UK ATCO, hyperthyroidism

[Cuddles]

Hi

I'm a 39 yr old male UK atco.

Things have been on the slide for me for a month or two. It started as deteriortooing sleep patterns, leading to fatigue, and a very stressed feeling. I thought I was losing my mind. (My brother has schizophrenia, so mental illness isn't often out of my thoughts)

My work was suffering. I had lapses of concentration, but kept plugging away, until I had 2 aircraft a little bit to close for comfort. This was the trigger which made me seek guidance from my gp.

At the time I was sleeping for maybe an hour a night, thrashing around in the be (Mrs Cuddles was VERY happy about this) with washing machine head, freeing hot and agitated. I honestly thought that there was no way I'd ever feel well again. I guess I got into a vicious circle.

Obviously my GP diagnosed me with depression, but after a bit of toing and froing she found out my thyroid is running hot. Very hot, apparently. I'm on carbimazole and beta blockers, and I've been referred to an endocrinologist.

I know it's early days, but what are the chances of me being declared fit to work?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Talk to Gatwick or your AME; that's the best advice. Hope everythying pans out OK.

[Cuddles]

Cheers HD. My AME sounded happier than he did when I told him I'd been diagnosed with depression.

According to the CAA, I'll be OK to work with 3 months of level readings and a report from an endocrinologist. Here hoping it sorts itself out quickly.

[Ulster]

My AME sounded happier

Well, thank goodness you're not BOTH depressed !
Seriously, though, good luck with the thyroid !

[gingernut]

It's very likely you will get better with time, with the shared care you get from your endocrinologist and GP.

Unfortunately, it's horses for courses, what works for one, doesn't work for others, but eventually things usually settle down, hang in there :-)

[Captain Fishy]

Hiya

Glad you have the diagnosis. You are over the worst part. I am a uk airline pilot and went through the same thing last year. Couldn't sleep, boiling hot and feeling seriously weird. Persevered for as long as I could but eventually went to a doc and was diagnosed as you were. The carbimazole (40mg to start with) started to work very quickly but the CAA wanted 3 months of being euthyroid before I got my class 1 back. I am on 5mg now and will soon be reduced to nil. Hopefully all will remain ok but the science isn't exact! Enjoy the break from work:)

[Captain Fishy]

Just reread your post and noticed you mentioned beta blockers. I was similarly prescribed because of very noticeably shaky hands. Not a good look on a flight deck! I had to hold a cup with two hands to reduce spillage! However, I was not happy about taking them and a google search confirmed (to me) that unless you really must take them, then don't. They can create additional problems of their own. Since I was off work anyway and shaky hands weren't so much of an issue, I stopped taking them after a week or two. The shakes subsided to zero fairly quickly anyway as the Thorazine(?) level reduced toward a more normal level. To be clear, I am not medically qualified in any way. These are just my feelings and experiences.

[Radgirl]

Not sure what you saw on google CF. however beta blockers are not just for tremor, they have a number of other purposes including looking after your heart and blocking the problems of large doses of T4 and T3

IMHO although many older people have hypothyroidism and get given some thyroxine from their GP, any young working person with hyperthyroidism should really be under an endocrinologist as this needs expert management. Discuss your drug management with your endocrinologist and you won't go far wrong.

[Cuddles]

That's good to hear. I'm hoping for the best. T4 was 55, down to 47 in 4 days. I have been referred to an endocrinologist, waiting for an appointment.