I'm 37, male, and had a bout of Flu (no not man flu!) at the beginning of April 2018. About a week after feeling better I suddenly had no energy, dizziness, slower heart rate etc and have been that way ever since. I've had 3 blood tests since then and the results all included T4 and TSH as follows...
1.)
TSH: 4.8, T4 17.1
2.)
TSH 7.4, T4 17.3
3.)
TSH 5.5, T4 18.1
So looks like TSH might eventually come back down on its own if the last test is anything to go by. I also did do a Medichecks blood test yesterday so hopefully will get the results from that back soon with added T3 and antibodies.
Does anyone think this might right itself, or is it usually a case of once the Thyroid is showing these values it will be a life long thing? Docs don't seem to have an answer to this.
Thanks
Alex
Written by
adpickard1980
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Experts will be able to advise more than me on here.
However, you need to add ranges to your blood results.
I see you are testing for antibodies, this is good, it will confirm if you have an auto immune disease (Hashimoto's) if you have antibodies presents you have this.
Hashimoto's is where your immune system attacks your thyroid and leads to an under active thyroid. I have both. It is advised to go gluten free if you have Hashimoto's.
Your TSH will be up and down if you have this.
You need medication, however, if in the UK you will find that GP's will not prescribe medication until your TSH reaches 10 or above. I can tell you, you will be feeling pretty awful when that happens. Even people with a TSH of 3 can feel bad, and just because the NHS results says your within range, it doesn't mean you are not well.
What time did you have those bloods taken?. It is always advised that bloods for thyroid testing is taken first thing in the morning no later than 9am, don't eat or drink, only have water.
Your GP maybe understanding and start you on Levothyroxine, but, as they follow NHS guidelines he/she may say no. They are obsessed with TSH only results, which is no good you need the whole picture TSH, T3 & T4. They think that T3 & T4 is irrelevant, but, they are not.
Vitamins play an important role with the thyroid, Vitamin D, iron, Ferritin, B12, the GP may not test those so perhaps arrange private bloods for this.
A starting dosage is 50 mcg of levo, don't accept 25mcg of levo this is for elderly or people with heart conditions.
standard procedure is start on 50mcg with bloods taken every 6 weeks and an increase of 25mcg each 6 weeks until your TSH improves and most importantly until you feel well. Again, make sure your bloods are taken 1st thing in the morning and don't take levo until after your bloods are taken.
You may face another problem once on Levo, Levo only contains T4, and not T3, some people don't convert well.
T4 is suppose to make T3, so your TSH maybe in range and good but T3 and T4 not, but GP's ignore this despite you still not feeling well.
Some people have to add T3, but, that is another hurdle you may face and you are not at that stage yet.
To feel well we are advised on here that are TSH should be 1 or below, T3 & T4 in the upper figure of the range.
Thanks for all the info. I will update with my latest tests when they come back. The last 2 GP blood tests were taken in the morning at 8:30. The Medichecks one I did yesterday I think I did at midday, so I hope this doesn't throw the results, but we'll see. Thanks.
Were all the tests done at the same time of day and fasting? If not, you can't compare them. TSH is highest early in the morning, and drops throughout the day.
I agree, you need your antibodies tested, and also your FT3. But, to be honest, I doubt your thyroid is going to sort itself out after all this time. It's been too long since the flu.
If high TSH is caused by a virus, it will usually recover on its own, I fyou have Autoimmune thyroid disease your TSH and thyroid hormones will yoyo up and down but the thyroid will gradually be destroyed. If you have underactive symptoms, you need to know TSH, Free T4 and free T3 plus TPO and TG antibodies.
Thanks for all the input. I have started to feel better and am getting out on the bike again. I had my medichecks results back today as follows...
FT4: 16.2 (12-22)
FT3: 4.33 (3.1-6.8)
TSH: 4.27 (0.27-4.2) **
TGAB: 10 (0-115)
TPOAB: 9.27 (0-34)
So given this, it seems that things are settling (I hope). Everything but the TSH is within bounds now but TSH is down from last months 5.5. I guess I'll have another blood test in a month or two to see how things are, and hopefully everything will be within range.
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