Male with a thyroid problem

[TopCatTheHat]

Hi,

Normally I am a fit and healthy 35 year old man. I have been suffering with what I thought was flu/fever alongside a throat infection and earache for the past 3 weeks when finally the doctor decided to do a blood test to see what is going on. I have been feeling really tired and have been sleeping up to 20 hours a day. I also lost 8kg due to finding it hard to swallow and having no appetite (about 8-9% of my body weight over the last 3 weeks and have been suffering with high temps > 38C even as high as 38.9C) The results are as follows :

Serum TSH level       0.03 miu/L (0.3 -5.6) - Below low ref limit
Serum Free T4 level  58.6 pmol/L (7.8 - 14.4) - Above the reference limit

The results also showed that I had inflammation

The doctor has referred me to an thyroid specialist which I will get to see next week. In the mean time I have been reading round the internet to find out what is wrong with me and what I can expect when I see the specialist.

Each day I am taking

2g of paracetamol 4 x 500mg
2g of co-codamol 4 x 500mg
1600mg of ibuprofen 4 x 400mg
1875mg Co-amoxiclav 3 x 625mg

My questions are :

All the articles I read say this is a women's condition. How could I get this as a man?

How long once I start treatment will it take before I can go back to work normally?

What caused this?  I am a really happy guy perfect wife, job that I enjoy and a son who is at college. I exercise, do not smoke, rarely drink and have never tried drugs.

Any help or advise about what lies ahead would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

Tony.

[TopCatTheHat]

Good news (for me) I have been diagnosed, it looks like I have De Quervain's thyroiditis. My levels of Serum Free T4 level was well over 100 on the next test and my thyroid was hardly visiable on the nuclar scan. I have been put on some 80mg Sustained Release Propranolol Hydrochloride and 40mg of Prednisolone and after only 6 days I am feeling much much better and able to eat.

The doctor tells me that the high level of T4 will drop and with time and I may become hypo for a while before hopefully making a full recovery.

Many Thanks for your help,

Tony.

[TopCatTheHat]

Many Thanks for your help - its good to know that I am not a freak by having this as a male, although I do look a bit scary as I am constantly covered in sweat. I dont have any family history of thyroid problems.

I will post back on Tuesday after I have seen the Endothingybob lady and tell you what she says.

Thanks again for your information,

Tony.

[Totie]

Looks like you are hyper. You could have hyperthyroidism, or graves disease, which neither care what gender you are.

Keep all of your appointments. Report any new symptoms to your doctor, especially of you get a rapid heart.

I hope your appointment is not far away with the Endocrinologist. Once they figure out which disease of the thyroid you have you will be treated and will be okay. But be prepared to have patience and more patience in trying to get your thyroid level in check.

[dawnangela]

Hi..im thinking your test seems hyper..but im not sure as you say you sleep a lot witch i see as hypo..dont matter either way you have a thyroid prob..yes mostly it is woman that this happens to as they hit their 40s..but it does happen in men just not as much:) It can be hereditary? once on meds you should start to feel better in about eight weeks...but everyone is different..hang in there you will be ok...you need a caring doctor as well..very important...Dawn