r/Hyperthyroidism

i might briefly touch on disordered eating and weight gain/ loss so please keep that in mind when reading!

I’m 21 and I was told last week I have hyperthyroidism that was only picked up because my thyroid started to swell up (unpleasant.) I haven’t yet been to see an endocrinologist so I don’t know the details of what’s happening with my thyroid but I do suspect it’s only a recent thing as I haven’t dealt with hyperthyroidism symptoms until the last few months. Infact, before that, I feel like i experienced a lot of symptoms for hypOthyroidism but that’s an issue for when I actually see a professional 🫣.

I had been overweight/ obese my entire life until finally putting in active effort to lose weight and lost about 60lbs bringing me to a healthy normal weight, but within the past few months, i’ve been severely binge eating almost every night and it’s really really scaring me, I haven’t gained any weight (I suspect because of my heightened metabolism but because I’m eating so much I’m just hovering at the same weight.) and I was wondering (hoping) this might be to do with the thyroid? Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve been prescribed Carbimazole but I’ve been too scared to take it because I’m so terrified of gaining weight again. I worked so hard to get to where I am now and I’ve seen a lot of google results saying Carbimazole usually makes people gain weight but I’m assuming that’s for people who actually lost weight due to the heightened metabolism, unlike me.

If anyone has experienced this, was it related to the thyroid? If so, did Carbimazole make you gain weight, lower your appetite to normal or nothing and the binge eating is unrelated and something I need to tackle another way.

Apologies for the post being quite lengthy, it ran away from me a bit and i appreciate anyone who may be able to help me:)

Hi guys- I have been experiencing the worst symptoms imaginable since February after undergoing some sort of systemic event from an injection, and I’ve just been declining and declining since. One of the worst symptoms is the rapid muscle and fat loss. I’m in Canada so it’s already extremely difficult to get any sort of healthcare here, but I’ve done bloodwork back on April 1st and my doctor told me everything is seemingly normal. Well, this past week I started to rapidly decline even faster than before, and after googling all of my symptoms, they match hyperthyroidism perfectly. One of the main symptoms I have is exercise intolerance, which for me makes no sense because I was extremely active, moving all day long, gym atleast 5 days a week, starting my competitive powerlifting career, going on hour long runs daily. I lived and breathed movement. Just at the start of February I was literally squatting 4 plates for sets of 10 reps. Like I had zero problems and I felt the strongest I’ve ever been. And now, I can barely do basic lunges. I’m out of breath just walking to the mailbox. And after attempting any small excercise I feel 10x worse after. My fat cells are metabolizing extremely fast all over my body, including my face, which is the worst part. After discovering that many of my symptoms match hyperthyroidism perfectly, I decided to take a look at the bloodwork from April 1st myself, and I notice that my TSH was on the lower end at 0.4, and when I had this bloodwork done on April 1st, I was only in the start of my symptoms, and they were not nearly as severe as they are right now. I am suspecting it has dropped significantly lower so I am booking an appointment with my family doctor to request a thyroid panel, however, I’m in Nova Scotia Canada, so if the panel comes back showing hyperthyroidism, then it’s still gonna take foreverrr to see an endocrinologist here. Likely 1-2 years. And my muscle & fat is metabolizing extremely fast, and I need to be able to somehow slow it down while I wait for a specialist who can help further.

So my question is, is there anything I can take that doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription that can help slow down the metabolism aspect of this? I’m already eating in a surplus of calories and following a high protein antiinflammatory diet but no help. Does anyone have any idea how I can slow this wasting process? Is there any supplement or otc medication that could help even a little? Please let me know, I appreciate it so much

I am a 30year old female who has graves for almost a year. I had two miscarriages last summer and started to then get the onset of symptoms diagnosed in September.

Started on PTU and my endo said it was best that I have my thyroidectomy before having kids. Safer for baby and mother. That devastated me. But I was prepared for the two years it would take to get the surgery and recover.

I got a call from the surgeons office last week to be scheduled for later in the summer. Then….. went to the ED with shortness of breath and ongoing chest pain. Found out I’m PREGNANT!! I got dropped down to 50mg of PTU from 150 and immediately discontinued my Atenlol.

So many emotions attached, excited , scared. I know that it will be more difficult road having active graves and being pregnant. Current 6 weeks pregnant and waiting to see the OB. Said it would be soon as I am considered a high risk pregnancy.

Friends who were pregnant with graves and on meds, I would love to hear your experiences and what I am in for. Thanks!!

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Hi, these past few months I’ve become more and more aware that I have hyperthyroidism. In early June, we went to the dentist to have my tooth extracted, and the dentist asked if I had thyroid problems. Of course, I answered no because no one in my family has that. But at that time, the tooth was hurting and couldn’t be extracted. Then the dentist recommended a thyroid test because I was showing symptoms (bulging eyes and slight enlargement in the throat). We took the test, and it came back positive. I honestly didn’t know how to take it. We’re not wealthy enough to afford such treatment. Even just the test—we scraped together money just to get it done. The doctor advised consulting an endocrinologist to know how to move forward, so we did. It was then confirmed that the signs were really visible, and the doctor said it’s most likely hyperthyroidism. Luckily, when the doctor checked the results, it seemed to be in the early stage since it was only slightly outside the normal range. I was told to take medication for a month and return afterward for more tests (neck ultrasound, etc.).

Looking back, I remember experiencing the signs, especially fast heartbeat and heat intolerance, but I didn’t pay much attention. I’m honestly at a loss about what to do. I’m a first-year Nursing student—it feels ironic that even though we studied this, I didn’t notice it myself. When classes open, I’ll be in my second year, and it’s also the start of our OJT (8 hours) at hospitals. I don’t really have problems at school; I’m actually doing well. Even with many activities, I finish them ahead of time and still have plenty of free time.

I’m contemplating what to do because deep down I know it might make my condition worse, especially with OJT (particularly night shifts). And as I mentioned, we’re not financially stable, which is a big problem. More than being scared, I feel extremely guilty right now. My older sister has been paying for my treatment and my schooling, even though she already has her own family to support. I feel really, really guilty. I’ve been pushing this emotion aside all this time.

So, even just a little, I want to know ways that can help lessen the burden of hyperthyroidism. I hope I can read your comments on this.

2 years with hyperthyroidism (Graves’) - the emotional side is worse than the flare-ups. How did you get through it?

35M. I manage a team at work, so it’s decisions and people all day. At home I’ve got a small kid who needs me actually present, not just physically in the room. On top of that - 2 years on carbimazole, still no stable remission.

A few weeks ago we tried dropping the dose from 7.5mg to 5mg. Three weeks in, I had a flare. Heart racing, anxiety out of nowhere. Not a full thyroid storm, but enough to knock me sideways for a few days.

The physical stuff isn’t even the hard part anymore, honestly. It’s this hopelessness that keeps creeping back in. An emptiness that just sits there. Some days I catch myself feeling sorry for myself and I genuinely hate that about myself. Tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix. And there’s this feeling, hard to put into words, like I’ve hit some kind of wall and don’t have much left in the tank.

Maybe the worst part is feeling like nobody actually gets it. Doctors look at the labs, see numbers that are “mostly fine,” move on to the next thing. Even people close to me, they haven’t lived this, so how could they know what two years of hormones swinging around actually does to a person?

Part of it’s the illness itself, no doubt. The swings, the unstable dose, the flare. But part of it is just two years of carrying this without a real break, and honestly I can’t always tell where one ends and the other begins anymore.

Anyone been through something like this - long hyperthyroidism, remission that won’t stick, or just the weight of a chronic illness while working and raising a kid? How did you get through the exhaustion? Did switching treatment (RAI, surgery) actually change things emotionally, not just on paper? Did seeing someone for mental health alongside the endocrinologist help at all?

Any experience, even a small one, would mean a lot right now.

Ready to post. Just to check in outside the text itself: how are things feeling for you today?

I suppose I’m asking for advice or support. I have a long list of symptoms that are as severe as when I was hospitalised a few months ago. My Trab was 155 and my T4 and T3 in the 20s when I went to A&E.

Six weeks ago my levels had plummeted into normal range only 6 weeks after hospitalisation. My endo halfed my Carbimazole dosage to 5mg and stopped all propanolol etc. all my symptoms are back and the adrenaline surges and heart palpitations are scaring me but my pulse reads at 62bpm ( low for me anyway) my levels are directly in normal range as of a blood test yesterday and my doctor and endo refuse to change my dose. I tried one day back at 10mg after my GP suggested that and I felt a bit better within hours. Neither will alter my dose or investigate what do I do? I’m worried about how ill I’m feeling. ( heat intolerance, tremors, palpitations/intense anxiety, tummy aches, dizziness, rapid weight gain and loss, muscle aches etc)

I’m curious to learn about people’s experiences and what led them to get a thyroidectomy, how your life improved and any issues? Did anyone get thyroidectomy because you felt awful even with normal blood work?

Does anyone have experiences with hyperthyroidism and lipedema? I see a lot of people mention hypo but I believe my Graves’ disease triggered this. It’s a strange combination because my graves makes me naturally inclined to lose weight. So for my non lipedema areas I have to put weight on and my lipedema areas I need to lose weight. Looking to hear about experiences, how you manage both conditions and how you think Graves/hyperthyroidism may uniquely impact lipedema in ways distinct to hypothyroidism.

New to this sub, I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism 3/4 years ago, went on carbimazole/ levothyroxine for 2 years and have been put under subclinical hypo for now. I have had 2 pretty small balls under my jaw. Is this an issue apart from me thinking it might affect my jawline?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice and some personal experiences! I am under direction of my endo but I’d love to hear some of your thoughts.

In Dec 2025, I accidentally found out that my TSH was 0.005 and we found out I have a toxic right thyroid nodule that’s a little under 4cm. Since then my TSH has increased to 0.01 and my T3 and T4 are normal. I am experiencing no symptoms of hyper — my heart rate is a little high but resting under 100bpm. My Dr recommends RAI and I have a few concerns. I’m a young woman and want to have kids and fertility is really important to me. I also worry about the long term effects of being on medication and what to expect.

For now, my clinical team has decided to keep observing this nodule and my TSH as it could be transient inflammation but it is unlikely to change. We are repeating blood work in 3 months and then from there an uptake. Is there a chance that my nodule just stops being toxic and I can just live with it if it causes no issues? I believe long term getting RAI is something I still have to do.

I have researched RFA and surgery and my Dr has not recommended those for my situation. Any insight from any nodule warriors! Thank you all.

My husband's TSH was .14 mid April, .29 mid May, and .11 yesterday. His doctor has ordered an uptake test, our worry is, we believe the contrast from a ct is what sent his thyroid spiraling before. Has anyone else gone through this?

Went to go do a thyroid uptake scan the other day but couldn’t get myself to swallow the ginormous capsule of Iodine.

The nuclear medicine department said that the pharmacy doesn’t do other forms (liquid) of the iodine and the capsule would be my only option.

I can’t bring myself to do it, we tried for almost an hour and couldn’t make it happen. It’s one of my fears and the huge pill is too much of a step up.

Does anyone know how I can find out other hospitals near me that may do liquid? Is my only option to call every hospital and ask?

Not looking for diagnosis obviously just curious.

I was going through my test results over the last 10 years in my portal. Mostly searching because Ive had alot of weird symptoms over the last 3-4 years (shaky hands, muscle weakness, anxiety etc)

When goin through my TSH readings (about 6 over the last decade), it was around 0.6-0.7 in 2016-2019. But then in the 2020-2023 years it was more like 1.2 . My latest one last week was 0.59.

Would most consider that normal? No doctor has ever brought this up to me and its never reflexed to check t3/t4 in that time span.

BEFORE ANYTHING IM NOT LOOKING FOR ADVICE JUST VENTING 😭

Alright so first of all, I have never dealt with any major issues. I’m almost 21 and I’ve been relatively healthy all my life, you know not amazingly healthy, but good enough.

Unfortunately though, for the past 3-5 months I’ve noticed that i keep feeling worse and worse. At first it was mild but then it graduated to feeling like im on fire, sweating through multiple pieces clothes a day, losing nearly 40-50 pounds in about 2-3 months, heart rate is like a constant pounding on a drum like to the point were you can visually see my stomach moving, getting so dizzy standing up like literally seeing white for a few minutes and hearing ringing and whole bunch of other stuff.

Now you may ask why the hell I didn’t go to the doctor, well I don’t have insurance and got to work day in and out to even cut even, so that’s a no go. Well until I went back home in another country damn near half way around the world, about 20 hours with plane ( not the most caught up country but it’s home).

I’ve been here for a little over a week and for the first two days I was genuinely in the worst shape of my life, it doesn’t make it better it’s one of the hottest places here.

Anyways I’m there in the hospital and they do a whole bunch testing and labs and what not and I go home. Next day I get my results back and based on purely the numbers I damn near fainted. It got worse when I did a little bit of digging. Here’s my numbers, I was literally normal in everything else,

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [TSH] : <0.005 ulU/ml
Adult is 0.27 -4.2
Hyperthyroid is <0.15

Triiodothyronine [T3] : 3.143 nmol/L
Normal range is 1.3 - 3.1

Thyroxine [T4] : 229.4 nmol/L
Normal range is 66 - 181

Bro I know you see that TSH level, that’s damn near ZERO!!!

Not to mention my T4 and T3. Manneeeeee why me😭😭😭

Anyone else’s cognition absolutely dreadful?

I can’t think, barely sleep, wake up aches and pains

But the cognition feels like I’m drunk. I’m on medication and having bloods again as there is
An issue with hospital forgetting. I’m on Carbimazole. I just don’t get why I feel this stupid !

I’m 23F and my t3/t4 is normal range but TSH is 7. I didn’t have any symptoms but I was very much depressed due to some personal issues from last 7-8 months.

My weight was constant from 1year. I have sedentary lifestyle and my cholesterol is borderline high and iron is low as per recent full body check up.Should I start taking meds and will this impact my future?

Edit: T3 is 0.92 and T4 is 7.48 and TSH is 7.59

So I just got out of a shower, not a hot shower, and it's hell degrees here so I ended with a cool rinse.

My skin is hot. Not from the outside, not hot to the touch, but from the inside. It feels like it's against a heat source. But I'm in an air conditioned room.

Wtf...anyone experienced this sensation?

I am so entirely tired of this disease. Truly. Entirely.