Over active thyroid ruining my life!

Dear emma. It seems so sad that you have been suffering like this for so long. Please take someone along with you to your appointment so that you have support. Be very clear to the doctor that this is enough. No one should have to suffer like this and be left unattended when there is so much that can be done. Best of luck. I hope you remain strong enough to get the medics off their backsides and do something.

Hi Emma. So sorry you are feeling so rough. Sounds like the hospital should have been keeping a better eye on you a year ago. Hopefully your T4 will come down quickly once the carbimazol starts working. Try to be as gentle and loving to yourself as much as possible. The emotional ups and downs are directly related to your illness and once this is in range you will feel better in all aspects. I know it's hard to believe but it's true. I felt like my life was over 6 months ago when I was first diagnosed. Now although tsh is still no where to be seen I feel the best I have in 4 years and getting more and more emotionally robust.

It will get better.

Take good care of yourself Emma.   

Hi Emma

There is a lot you can do to help yourself.  Watch your diet, avoid aspartame.  Some hyperthyroid patients also avoid gluten.  Add Vitamin D supplements 1,000 IU daily.  There are herbal preparations that help to calm yourself.  These are Bugelweed, Melissa and Motherwort.  My naturopath showed me them combined in one capsule that he sells or you can buy them separately.  I benefited  from taking L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine, an amino acid that the body makes that gets depleted in hyperthyroid patients.  Get enough rest, avoid stress.  All these things help.  Become an informed patient from searching out articles on the subject of hyperthyroidism and belonging to Boards such as this.  Always ask your doc for a copy of your lab tests and keep a file on them.  You will learn what the values mean soon enough.  Keep us posted on how you are doing. 

Dear Emma, please be aware the medication Propanolol can be adverse for some patients, such as breathing disorders (Asthma).. It makes breathing worse and I would think this may be also the case with your itchy skin, as you may have an underlying lung problem..

i have Asthma as well as an Athetoid tremor, and I can't take Propanolol for these reasons..  Believe me I can truly sympathise with your dilemma as I also have an over active Thyroid issue as well, and I'm unable to take medication to help these same symptoms..

I'm not a Doctor by eny means, but please ask your GP to review your medications (and also tell them you are also suffering with Anxiety and Depressed), as this is very important Emma..

Doctors are only human and see hundreds of patients each week and not all medicines work the same for these symptoms, mainly because of other medications you may be taking or an underlying health issue..

There are are other medications that may work better in your situation, so please ask..

Mike, I didn't know that about Propranolol and asthma.  When I was waiting for all my tests to be completed for Graves, I took Propranolol if I experienced a fast heart rate and my Endo told me she didn't tell me to take it p.r.n. which means as needed.  She wanted me to take it every day. Now that my thyroid levels are normal but I sometimes have high blood pressure and palpitations, I can only take 1/4 to 1/2 a 10 mg  pill not every day and it still drops my blood pressure down to 90/50.  I can't imagine taking one pill 10 mg every day.  I would be flat out on the floor.

hi emma

When you go for your appointment next Thursday you must insist on discussing every aspect of your symptoms with the doctor.  You must tell him/her how your body is reacting.  Read up on your prescription leaflet.  You might be getting side effects to either or both of them.  All medications have some form of side effect whether minor or otherwise.   Some of us just react worse than others.   Or it might not be that at all but whatever you must insist on their discussing everything with you.  Do not go in and come out with nothing but a come back in another few months time etc.  They might not have the meds at a correct level.  The itchy skin should most certainly be mentioned to the doctor.  It could be part of the thyroid issue or a reaction to carbimazole.  Either way they need to know EVERYTHING.  Write it all down and take the notes with you when you go.  

Good luck.

 dear emma, I suffered for many years becaue of hyperthyroidism.  I was only diagnosed when I was 25 years old but I knew I had it for a long time because I've been so nervous all my life.  I thought I just have social anxiety and that is the reason why I don't attend gatherings or any celebrations.  It's the same when I started working.  There are a lot of things that I want to do but my being nervous all the time prevented me from doing those things.  I only went to the doctor when I couldn't handle it anymore. Tremor in my hands got worst that I couldn't write my name and I became too nervous that it's hard for me to talk sometimes.  Also I was so weak that I was dragging myself to go to work. I finally decided to go to my doctor and He knew right away.  I took meds for years but it didn't really alleviate all the symptoms.  I was taking the inderal or propanolol daily so that I won't get nervous even when the doctor told me that I can stop taking it.  I was on meds for about 5 years and continuous checkups until my doctor decided that I undergo radioactive iodine treatment.  I wish I had taken it years ago because it took away my tremor and also I wasn't as nervous as before.  However there are sideeffects... I experienced brain fog, I can't focus and I feel like I'm not sharp as before.  I have forgetfulness issue and acne problems.  I'm sleepy all the time and I lack energy even if I'm taking hormones.  It's been more than 2 years since I've undergone radioactive iodine treatment.  I still wish I had taken it years ago because I was so miserable with my being nervous and having the tremor problems.  I'm ok now but I just can't help feeling depressed and tired sometimes but I prefer it compared to being nervous and the tremor/trembling ( I felt embarassed before when other noticed that I was so nervous).

Talk to your doctor and maybe he can adjust your dosage or prescribe you with a better meds so you won't get these symptoms.