I have an extremely hyperactive thyroid with normal TSH levels; is this normal?

[Britani]

Worried and need some advice/help!

Within the past two years I've excessively lost weight. Some would think this is good but considering I went from around 130-96 pounds, and was also labeled underweight, it's not.

So, of course they check my thyroid. I just got some of the results back today: but they're very confusing.

My TSH levels are considered "normal" however, they told me my thyroid was extremely hyperactive. But from everything I've been told or read online (which I know isn't always the best thing to do) it's said that usually people with hyperactive thyroid have higher TSH levels.

I've made another appointment with a different doctor who can do more in depth research on what might be causing my thyroid to be hyperactive, but with having extreme anxiety I automatically added the worse.

[greygoose]

If your TSH is 'normal', on what did they base their diagnosis of hyperthyroidism? Do you have a copy of your results? If so, post the numbers here - results and ranges. If not, ask for one.

[humanbean]

People with hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid usually have low TSH levels and high thyroid hormone levels.

People with hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid usually have high TSH levels and low thyroid hormone levels.

Edit : I should have mentioned as well - TSH is not a thyroid hormone, it is produced by the pituitary.

[Heloise]

No, it's not and losing it the way you did must have been terribly uncomfortable. Stress is definitely a cause but your TSH goes lower NOT higher. Your pituitary keeps reducing thyroid stimulating hormone in an attempt to stop the gland from overproducing. Your gland is not listening to the pituitary. This is often called Graves Disease.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/g...

[helvella]

Britani,

Your apparently "normal" TSH could be due to interference with the blood test.

One thing that can do this is if you have antibodies to TSH itself. These antibodies attach to the TSH molecules and form larger molecules (called macro-TSH) which react to some TSH tests and show higher results. Simply having the TSH re-tested but using a technique known not to be susceptible to this form of interference would produce a more sensible result.

(Having high TSH and high thyroid hormones could be due a pituitary tumour that produces too much TSH.)

Regardless why, if you have very high thyroid hormone levels it is very important to be appropriately treated. I hope your other appointment is soon? And I echo others who have said you really need your test results.

[SilverAvocado]

I would be quite suspicious that some of what you've been told may not be accurate. In order to make the statement you describe: an over active thyroid, but without the expected super-low TSH, you'd need to have the full thyroid panel with three tests, and be able to interpret them very accurately.

But what we see on this forum very often of doctors is that they can't even accurately interpret the tests for the most common form of thyroid illness. And we also often hear of doctors making up their own imaginary illness state to describe blood tests just because they don't know how to interpret them.

You definitely need to look at the actual numbers and confirm these results. You can add them to this thread, or it might be better to create a new post so that the largest number of people see the new post. If you can't get the copies you could consider getting a mailorder repeat from Blue Horizon or Medichecks.

[Britani in reply to SilverAvocado]

Here are my results:

TSH: .181

Thyroxine: 21.2

T uptake: 51.98

FTI: 34.8

[SilverAvocado in reply to Britani]

Hi Britani, is that thyroxine total thyroxine or free thyroxine do you know? Also you need the ranges, these should be in brackets after your results.

Ideally you want a full thyroid panel. This consists of TSH, freeT4, and freeT3.

Looks like FTI may be another term for freeT4. So if you have the ranges for that we can start to see if you've got a high level of hormone on your body.

[Britani in reply to SilverAvocado]

It didn't show ranges and I'm not exactly sure what they tested me for, but I was told I had a full thyroid panel done. And for my age and etc. My results were almost 4x what they should have been. (What I was told).

Again, apologies for the lack pf certain info. I'm still waiting on other blood work.

But if it helps, recently the lymph nodes in my left armpit and inner elbow have started to swell and ache/burn tremendously. Along with burning sensations throughout my body, mainly in my left eye. With a red splotch that appears on the white of my inner eye. Though no vision impairment I sometimes feel a sharp pain in my left eye and it constantly feels achy. And tingling sensations in my feet, and hands that usually occur more at night.

Another odd symptom I'm having is muscle pain in my abdomen mainly in my stomach area and back, that no pain medication can subside. Along with knots appearing on my left shin. The odd thing being most of my problems are dominantly on the left side of my body only.

[SilverAvocado in reply to Britani]

Are you in the UK? None of these are the standard blood tests, and they don't even seem to be in a unit that I'm familiar with, so I can't tell whether they are high.

The tests you really need are TSH, freeT4 and freeT3. The most important is the freeT3, and you need the range or at least the units.

If you're not being offered those, you could get a mail order pinprick test. In the UK Medichecks or Blue horizon are good, the full details are on ThyroidUK website. If you're in the US you can find links on the Stop the thyroid madness website.

[clare10]

Have you been offered any further tests apart from bloods, if the Drs are suggesting hyperthyroidism i think it would be reasonable to have further investigations i.e ultra sound scan, radio active iodine have they tested your antibodies. I had graves but nothing showed up on bloods.

[Britani]

Hello, sorry it's been awhile but I have my blood work back. They're still going to run more tests, but to answer most of your questions..

Here are my results:

TSH: .181

Thyroxine: 21.2

T uptake: 51.98

FTI: 34.8

Hopefully this will help with answering my concerns better. Also, I've noticed more of my lymph nodes have to swell (in neck, and armpit only).

Again, thanks!

[helbell]

Hi Brittani, are these a UK lab test?