Hyperthyroidism how long have i had it

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism If you have hyperthyroidism, you may experience some of the following symptoms: hyperactivity mood swings — such as anxiety , irritability and nervousness difficulty sleeping insomnia feeling tired all the time fatique muscle weakness needing to pass stools faeces or urine more frequently excess fats in your stools — which can make them greasy and difficult to flush down the toilet steatorrhoea sensitivity to heat and excess sweating unexplained or unexpected weight loss — despite having an increased appetite though in a small number of cases, the increase in appetite can lead to weight gain very infrequent or light periods, or periods stopping altogether infertility loss of interest in sex If you have diabetes , your diabetic symptoms, such as extreme thirst and tiredness, may be made worse by hyperthyroidism.

Causes of an overactive thyroid Overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormones thyroxine or triiodothyronine. Graves' disease Graves' disease is the most common cause of overactive thyroid.

Thyroid nodules It is possible for lumps to develop in your thyroid gland. Toxic thyroid nodules account for about 1 in 20 cases of hyperthyroidism. Iodine supplements Iodine contained in the food you eat is used by your thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Amiodarone Amiodarone is a type of medication known as an anti-arrhythmic, which helps to control an irregular heartbeat atrial fibrillation.

Follicular thyroid cancer In rare cases, you may develop an overactive thyroid as a result of thyroid cancer that starts in your thyroid follicles. Diagnosing an overactive thyroid See your GP if you think you may have an overactive thyroid gland hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid function tests Your GP will take a sample of your blood and test it for levels of: thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH thyroxine and triiodothyronine the thyroid hormones TSH is made in the pituitary gland in your brain and controls the production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

When the level of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in your blood are normal, your pituitary gland releases a normal level of TSH.

When thyroid hormone production becomes excessive, the pituitary gland stops releasing TSH. When the level of thyroxine or triiodothyronine drops, the pituitary gland produces more TSH to boost it.

Subclinical overactive thyroid gland In some cases, tests may show you have normal thyroid hormone levels, but low or suppressed levels of TSH. However, you will need a further thyroid function test so your condition can be monitored. Determining the underlying cause If tests confirm an overactive thyroid gland, you may be referred for further tests to determine the underlying cause.

A scan is then used to measure how much of the isotope has been absorbed by your thyroid gland. If the amount is low, the underlying cause could be due to: swelling inflammation of the thyroid gland thyroiditis , often caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking thyroid tissue or, less commonly, by infection having too much iodine in your diet in rare cases, thyroid cancer.

Treating an overactive thyroid If you are diagnosed with an overactive thyroid gland hyperthyroidism , your GP will refer you to a specialist in hormonal conditions endocrinologist to plan your treatment. The most widely used treatments for an overactive thyroid are outlined below. Thionamides Thionamides, such as carbimazole and propylthiouracil, are a common treatment. Around 1 in 20 people will experience side effects when they first start taking thionamides, such as: itchy skin rash joint pain These side effects should pass once your body is used to the effects of the medication.

Symptoms of agranulocytosis include: fever gum pain, swelling and bleeding sore throat mouth ulcers persistent cough shortness of breath If you are taking thionamides and you experience any of the symptoms above, call your GP immediately for advice and an urgent blood test. Beta-blockers Beta-blockers, such as propranolol or atenolol, can relieve some of the symptoms of an overactive thyroid, including tremor shaking and trembling , rapid heartbeat and hyperactivity. Beta-blockers can sometimes cause side effects, including: feeling sick feeling tired all the time fatigue cold hands and feet trouble sleeping, sometimes with nightmares Radioiodine treatment Radioiodine treatment is a form of radiotherapy used to treat most types of overactive thyroid.

Thionamides or radioiodine? Both treatments have advantages and disadvantages. Advantages of thionamides include: They are straightforward to take and you do not have to go to hospital to take them. There is less risk of getting an underactive thyroid gland hypothyroidism as a result of treatment.

Disadvantages of thionamides include: Treatment may not be as successful as radioiodine treatment. There is a higher risk of side effects. Advantages of radioiodine treatment include: Treatment is usually very successful. Disadvantages of radioiodine treatment include: There is a higher chance of your thyroid gland becoming underactive as a result of treatment.

Radioiodine treatment is usually not suitable for people with additional symptoms affecting their eyes Graves' ophthalmopathy. Women have to avoid getting pregnant for at least six months, and men should not father a child for at least four months after treatment.

Surgery Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland is known as a total or partial thyroidectomy. Other reasons for surgery include: A person cannot be treated with radioiodine treatment as they are pregnant and are unable or unwilling to take thionamides. A person has a severe form of Graves' ophthalmopathy. The symptoms return relapse after a previous successful course of treatment with thionamides. Complications of an overactive thyroid Several complications can occur with an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism , particularly if the condition is not treated.

Graves' ophthalmopathy If you have Graves' disease, you may have problems with your eyes. Symptoms of Graves' ophthalmopathy include: eyes feeling dry and gritty sensitivity to light photophobia excessive tearing double vision some loss of vision a feeling of pressure behind the eyes In more severe cases, your eyes can bulge prominently from your eye sockets.

Treatment options include: eyedrops to ease the symptoms sunglasses to protect the eyes against bright lights corticosteroids to reduce inflammation radiotherapy surgery Pregnancy and overactive thyroid Some women are pregnant when they are first diagnosed with an overactive thyroid gland. Underactive thyroid In many cases, treatment causes the thyroid gland to release levels of hormones that are too low. Sometimes this will only be a temporary side effect of treatment, but it can often be permanent.

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland include: being sensitive to cold weight gain constipation depression tiredness An underactive thyroid gland is treated using medications to help replicate the effects of the thyroid hormones. Read more about the treating an underactive thyroid gland Thyroid storm An undiagnosed or poorly controlled overactive thyroid can lead to a rare but serious reaction called a thyroid storm. Tweet Click here to share this page on Twitter This will open a new window.

The result is inflammation and a buildup of tissue and fat behind the eye socket, causing the eyeballs to bulge out. Rarely, inflammation is severe enough to compress, or push on, the optic nerve that leads from the eye to the brain, causing vision loss. GO can occur before, at the same time as, or after other symptoms of hyperthyroidism develop. GO may even occur in people whose thyroid function is normal.

Smoking makes GO worse. If you smoke and need help quitting, go to SmokeFree. Eye drops can relieve dry, gritty, irritated eyes—the most common of the milder symptoms.

If pain and swelling occur, your doctor may prescribe a steroid such as prednisone. Sunglasses can help with light sensitivity. Special eyeglass lenses may help reduce double vision.

If you have puffy eyelids, your doctor may advise you to sleep with your head raised to reduce swelling. If your eyelids do not fully close, taping them shut at night can help prevent dry eyes.

Your doctor may recommend surgery to improve bulging of your eyes and correct the vision changes caused by pressure on the optic nerve. A procedure called orbital decompression makes the eye socket bigger and gives the eye room to sink back to a more normal position. Eyelid surgery can return retracted eyelids to their normal position. Eating foods that have large amounts of iodine—such as kelp, dulse, or other kinds of seaweed—may cause or worsen hyperthyroidism.

Taking iodine supplements can have the same effect. Talk with your health care professional about what foods you should limit or avoid, and let him or her know if you take iodine supplements. Also, share information about any cough syrups or multivitamins that you take because they may contain iodine.

Specific symptoms of Graves' disease People with Graves' disease often have additional symptoms, including: Goiter , which is an enlarged, painless thyroid gland.

Thickened nails that lift off the nail beds. Pretibial myxedema, which is lumpy, reddish, thick skin on the front of the shins and sometimes on top of the feet. Clubbing fingers with wide tips. Graves' ophthalmopathy , which causes bulging, reddened eyes , among other symptoms. Complications Graves' ophthalmopathy is a possible complication of hyperthyroidism. If you do not treat your hyperthyroidism, you may: Lose weight because your body's metabolism is faster.

Have heart problems such as rapid heart rate, atrial fibrillation , and heart failure. Have trouble replacing calcium and other minerals in your bones, which can lead to osteoporosis. What Happens If your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone , you may have symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

You have a family history of thyroid problems. People who have close relatives with Graves' disease or other thyroid problems are more likely to develop hyperthyroidism. You have an autoimmune disease, such as Addison's disease or type 1 diabetes. You smoke cigarettes. People who smoke are more likely to have Graves' disease and are more likely to have Graves' ophthalmopathy. When should you call your doctor?

Call your doctor immediately if you have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and: You feel very irritable. You have unusually high or low blood pressure compared to your normal blood pressure. You feel nauseated, are throwing up, or have diarrhea. Your heart is beating very fast or you have chest pain. You have a fever. You are confused or feel sleepy. You cannot breathe well or you feel very tired, which can be symptoms of heart failure.

You should also call your doctor if: You develop symptoms of Graves' ophthalmopathy , such as bulging, reddened eyes. You feel very tired or weak. You are losing weight even though you are eating normally or more than usual.

Your throat is swollen or you are having trouble swallowing. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms without using medical treatment. Who to see Health professionals who are qualified to diagnose and treat hyperthyroidism include: Internists. Family medicine physicians. Nurse practitioners. Physician assistants. For further treatment, your primary doctor may refer you to one of the following specialists: Endocrinologist Surgeon Nuclear medicine specialist Ophthalmologist.

Exams and Tests Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history, do a physical exam, and order medical tests to diagnose hyperthyroidism. If your doctor thinks you may have hyperthyroidism, he or she may order: A thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH test , which is a blood test that measures your levels of TSH.

If your TSH level is low, your doctor will want to do more tests. Thyroid hormone tests , which are blood tests to measure your levels of two types of thyroid hormones, called T3 and T4. If your thyroid hormone levels are high, you have hyperthyroidism. After you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, your doctor may also want to do: An antithyroid antibody test to see if you have the kind of antibodies that attack thyroid tissue. This test can help diagnose Graves' disease and autoimmune thyroiditis.

A radioactive thyroid scan and radioactive iodine uptake tests , which use radiation and a special camera to find out the cause of your hyperthyroidism. Early detection Experts do not agree on whether adults who don't have symptoms should have a thyroid test. Treatment Overview There are three treatments for hyperthyroidism.

Initial treatment Initial treatment for hyperthyroidism usually is antithyroid medicine or radioactive iodine therapy. Antithyroid medicines work best if you have mild hyperthyroidism, if this is the first time you are being treated for Graves' disease, if you are younger than 50, or if your thyroid gland is only swollen a little bit small goiter.

Radioactive iodine is often recommended if you have Graves' disease and are older than 50, or if you have thyroid nodules toxic multinodular goiter that are releasing too much thyroid hormone. Radioactive iodine is not used if: You are pregnant or you want to become pregnant within 6 months of treatment.

You are breastfeeding. You have thyroiditis or another kind of hyperthyroidism that is often temporary. Ongoing treatment During and after treatment for hyperthyroidism, you will have regular blood tests to check your levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH. If you have Graves' disease and have been taking antithyroid medicine but your hyperthyroidism has not improved, you can continue to take antithyroid medicine or you can try radioactive iodine therapy.

If you have lots of side effects from antithyroid medicines and radioactive iodine is not an option for you, you may need surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland thyroidectomy. Treatment if the condition gets worse If radioactive iodine or antithyroid medicines are not working well, you may need: Another treatment of radioactive iodine.

Surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland thyroidectomy. Prevention Hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease is a genetic disease that you cannot prevent. Home Treatment Be sure to see your doctor regularly so he or she can be sure that your hyperthyroidism treatment is working, that you are taking the right amount of medicine, and that you are not having any side effects.

If you are taking antithyroid medicine, take it at the same time every day. To help reduce the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, you can: Lower stress. This helps relieve symptoms of anxiety and nervousness.

Stress Management Avoid caffeine. Caffeine can make symptoms worse, such as fast heartbeat, nervousness, and difficulty concentrating. Quit smoking.

If you have Graves' disease and you are a smoker, you are more likely to develop Graves' ophthalmopathy. Quitting Smoking. Medications Antithyroid medicine is often used for hyperthyroidism, because it works more quickly than radioactive iodine therapy. You have to take the medicine for at least 1 year. Your symptoms may come back after you stop taking it.

And then you have to start taking antithyroid medicine again or try a different treatment. There are some rare side effects from the medicine, ranging from a rash to a low white blood cell count, which can make it hard for your body to fight infection. What to think about Antithyroid medicine may or may not make your hyperthyroidism symptoms go away. The medicine is much more effective in people who have mild disease. Up to 30 out of people in the United States will have their hyperthyroidism go away go into remission after taking antithyroid medicine for 12 to 18 months.

It is not used for thyroiditis. Antithyroid medicine is used instead of radioactive iodine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant. Children are treated with antithyroid medicine, because experts do not know if radioactive iodine treatment is safe for children. A similar pattern was found in general quality of life measures as assessed with the SF questionnaire, with worse scores in radioactive iodine therapy group compared to the antithyroid drug or surgery groups.

This study had a larger number of participants and a longer duration of follow up than previous studies. If these findings are confirmed in other studies in other countries, it would suggest that radioactive iodine therapy may be less desirable in the long term as compared to antithyroid drugs or surgery.

Hyperthyroidism: a condition where the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism may be treated with antithyroid meds Methimazole, Propylthiouracil , radioactive iodine or surgery.