Newly Diagnosed Hyperthyroid....advice please?

Hormones
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Hi All,

I am new to the group and have just recently been diagnosed with hyper thyroid,    My symptons are sudden weight loss(over 14 lbs in a month!!), unbeliveable hot flushes and sweating constantly, tremors in my hands and a general anxious feeling :-( my GP has started me on 20mg nemercazole once a day and I am back for bloods in 10 days to check levels again and to check white cell count.  The results last week were TSH 0.001 and T4 64.  Today the hand tremors are the worst they have ever been and I literally could not hold my spoon at breakfast, my whole body felt like it was shaking - is this normal or could it be a side effect of the meds after 5 days???

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meant to say my GP is also referrring me to endo for further tests

 

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Hi Anna

I had tremors and shaking when I was diagnosed but they soon went when the meds kicked in, which usually takes about 2 weeks. The same with the sweating and flushes. 

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What you described are absolutely the same symptoms everybody gets with hyperthyroidism.   Hyperthyroidism can be caused from an infection in which case it would be transitory, nodules on the thyroid or a large goitre.  Mostly hyperthyroidism is caused by the autoimmune disease Graves Disease where antibodies attack the thyroid gland and cause it to overproduce thyroid hormone.  The medication you were given blocks thyroid hormone.  Tests your Endocrinologist will administer should more clearly define the cause of your disease.  Another autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's which usually results in hypothyroidism can also present with hyperthyroidism so antibody testing can clarify that.  Some people have both Graves and Hashimoto's.  Patients who do research on their disease once they are diagnosed and know what it is, and do all they can to promote their healing stand the best chance of recovery.  Most doctors will recommend a course of antithyroid drugs to start but in North America particularly, doctors really push radioactive iodine ablation or thyroid surgery and then treatment with thyroid replacement drugs.  Many people who have these latter two procedures (which are irreversible) often regret it because they never feel normal.  I and others who have done our research are getting good results by combining the antithyroid drugs with supplements like  vitamin D, L-carnitine, magnesium, Bugleweed, Motherwort and Melissa which all help with the symptoms.  Your doctor will not know about or recommend these supplements but you can research them and make a decision as to whether or not to take them.  Because hyperthyroid patients lose a lot of vitamins, minerals and amino acids from their bodies, taking vitamin supplementation makes a lot of good sense.

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thanks so much for the info, i think i need to do a lot of research or maybe i should consult a herbalist/natrupath to see what supplements could work for me.  I am hopeful that I wont be waiting too long for an endo appt and they can do further testing to see if it is graves or hashimoto's - should I ask my Go for anti body test when i go back for bllod tests or wait for endo do you think?  i was just really concerned that suddenly since starting meds last week my tremors were so bad so quick

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Usually Endos do the tests.  I recently asked my General Practitioner for antibody tests and he was not knowledgeable about them because these particularly ones are not routinely done and he preferred to have the Endo do them.  Palpitations or the shakes can be very troubling and contacting a naturopath is a good idea for that.  The Melissa and Motherwort are good for that and very calming as is Magnesium.  The carnitine also helps a lot with symptoms and even helps to block the excess thyroid hormone  Acetyl-L-Carnitine works better with Graves and regular L-Carnitine also helps.  Some people will take both.  I tried both but the Acetyl-L-Carnitine was what really helped to normalize my values and lower my antibodies.

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Hi anna,

sounds a classic case of hyperthyroidism to me.   If you have only just started on the meds they might take a few days to kick in so wait and see before worrying about side effects.  I am sure you will feel better once they kick in.  My gp prescribed a beta blocker at the same time to control the shaking. You could discuss that with your doc if the shaking doesn't stop. 

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I agree with Anna.  My doctor prescribed Propranolol, a beta blocker before she even gave me the antithyroid meds.  You could discuss this with your doctor before you get to the Endo.

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Hi Anna i just been told ive got overactive thyroid im on meds as well ive been on them  a week.

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im back next week for bloods so will ask her then especially if they are getting worse

 

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are u noticing any improvement julie my doc said within a week to 10 days you should start to feel back to yourself

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thanks lindai will defo speak to her

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Hi Anna

I've been recently diagnosed too, around mid December.  I had lost 3 stones in 3 months and had bad tremors.  As soon as I was put on the beta blockers (propranolol) they stopped almost straight away.  I've just been diagnosed with Graves disease in the last week.  My TSH was 0.06 and FT4 was 55.  Do you have dry eye or eye symptoms too?  The tremors were a recent symptom for me but I've had chronic fatigue, anxiety and eye symptoms for 20 years.  I'd speak to your doctor as soon as possible about the beta blockers because if your pulse rate is high you need to protect yourself whilst the condition is brought under control.

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No i hav'nt noticed anything yet Anna i can't wait to get back to normal.How long did you say you've been on them and do you feel the benifit xx

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Hi Anna, the meds usually take 4-6 weeks to kick in, its very much a waiting game.

sorry to say but you will probably feel like crap for at least a year as the meds slow you down and carbimazole has it's own side effects. You should be having monthly bloods..take care of yourself and listen to your body, as it will probably be up and down for awhile

Emis Moderator comment: I have removed a link as it was to an article unrelated to the topic.

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Hi Anna, yes classic symptoms, my whole body shook/tremors especially the backs of my legs

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I am only on the meds a week julie so need to give it more time but i have found the symptons worsening the last few days.

 

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I have no eye problems nisee but i definately need to go back to my doc re: the tremors are they are really bad and i feel really down at the moment too.  Cant keep my emotions under control and kep crying in work the last few days

 

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Wow 4-6 weeks my doc seemed to think within 10 days max you would feel better.  God this disease really sucks :-(

 

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Hi Anna

Calissa here, how r u feeling today :-) I felt a lot better after 2/3 weeks on 20 mgs, although your t4 is higher than mine. What was your t4 range?