New: Hyperthyroid Possibility

[Kam97]

Went to see my doc last month and talked to her about a problem I've been having for 8 years; irritable bowel syndrome is what she believes to be wrong. But she wanted to rule out my thyroid especially when I talked to her about my depression and sleeplessness, some weight loss (which I'm not too sad to see) and fatigue. The test came back for my TSH level at 0.34 and she wants to retest again in a month. Rhetorical question: Why did I wait so long to tell someone about my irritable bowel? She wasn't going to send me to the lab until I mentioned that.

My question is: What comes next if my levels continue to be where they are? Am I looking at having scans done and medicine prescribed? If meds are prescribed, has anyone's symptoms gone away with the medicatrion?

Thanks in advance to any advice you can give me!

[Smilerdeb]

Firstly, get your Free T4, Free T3 and TSH done and also ask for an antibody test for Graves Disease called TSI.
This will determine if you have an autoimmune disease and not just thyroiditis.
Then arrange for an Ultrasound of your thyroid.

If the labs pick up 'antibodies' then the level of the antibodies really determines whether you will go into remission with ant-thyroid meds.
If you have Graves Disease, you have it for life but there are treatments for the hyperthyroidism.
There is only one organ that the antibodies attack in Graves and that is usually the thyroid.
Most Graves sufferers have permanant treatment as it is easier to manage without a thyroid.
But first things first...research all you can on Graves Disease and Hyperthyroidism and get those labs done.
Also see if your Doc will put you on a beta blocker for the fast heartrate( I assume you have been getting this too) and also an antithyroid medication.
THEN....learn all you can about hyperthyroidism and how to treat it.

Post back your labs when you have them.
Take care :o)