topic Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism? in Wellness

Experience with HYPERthroidism?

carlycat — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:11:52 GMT

The only experience I have with it is my CAT.

I've had two blood tests that show my TSH is low (which indicates HYPERthyroid) but the T3/T4 were normal. This is unusual.

I have a dr. appt. with the endocrinologist on Friday, which I've only had to wait 2 weeks for. But I'm feeling pretty crummy, either HOT as heck, my chest pounding, and like I've drunk a gallon of coffee (which I don't ever drink) or else like I'm exhausted, taking 2 hour naps when I get home from work.

Anyone else ever deal with this? Thoughts? Thank you!

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

camelot — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:23:36 GMT

Relax, breath, go to your endo & it will be ok. I'm a long time hyprothyroid patient. A good MD, for me an endocrinologist, is the best way to be treated.

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

PatriciaG — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:46:38 GMT

I just had blood tests and the results indicated hyperthyroid for me as well. How is this treated? Medication?

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

Hooty — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:53:07 GMT

@PatriciaG wrote:
I just had blood tests and the results indicated hyperthyroid for me as well. How is this treated? Medication?

@PatriciaG , your Dr. didn't tell you anything? Anyhow, I was initially diagnoised with "hyper"thyroid and as the word means, over-active thyroid, and after I had my thyroid removed I became "hypo" thyroid, meaning under-active, and therefore to regulate you take medication (most take synthroid or the generic), for me,the rest of my life!

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

SXMGirl — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:11:16 GMT

I was diagnosed with hyper about 20 years ago and had radiation therapy. I think things have improved since then. I am now hypothyroid but have been able over the last 20 years to continually lower my synthroid dosage. No matter what the therapy will be, you may find, like I did, that exercise helps tremendously to keep things in check.

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

x Hedge — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:18:39 GMT

@PatriciaG wrote:
I just had blood tests and the results indicated hyperthyroid for me as well. How is this treated? Medication?

@PatriciaG

Hyper thyroid is treated as follows:

They'll surgically remove a section of your thyroid, maybe a whole lobe, depends on your readings. The intention is to remove enough to deliberately make you hypothyroid.

From that point they'll prescribe a thyroid replacement to bring your readings into the 'normal' range.

Sometimes they get the dosage right on the first try. Sometimes they have to tweak it for a while as your own thyroid output adjusts after the surgery.

You may respond better to a synthetic over desiccated, and to one pharmaceutical brand over another. My Dr resorted to writing a particular brand name into my Rx to prevent the pharmacy from substituting their 'contract' brand.

This is one of the most frequently prescribed meds and its wise to compare prices. At one point mine was cheaper for me to pay than to go thru the insurance.

Once you get your dosage straightened out its cheaper to get 90 than 30x3.

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

Hooty — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:24:20 GMT

I refused to have mine surgically removed, did not want a scar that looked my throat had been slit, my mother & sister both had them!

I had my thyroid removed with the Radio Active Thyriod Pill, over 25 yrs ago!

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

x Hedge — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:44:22 GMT

@Hooty wrote:
I refused to have mine surgically removed, did not want a scar that looked my throat had been slit, my mother & sister both had them!

I had my thyroid removed with the Radio Active Thyriod Pill, over 25 yrs ago!

My sister had that. Then had to have it removed surgically anyhow because if any cells remain, it grows back.

lol! Medical equipment and techniques have improved in the last 25 years. Those big gashes (25 years ago) belong in the past. Mine's right in the natural crease, and due to a very tidy stitch, is hard to see even when you're looking for it.

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

tansy — Tue, 14 May 2019 21:35:23 GMT

I recently went through the radioactive medication procedure like @Hooty and then I was placed on levothyroxine. Having to be in a limited quarantine for a few days was mildly irritating — I boarded my dog to protect him — but totally painless.

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

Turbosmom — Tue, 14 May 2019 21:43:01 GMT

I was actually at the endocrinologist this morning for hyperthyroidism. As an alternative to thyroid removal the endocrinologist prescribed Methimazole, which I have taken for a year. We've had to experiment quite a bit to get the dosage just right, but I no longer have shaking hands, rapid heartbeat, etc. and feel almost normal, just a little tired sometimes, so my dosage has been slightly decreased and we'll see if that helps as it got to a point that I was hypothyroid.

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

Lucky Charm — Tue, 14 May 2019 21:51:57 GMT

About 15 years ago, my husband's sister lost a LOT of weight. She was always starving herself, so no one thought anything of it. Including her.

But she ignored other symptoms.

She had Grave's disease and her eyes literally bulged out of her head. She ended up having to have surgery to correct them (about 3 to 4 hour surgery!).

She also lost a LOT of hair and had to wear a hair piece.

Now it's under 'check' and she's on medication, but the whole ordeal really aged her.

I believe she had hyperthyroidism initially.

Re: Experience with HYPERthroidism?

sophiamarie — Fri, 17 May 2019 00:49:06 GMT

Almost 20 years ago, I also took the iodine pill (a capsule)..... My endo sent me to the hospital Radiology Dept, where a Radiologist (arranged by my endo) opened up a little container and spilled the capsule into my hand, handed me a glass of water, told me to swallow the pill and sit there for about 20 minutes or so......

After that, I went home and soon after (don't remember how long) I saw my Endo again and she prescribed Tapazole for a period of time until they were sure the thyroid was gone. Then, I was put on Levothyroxine.

I take 75 Mcg 5x a week and 50 Mcg 2x a week and voila. I never had any symptoms. It's like it never happened.

I hear so many horror stories concerning the thyroid, I guess we were the lucky ones. So far, so good. I think my dosage was adjusted once in all these years but I never had any problem.