High Thyroid?

junebugbear07

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I just got my blood test results back. And I have a high thyroid condition. I am very confused as to what this is or what is going to happen. I talked on the phone with one of the nurses, but this was my gyno office cause my results were sent there and my primary doctor just left us so we are in the process of meeting with the new one, which i might add my "meeting apointment" is in August.... I looked online and found some symptoms like tired, weakness, nervousness and as far as bulging of the eye...yikes. I dont know how i got it or what, since the nurse couldnt explain it as she isnt trained in that. Anyone else have a high thyroid or know any more information?
 

natalie_ca

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Hyperthyroid is a serious condition.

They will probably put you on Tapazole temporarily in order to block the production of the thyroid hormone. However, that is not a long term solution. The only real "cure" for hyperthyroidism is Iodine-131 treatment so you will be booked in to have that done.

Iodine-131 is a chemical isotope which is radioactive.

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=radioiodine
 
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junebugbear07

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Thanks! I just read through that....hopefully i do it after i go to oregon on airplane cause the radioactive stuff may trigger the dectors i guess. And since it will ruin my thyroid, i will have to take thyroid pills for the rest of my life...oh yipee yay
. I told myself i would never get to the point of having to take a lot of pills daily like my parents and i am only 19!! Hopefully after this treatment if that is what i have done, i wont feel so tired all the time and nervous, i swear i get nervous A LOT and i am ALWAYS tired lol, so it would be a nice change. I hope they give me a pill and i dont have to swollow a liquid or they better prepare for some puking!!
 

natalie_ca

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It's been awhile since I've looked after someone having Iodine-131 treatment. I can't remember if it's a pill or liquid. But if it's liquid, it's flavourless.
 

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That would explain you fainting. How does your potassium look? I know that hyperthyroid can cause one to be low in potassium. If you get too low on that it can cause some serious problems - but generally only if it falls under 3.0. Keep an eye on things... August sure is a long ways away.


And be careful in the heat, too!
 

cdubbie

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I have Graves disease and did not go the way of the radioactive iodine.
On average you will go into remission 12-18 mns after it occurs w/o that treatment.

Thyroid eye disease is a possibility (bulging eyes) but you can get it even if you dont have a thyroid disease. Smokers are more prone to it (and thyroid disease in general).

Is there something specific you want to know? I had about every symptom listed for a loooooong time since the docs did not diagnosis me until my levels were in the 400s. I was very sick and in the 50% fatality range. The scariest part is that thyroid disease can make you a bit psycho - so crazy you dont know you are sick/psycho. And irritabilty is high and you might find yourself yelling at strangers without cause like I did


The palpitations, shortness of breath and feeling hot were pretty rough too. I did enjoy eating ice cream every night and still losing weight though- that was the coolest!
 

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In nursing school we were told that Bette Davis had hyperthyroidism...and that's why she had Bette Davis eyes. Our instructor described her eyes as a classic example for Graves' disease. I'm certainly not trying to make light of your situation, just thought you seemed especially concerned about the eye symptoms. You are probably too young to remember Bette Davis, but she had gorgeous eyes.
 
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junebugbear07

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Originally Posted by CDubbie

I have Graves disease and did not go the way of the radioactive iodine.
On average you will go into remission 12-18 mns after it occurs w/o that treatment.

Thyroid eye disease is a possibility (bulging eyes) but you can get it even if you dont have a thyroid disease. Smokers are more prone to it (and thyroid disease in general).

Is there something specific you want to know? I had about every symptom listed for a loooooong time since the docs did not diagnosis me until my levels were in the 400s. I was very sick and in the 50% fatality range. The scariest part is that thyroid disease can make you a bit psycho - so crazy you dont know you are sick/psycho. And irritabilty is high and you might find yourself yelling at strangers without cause like I did


The palpitations, shortness of breath and feeling hot were pretty rough too. I did enjoy eating ice cream every night and still losing weight though- that was the coolest!
Well how does one get it? Im soo confused about this whole ordeal since i havent been able to contact a doctor about it. I get short of breath a lot, i just thought i had exercised induced asthma, maybe its a bit of both? So what exactlty do you mean about remission? lol sorry i know nothing of anything really
. My grandma had a growth on her thyroid, which i think caused her to have high thyroid, they had to remove hte whole thing. Im not sure how serious it is, because the nurse didnt know anything about thyroid or w/e. Do you feel a change after having treatments? like if you were tired or weak all the time, did it kind of go away? Im just really tired of being tired lol no matter what i do, i just have no energy. Thank you soo much for all the info!! (I am also a wee bit scared, not knowing things tends to make me nervous)
 

cdubbie

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Originally Posted by JuneBugBear07

Well how does one get it? Im soo confused about this whole ordeal since i havent been able to contact a doctor about it. I get short of breath a lot, i just thought i had exercised induced asthma, maybe its a bit of both? So what exactlty do you mean about remission? lol sorry i know nothing of anything really
. My grandma had a growth on her thyroid, which i think caused her to have high thyroid, they had to remove hte whole thing. Im not sure how serious it is, because the nurse didnt know anything about thyroid or w/e. Do you feel a change after having treatments? like if you were tired or weak all the time, did it kind of go away? Im just really tired of being tired lol no matter what i do, i just have no energy. Thank you soo much for all the info!! (I am also a wee bit scared, not knowing things tends to make me nervous)
It is hereditary I hear although no one in my family has ever had it. It is an autoimmune disease and the latest theory I've heard is hormones in chicken in dairy products might be a culprit but they can't prove it.

Funny enough, the only reason I knew anything about it is because my cat had it
It's v. common in elderly cats. My endo was impressed with my knowledge on i


I was very weak and shaky and very tired. Like my mind was tired but I also felt so much "energy" that I would run on the threadmill for two hours trying to burn up energy. It was fake energy, maybe what being on speed is like? My heartrate was v. high, even while sleeping - at 120. Lots of palpitations too.

Remission means the disease is "on hiatus". LIke, "I'm a cancer patient but it's in remission" - meaning its not active. All the symptoms of Graves can be other illnesses too, like pheochromocytomas. You need a full work up pronto. I suggest you go to an endocronologist - they specialize in autoimmune diseases.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by CDubbie

My heartrate was v. high, even while sleeping - at 120. Lots of palpitations too.
That must be horrible to have had no break from it. My heart rate is 120bpm or higher when standing (goes up to 180, that I know of - maybe higher), that can get extremely uncomfortable for me and can cause near syncope + falling. But at least laying down helps.



That shortness of breath feeling is one of the common effects of tachycardia. The next time you're short of breath check your pulse - it'll very likely be a bit high. Sitting down, staying cool/cooling off, and drinking some water may help a little.
 

cdubbie

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Oh my goodness strange wings - I heard of tachy but not that high! What do they do for that? It must feel horrible!
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by CDubbie

Oh my goodness strange wings - I heard of tachy but not that high! What do they do for that? It must feel horrible!
Absolutely nothing!
I don't think doctors believe me because the general thought is low blood pressure = low heart rate. I do take midodrine to help my low blood pressure - raising it can help lower the tachycardia some but not if I get warm or exert any.
I ignore the palps and live with it - and hope that I don't get any serious arrhythmias that could possibly kill me.
 
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junebugbear07

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I am getting another blood test done soon, then i guess we will go from there. I know what you mean about energy. I will be tired but get this weird burst where i go on a cleaning tangent in the house, like yesterday i mopped the whole house and took out the garbage etc, but i was still kind of tired. Its weird! Strangewings--i know what you mean, my dr. doesnt believe i have exercised enduced asthma....he just had me blow into one of those things (not doing any exercise
) and said i had very mild asthma...i was like what dont you get about EXERCISED enduced asthma?
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by JuneBugBear07

Strangewings--i know what you mean, my dr. doesnt believe i have exercised enduced asthma....he just had me blow into one of those things (not doing any exercise
) and said i had very mild asthma...i was like what dont you get about EXERCISED enduced asthma?
There's a lot more that's needed to determine whether one has asthma or not, or to even check for other breathing problems. If this is an issue for you I suggest you seek a doctor who is either a respiratory specialist or at least more current.

I hope your next blood test can help figure out what is going on. While I don't wish illness on you, it seems too late for that and the best is some answers that will point you to a successful treatment plan.
 
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