Can you have Thyroid Stimulating Hormone tested if you don't have a thyroid?

[Katkin1]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but I was just wondering if you no longer have a thyroid because of Hashimoto's (my endo said he didn't think I had any left) can TSH still be measured? My TSH is very low 0.01 on medication but my T3 and T4 are in range.

[helvella Administrator]

Well they certainly do!

TSH is produced in the pituitary. The amount of TSH depends on the circulating T4 and T3. So why not?

Of course, there are all the usual reasons not to rely on TSH. And there could be some interaction between an actual thyroid and the pituitary which is not known - and would not be working after a thyroidectomy. But that is simply thinking through possibilities.

As I have said before, the silly question is the one that remains unasked.

Rod

[PinkNinja in reply to helvella]

It is interesting what you say about an interaction between an actual thyroid and the pituitary which is not known. I wonder, if there is such an interaction, whether that is the reason TSH is pretty useless once the thyroid is no longer functioning properly - that interaction is no longer working as it should...

You've made me think again, Rod. 'Tis not good for this time in the morning

[Issy]

Why would they? If your T3 is in range and your T4 is in range and you feel well then why test the TSH?

[greygoose in reply to Issy]

Because it makes pots of money for Big Pharma!!! That is what medecin is all about these days: money! Nothing to do with making people well.

Hugs, Grey

[debjs]

I asked my endo how a TSH test is relevant if I have no thyroid and he said it is the most sensitive and best test to do!! I was cautiously optimistic when I first saw him but not sure now. At least he is still monitoring me even though I am following Dr S advice. The link between thyroid and pituitary would make perfect sense, shame there's no evidence.

[Heloise]

The Holtorf Medical Group website is a modern approach to this disease. Here is what he says about TSH

Most doctors use the TSH (or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test to screen for thyroid disorders. This test, however, only tells how well the pituitary is "talking" to the thyroid, rather than measuring thyroid hormone activity in the body. For Hashimoto's patients in particular, the TSH is a poor indicator of thyroid health because TSH levels can be normal when the thyroid is under attack by antibodies due to the release of stored thyroid hormone by the damaged and dying cells. This can be very frustrating for patients because the lab results are not an accurate indicator of the patient's thyroid health.