posted

    The first specialist I saw recommeded the radioactive iodine, but then said that I would not be able to have children for some years, this rang alarm bells thinking what does this stuff do to you! When I saw the specialist in Harley Street he said no way would he give radioactive iodine to a young patient as it causes cancer and it should only be used on the eldwerly as surgery for them is more risky, I was so glad that the carbimazole and thyroxin combo worked after two years, yes I also gained weight which was very upsetting, but once I was better got back to a normal weight. Hang in there the meds if given correctly to establish normal thyroid function should work.
  • Mrs_Preacher
    Mrs_Preacher

    Posted

    Hi Debs05 smile The radioactive iodine treatment sounds very serious and i've been reading up about it on the internet. The weight gain issue must have been awful, but its good to hear that once you were better, you went back to a normal weight again. I am really hoping that this is the case with me aswell, as I have always struggled with my weight anyway! I have been on the meds for a week and a half and am already feeling much better. Had really bad rapid heart beat for about 4 months before I had confirmation of the illness and this has really settled down, almost stopped completely. Have been swimming again today and done an hours power walk. So hoping that this will help re the weight gain issue...only time will tell! But I am really pleased that I am feeling better already smile
  • Deb05
    Deb05

    Posted

    Do glad to hear your feeling better!
  • janice19523
    janice19523 Mrs_Preacher

    Posted

    Hello, I realise it has been some time since you posted, However I am wondering how you are doing as my condition is or was identical to yours. Have had Fibromyalgia for last 10years and now developed overactive thyroid, It has taken nearly 3 months to get an official diagnosis and will be starting Carbimazole any day now. Have been taking beta blockers for shortness of breath and tremors for nearly 3 weeks (they do help)  I am overweight despite eating very healthy and carefully, exercise is very difficult as I am often in pain and just doing the housework and gardening has my head  soaked with persperation. Thyroid problems run in my family so I beleive mine has been underactive for years despite normal blood readings. Is there any hope out there?? would appreciate feedback, thankyou.
    • carol66175
      carol66175 janice19523

      Posted

      Hi janice you are not alone, I feel like a freak , 10 minutes  of housework and I literally drip with sweat. Thought I was getting better but today was so exhausted and achey had a  day off work. IT SEEMS TO BE THE NATURE of the illness. ALL I can suggest is dont fight it but listen to what your body is telling you. It is frustrating but hang in there

    • janice19523
      janice19523 carol66175

      Posted

      Thanks Carol, I really was feeling alone with this......and yes  I often share the 'freak' sensation. I have retreated socially so there are few people I discuss my problems with. I had to give up my job eventually and struggle to get through each day while trying to continue to keep the home ticking over including the care of 86 yr old with dementia. Often think all this is making me feel metally ill! what treatment are you taking and do you feel the benefit?
  • joolsminxy
    joolsminxy Mrs_Preacher

    Posted

    Hi

    I too was diagnosed with oa thyroid 8 months ago. I'd had symptoms for a while, especially eye problems, and pounding heart. My consultant started me on 10mg of carbimazole, then 15mg, and now I'm on 20mg, plus 30 mg of propranalol. I did try stop using the propranalol, but thought I would suffer a heart attack! I still feel my chest is tight, like there is a balloon in my heart, and get short if breath. I have a very physical job taking full care of 27 horses, which involves, turning out/in rigging, feeding, mucking out, and riding 3 of them. Just recently I have been almost falling asleep when I drive anywhere! I don't know if this is fatigue or my thyroid eye disease! I've been told I may have to have the radioactive iodine pill in a few months, and its a concern regarding safety, as I have been told to avoid human/animal contact for 2 weeks, so what will I do to me??? I have not gained weight on my meds, I'm still stable at 49kgs. What worries me most is how quickly my eyesight has deteriorated, as my oa thyroid is auto immune. Has anyone else had eye issues?

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