Confused

[Bea13]

Hi - new here and worried....recent standard blood tests show tsh 0.19 (3.4-5) and everything else was normal....GP said it could be transient and asked to repeat blood test in 6-8 weeks. I am going though a high anxiety period and this does not help...oh dear should i worry or not yet?

[Bea13]

Sorry the norm should read 0.34-5.5

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Bea13.

TSH 0.19 is below range but isn't suppressed which could indicate hyperthyroidism. If still low in 6-8 weeks your GP should also check FT4 and FT3 to see whether they are over range which would indicate hyperthyroidism. There's no need to worry. Thyroid levels just need monitoring for now.

[Bea13 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you so much Clutter.

Tf4 was in range alongside low tsh so guess the GP is right to retest. I should have asked what can cause ths to be transient which she mentioned may be the case.

[Clutter in reply to Bea13]

Bea13,

Ask your GP to check thyroid peroxidase antibodies to confirm or exclude autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's) which can cause transient hyperthyroidism in the early days before it goes on to cause hypothyroidism after many years.

[Bea13 in reply to Clutter]

Will do...but does low tsh with ft4 still within range indicate hyperthyroidism? Wouldn't ft4 have to be high too in hashimoto's?

Apologies, very new to all this...

[Clutter in reply to Bea13]

Bea13,

One abnormal TSH result is not indicative of anything. FT4 is normal so the only other reason for TSH to become low is if FT3 is high.

TSH is low, but not low enough to be considered hyperthyroid. If you were hyperthyroid TSH would be <0.1. TSH <0.1 with normal FT4 is called subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Graves antibodies can cause hyperthyroidism. If hyperthyroidism is diagnosed you should be referred to endocrinology where hyperthyroidism can be managed and thyroid receptor antibodies or thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin antibodies can be tested to see whether the hyperthyroidism is autoimmune (Graves).

Hashimoto's can cause high FT4 but sometimes FT4 will be normal and FT3 high. Hashimoto's causes transient hyperthyroidism when the lymphocytes infiltrating the thyroid gland kill of cells which dump thyroid hormone into the blood stream. Subsequent attacks atrophy the thyroid gland which is then unable to produce sufficient hormone causing hypothyroidism.

[Bea13]

Thank you very much!!!

[Bea13 in reply to Bea13]

Had my blood test repeated and tsh is a bit higher now 0.29 (0.34-5.5) and free t4 is a bit lower 12.9 (7.5-21). The gp says just to monitor for now and repeat tests in 6 months. Any comments would be welcome.....

[Marz in reply to Bea13]

Did you have anti-bodies checked as suggested by Clutter above ?

You may need to start a new thread so more people see your results. 😊

[Bea13 in reply to Marz]

Thanks....only had tsh and free t4 tested for now and seeing my GP on thursday to discuss in details as was only told on the phone to repeat in 6 months - so was wondering if anybody here had similar results / experience....

[Marz in reply to Bea13]

Let us know how things go. Start a new thread when you have more news 😊