I have just spent two days in hospital for a suspected autoimmune condition ( autoimmune Encephalitis) after they found anti-glycine antibodies in my blood recently. I have had a spinal fluid tap and the results will take +/10 days.
However, they also had my thyroid tested as they suspect a connection between Hashimoto’s and AE. This morning, I was told that I am hyperthyroid and will be put on Euthyrox (100 mcg daily) until my TSH is between 1-2.
My current labs on Thyroid-S:
TSH <0.01 (0.4-4.5)
FT4 1.2 (0.7-1.5)
FT3 3.2 (1.7-3.7)
I have been on beta blockers (Tenormin, 50 mg daily) to try to get my resting pulse down (it’s usually between 80 and 100 bpm). I was told they will raise it to 100 mg a day until my TSH has normalised and I’m euthyroid.
What I wonder is: does anyone have any idea what could cause a racing heart like that? I’m also on blood pressure medication and my BP seems unaffected by recent weight loss (-25 kilogrammes). In other words: I still need the medication.
I have been considering going back on T4 only long enough for the TSH to normalise, and then repeat this once a year to keep them happy. But, apart from feeling sluggish during that time, does anyone have any idea how it works in practice? I have had a suppressed TSH for years, and I know there is something called the negative feedback loop. So, apart from the practical problems, I guess it’s not so easy to just go off NDT long enough for the TSH to end up where doctors want it, only to go back on NDT after going to the lab...?
The doctor thinks you are overmedicated because TSH is suppressed. No other reason because FT4 and FT3 are within range. Is the hospital doctor an endocrinologist and did s/he know you are seeing thyroid specialists?
Why do you care about keeping doctors happy? If you want to follow their protocol that's fine but please don't manipulate your meds and thyroid levels to keep doctors happy or to pass some imaginary TSH test.
TSH set point can become low. My TSH has been suppressed <0.01 since 2013 but 3 dose reductions over 12months didn't budge my TSH although FT4 and FT3 dropped. I suspect I would have to become massively undermedicated or stop thyroid medication before TSH will respond.
Ps. No, did not mention specialist as doctors don’t like Hertoghe and NDT. I did not even mention the latter, but simply said I take T3 along with T4...
Optiwoman is dire! Folic acid rather than methylfolate; cyanocobalamin rather than methylcobalamin; magnesium oxide rather than the myriad of good magnésiums; iodine - of course! - and iron and calcium which, together, just about annihilate everything else. You are just throwing you money down the drain.
Get vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin/iron tested
Low magnesium can upset heart
Yes once tested, treat the vitamins that are low separately
If you have typical Hashimoto's vitamin deficiencies then a multivitamin with do little or nothing to improve these
Vitamin C, selenium and magnesium can be supplemented without testing
Only ever start one supplement at a time and wait 2 weeks to evaluate before considering adding anything else
I have just been informed that I will be on 100 mcg of T4 daily from now on. When I pointed out that I was on 200 mcg daily before switching to the T3/T4 combo drug (which is what I call NDT), the answer I got was ‘Nobody should take more than 100 mcg daily’...needless to say, I don’t intend to follow their advice...but this ‘one size fits all’ approach is really scary...I was also told I should be happy I don’t have a goiter caused by drug-induced hyperT, and we now need to make sure I don’t develop one in the future...
I find this article interesting; not that I expect any conventional doctor to agree...but it strengthens my resolve not to go back on thyroxine for any reason, including to please any doctor believing that an in range TSH is all that matters in the management of hypothyroidism:
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Is my TSH suppressed? Doctor wants to lower my dose :(
