Tsh undetectable and over 60: My gp is concerned... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

136,962 members160,559 posts

Tsh undetectable and over 60

jeans profile image
17 Replies

My gp is concerned and wants to refer me to an endo as I'm on t3 and t4 and my tsh is undetectable and I'm over 60. Does anyone know if this is a problem?

I'm an ex dr Skinner patient and although I feel a lot better she is not confident treating me. My t3 is at the top of the range but t4 not at the top. I wanted to increase t4 and decrease t3 but because of undetectable tsh she will not agree to any increase.

Written by
jeans profile image
jeans
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
17 Replies
Aurealis profile image
Aurealis

Just take care to get a good Endo, ask Louise for the list. I find that mine is much more helpful than my GP who is pretty good.

jeans profile image
jeans in reply to Aurealis

I have got the list from Louise but there are none in my area really have got a few guarded recommendations pm'd not sure as yet who to see

Hennerton profile image
Hennerton

I have just had back very similar results and I am on NDT and over 60. I am also a former Dr Skinner patient and of course he taught us to listen to our bodies and take little notice of blood tests. My GP phoned me to say I was over replaced because TSH was 0.02 (0.27 - 2.2). She said we like it to be around 2. I replied not when taking a T3 product. I also pointed out that T4 is low in range and T3 is just in range, plus I told her I am feeling the best I have in years. She very quickly replied, "oh, we'll leave it then" I was amazed and very thankful. I am sure that as long as T4 and T3 are not over range, you are fine. In fact I think the book accepted as gospel by GPs by Dr Toft states this too. It is available in chemists but someone may see this and send you a copy of the relevant page. If you are feeling good, do not reduce your dose, unless you have known heart problems. Good luck.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think raising T4 would help, given the active hormone T3 is already top of the range.

There's definitely no problem with your TSH being suppressed - that's normal when on T3.

jeans profile image
jeans in reply to

Gp was concerned re undetectable tsh so I wanted to decrease t3 and increase t4 just because t3 suppresses tsh. I thought I had room to increase t4 and decreasing t3 may help tsh

eeng profile image
eeng in reply to jeans

Don't risk your health and wellbeing just because your ill informed GP wants one of the numbers on your blood test result to be a bit different. Having undetectable TSH would be risky (increased risk of heart problems and osteoporosis) if you were not being medicated for hypothyroidism, but because you are there is no associated risk. However lots of doctors don't know this.

Heloise profile image
Heloise

Explain that you feel well and have no hyper symptoms and since FT3 is still IN range, there is no problem.

Jackie profile image
Jackie

Hi It will be the FT3, especially if very high. Take care which Endo you see!

Jackie

Margo profile image
Margo

I tried to get your link reallyfedup but couldn't?

jeans profile image
jeans

I tried too and couldn't!

Try this one: link.springer.com/article/1...

marmaris profile image
marmaris in reply to

A bit concerned about the article that states over replacement and osteoporosis.

in reply to

from the article : "Levothyroxine sodium monotherapy at an appropriate daily dose provides uniform levels of both thyroxine and triiodothyronine in the circulation" - does that mean that Levo contains T3 as well as T4? Or what is the triodo..... component?

jeans profile image
jeans in reply to

It is assuming that your body converts ok. Triiodothyronine is I think t3 that your body makes from t4

diogenes profile image
diogenesRemembering

All I can offer on this is that my wife has been post-Hashimoto's for 43 years, is on T4 (125-150) and has never had a detectable TSH in all that time. She's now 75, has perfectly good bones, occasional AF controlled by minimum dose beta blockers - but this may have nothing whatever to do with the T4 dose. Our doc leaves us to get on with it, which is all that can be done because our local hospital does TSH only and so no useful results can be obtained. Our response is if my wife feels well, then she is. She knows well enough if hypo symptoms occur - eg eyebrows going, skin roughening etc. A classic case of carrying on without routine testing - OK only if you are stable.

heathermr profile image
heathermr

Taking T4 when your TSH is very low is actually blocking the T3 from working. I was like this for years, so much so that my brain has become damaged with Alzheimer like symptoms. The Endo was an absolute waste of space, but eventually I was recommended taking just T3 as I dont have a TSH at all. This has made a world of difference and I am so much better, being able to play tennis 3 times a week and do lots of exercise. As a result I have lost 3 and a half stone and its still slowly going down. More importantly my brain is now functioning much better, although the damage done will never improve and I still a diagnosis of Dementia. My T4 is absolutely zero, so I am dependant on taking T3 in small doses throughout the day.

Heather

Treepie profile image
Treepie

Shows how we have to find what works individually.

Bit like recent report that so called high good cholesterol is bad for some folk with a particular gene.

You may also like...

Help!! Undetectable tsh and over 60!

please? My gp has referred me to an Endo because my tsh is undetectable and I'm over 60! She says...

TSH over 100, undetectable T4 & T3

forum. Just wanting to ask for any input concerning my levels. TSH was 103 (reference range...

Help with results undetectable tsh

when my tsh was just under 7. After stopping it after 5 years my tsh and t4 have been normal (tsh...

Correct TSH for a 'senior' (60+)?

hypo and in his case under-treated and then over-treated by a new doctor). I'm currently at 50...

Does anyone have 'Central Hypothyroidism'? Where your TSH is undetectable?

will not increase my T3 despite there being scope to do so, because my TSH is almost undetectable....