Hyperthyroidism monitoring

During your appointment, a MinuteClinic provider will ask about your medical history and conduct a physical exam. They may order hyperthyroidism labs or imaging studies as needed to identify the cause of your symptoms. They will offer treatment recommendations specific to you. Depending on the results and severity of your symptoms, the provider may refer you to a specialist.

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

   If you made your appointment online:
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and ZIP code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

Causes of hyperthyroidism include:

• Thyroiditis: Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid. Autoimmune conditions, pregnancy and other factors can cause the thyroid gland to inflame and leak excess thyroxine into your system.
• Graves’ disease: This autoimmune disorder causes the immune system to attack the thyroid. The thyroid responds by overproducing thyroxine.
• Plummer’s disease: People with this disease have noncancerous lumps that cause the thyroid to swell and overproduce thyroxine.

Treatment varies depending on the hyperthyroidism cause, severity, age and physical condition. Treatments include:

• Anti-thyroid medication: These medications gradually help your thyroid produce less of the thyroxine hormone, which can reduce your symptoms. Treatment can last a year or longer, but symptoms usually improve within a few weeks or months.
• Surgery: If your body doesn’t respond to anti-thyroid drugs, thyroid surgery may be an option, although this is rare.
• Radioactive iodine: This is an oral medication that is absorbed by the thyroid gland to destroy overactive tissues. It can reduce and even eliminate symptoms within a couple of months.

There are a few methods for diagnosing hyperthyroidism. These include:

• Blood tests that measure thyroxine and other thyroid-stimulating hormones
• Medical history and physical exam, including thyroid gland examination
• Thyroid scan that shows how iodine collects in your thyroid
• Ultrasound that produces images of your thyroid

If you have hyperthyroidism symptoms or find it challenging to manage your hyperthyroidism, consider scheduling a MinuteClinic visit for evaluation and monitoring.