Overactive thyroid.

I was diagnosed about two and a half years ago. I felt a bit rough and thought I had a virus but I got worse and worse, it felt like I was walking through mud in a fog, that's the only way I can describe it, and the simplest things like emptying the dishwasher wore me out. I had no appetite and no energy whatsoever.
After I was diagnosed my doctor put me on beta blockers and carbinazole and I felt a bit better very quickly and improved little by little. The beta blockers were gradually withdrawn first and quite quickly then the carbimazole was gradually withdrawn over about eighteen months and I have regular blood tests to check thyroid levels, so far so good. My consultant said that it could re-occur but the longer it stays away the less chances of that happening. Hope you feel better soon.

I have been on Carbimazole for 18 months for overactive thyroid. It started to work after about 5 weeks, before which I felt really ill. The hyperthyroidism affected my bowels to the extent that I couldn’t safely go out or even have visitors except for very close friends. I had lost weight, hands were shaking and (worst of all) my hair was coming out. I diagnosed myself with hyperactive thyroid, and it was confirmed by a blood test.

I am due to see the consultant again in a couple of weeks, and am nervous about it, because they won’t keep you on Carbimazole for ever (it is quite a dangerous drug in some ways), and when they stop it many patients relapse. They hinted that they would probably stop it this time. I’d like to stay on it because it has worked miracles for me.

Carbimazole hasn’t made me put on weight, but I did have a persistent dry cough for a long time when I started it. For a while it worked too well, I became slightly under-active and had to take levothyroxin as well. It is all balanced now and all my bad symptoms have gone.

I had a hyperactive thyroid some years ago, the worst symptoms being the shakes and rapid pulse. I took Carbimazole, which took a while to kick in so was given beta-blockers in the meantime. The medication helped but it took a couple of years. An unfortunate side effect of the tablets was that I put on weight, as they slowed everything down including my metabolism.
I am glad you have a diagnosis so all will be well.

Thank you all for your replies. All very encouraging which was exactly what I was hoping for. To be honest it was a relief to get the diagnosis. I kept veering between thinking this must be something serious and at the other extremethinking I was a hypochondriac. Can’t fault my local practice and the young GP who spotted it so quickly.

I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at the beginning of December. Had been feeling very low, couldn’t be bothered, very achey/weak limbs, rash on my legs, eating loads (of crap) though not gaining weight. Put on Carbimazole, 10mg a day then up to 15mg a day. Felt much better very quickly, probably because there was a reason for feeling how I felt rather than it being the end. Waiting for result of latest blood test, feel I don’t need the pills anymore. No, you are definitely not a wimp Nandalot, scary how you can feel so awful for no apparent reason. Get well soon!

It was found I had an overactive thyroid in 2006 when I was hospitalised for something else. I was put on a high dose of Carbimazole which was later reduced. It soon came down to within the normal range and I was able to come off the medication within two years. Now I am tested every 12 months, my level is usually at the top of the normal range but this is acceptable.

I had overactive thyroid for years and was on neo-mercazole - is that what you’re taking? It should bring your levels down in a few weeks but you’ll need regular blood tests to make sure your thyroid levels are normal. Also some people can have a bad reaction to the medication.

There are different causes of overactive thyroid and longer term treatment depends on cause. There is lots of good information online but more about underactive (hypothyroid) which is more common.

My daughter in law has an overeactive thyroid. It was literally years, two or three, of weird symptoms before she was diagnosed. It was by then dangerously overactive but medication brought it down to more normal levels pretty quickly and she became her old self again.

I hope you recover soon!