Overactive thyriod

Dear Ask The Doctor: I found out I have an overactive thyroid but I'm over weight is this common? I understand I should be losing weight I'm a female ,age 50,5ft 6in and 242 lbs.

Dear Cheryl:

I realize your concern about your Thyroid condition. It would have been helpful for me to observe the lab results that show the levels of Thyroid hormone and Thyroid stimulating Hormone to have a better perspective of the situation.

I agree with you that in the case of Hyperthyroidism an increase in the body metabolism causes weight loss as well as rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, and nervousness or irritability. It might be a possibility to consider depending on your clinic history that your diagnosis was made very early.

If your lab results showed High levels of thyroxine which is the Hormone produced by the thyroid and low or nonexistent amounts of TSH indicate an overactive thyroid and will confirm your diagnosis. The amount of TSH is important because it's the hormone that signals your thyroid gland to produce more thyroxine.

Another point to consider is that some types of Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid sometimes begins with a period of overreaction, with that being said , I would suggest you to comply with your follow up evaluations and treatment given that either one or the other condition are treatable.  I wish you the best.