Flipping blood tests

[HevJ]

Hi

I have been diagnosed with an under active thyroid for over 6 years and now feels meds are sorted.

Over the past year my husband has had 3 blood tests. First one looked like overactive then second underactive. Dr offered to medicate but husband held off. Most recent blood test has shown blood results to more ‘normal’ from under active. However he does feel sluggish and continually tired. Another blood test is required in March . Is this flipping between the two common?

[shaws Administrator]

It can depend upon the time of the test as TSH is variable, i.e. having the earliest a.m. test (fasting - you can drink water). It is highest in the early a.m. and drops throughout the day. That may mean remaining undiagnosed.

He should have TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies tested. Antibodies wax and wane and would mean an autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's. (at times you might feel hyper but still are hypo as it is the antibodies that attack the gland.)

Also B12, Vit d, iron, ferritin and folate should be tested at the same time.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[HevJ in reply to shaws]

Thank you so much. I’ve passed this info on and he will discuss with his Dr.

Happy New Year!

[shaws Administrator in reply to HevJ]

Happy New Year to you as well. The problem in the UK is that doctors have been told to only diagnose people when TSH reaches 10 and T4 is also tested.

They rarely test Free T4 and Free T3 which would be more informative.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

They also don't know clinical symptoms. Your husband should tick his off:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Maxxxx]

Hi - I just thought I would add that if your husbands has Hashimotos which most of us hypothyroid sufferers do - there is a thing known as Hashi swings which could explain why the test results are swinging from hyper to hypo.

Hashimotos is an autoimmune disorder which means that the thyroid is being attached by antibodies. As the thyroid is struggling sometimes a large dose of thyroid hormone is released into the body making you temporarily hyper.

The only way to know is to test for the antibodies which your husband's doctor should be doing anyway.

If you post the actual test results with the ranges some of the more experienced members will respond.

[HevJ in reply to Maxxxx]

Thanks for that. I will ask him to get a copy of his results next time. He just took the Drs word in it.