Lab says my TSH is abnormal. It’s the best I’ve felt in years! Could I improve thyroid levels further?

[SmPea]

Here are my latest blood tests taken early morning and after fasting:

TSH 0.23 (0.35-4.94mu/L)

FT4 14.8 (9.00-19.00pmo/L)

FT3 3.1 (2.60-6.10pmo/L)

Due to lots of symptoms in February 2018 my Thyroxine was increased from 100mg to 125mg.

My TSH became very suppressed from 2.89 down to 0.03 by the end of April. I lost over a stone in weight through this period up to mid August. It felt like my body was shrivelling from the inside and my face looked gaunt. My dose was reduced in June to 125/100mg on alternate days. TSH still very suppressed and still loosing weight. Reduced again on 19th July to 100mg and the result of this is above.

I feel so much better. About 2 weeks ago my body stopped feeling like it was shrivelling up and have had many comments from others that I now look well and am more me. My weight has stopped going down.

Is there still room for further improvement? Most symptoms have gone except for constipation and occasional digestive upset.

It’s actually the best I’ve felt in years!

Any comments would be very welcome.

[greygoose]

So, are you saying that you feel better on the reduced dose of 100 mcg? With that very low FT3? What was your FT3 when your TSH was 0.03?

[SmPea in reply to greygoose]

My FT3 was 4.2 (2.60-5.70pmol/L when my TSH was 0.03 and my FT4 was 18.5 (9.00-19pmol/L).

I have to say I’m somewhat confused by all this - especially the unintended weight loss which thankfully seems to have stopped.

I have felt unwell for so many years and wonder if I know what being truly well feels like!

What do you think about the low FT3?

[greygoose in reply to SmPea]

I think you have a conversion problem. Lots of Hashi's people do.

I don't know about the weight-loss, but it wasn't the TSH that caused it. TSH itself doesn't cause symptoms.

[SmPea in reply to greygoose]

So why do I feel better on the lowest results of FT4 and FT3 I have had this year. I’m very confused!

[greygoose in reply to SmPea]

All I can think is that, as you have Hashi's, your Frees have recently been high, and there's still plenty in the system. But, if that's the reason, it won't last. You'll just have to see how things go in the future.

[SmPea in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose I fear you maybe right on this. I have learnt so much on this site and how Hashimoto’s can fluctuate . So now I’ve got through many tests I will concentrate on getting my vitamin levels up and also go gluten free. I will also enjoy every minute of feeling as well as I do at the moment.

Many thanks for your response.

[greygoose in reply to SmPea]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have Hashimoto's how are your vitamin levels

Very important to regularly test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

See your vitamin D and B12 were deficient. Are they now improved

Can you add most recent blood test results and ranges on these

What supplements do you take?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Your antibodies were very high a post from 6 months ago. Have you gone gluten free since?

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after.

Is this how you do your tests?

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

[SmPea in reply to SlowDragon]

My most recent tests on vitamins were done on 17th August:

B12 368 (180-640ng/L)

Folate 7.2 (3.0-20ug/L)

Ferritin 85 (15-200ug/L)

19th July

Vit D 68.8 (50-200nmol/L)

This dropped from 104 (70-200nmol/L) when it was tested on 24th April following a loading dose of 4000iu. (My Vit D was 24 (70-200) in January).

I am now taking a maintenance dose of 800iu daily but that probably isn’t enough?

I know my other vitamin levels are low but I wanted to go through lots of tests first without supplements so I could get a true picture of what is possibly happening.

Had negative celiac test.

Negative intrinsic factor.

Endoscopy clear except for a couple of benign polyps.

Colonoscopy clear one small precancerous polyps removed.

Breath test for h.pylori just done waiting results.

Am being referred to dietician and will start gluten free diet then.

The TPO antibodies have come from 932 (0.00-6.00iu/mL) to 285 (0.00-34iu/mL) in July.

Also discovered in medichecks tests in July I have Thyroglobulin antibodies 286 ( 0.00-115.00IU/mL).

I have done all blood tests as advised on this site.

Welcome any further thoughts you may have. I have a GP appointment tomorrow who will probably focus on the suppressed TSH.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to SmPea]

Improving vitamins may help increase TSH

Yes, 800iu vitamin D is often not high enough with Hashimoto's

You will probably need to go back on 4000iu dose to get level back up. Then it's trial and error what dose each person needs as maintenance level. Perhaps 2000iu and possibly higher in winter than summer

Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...


betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

B12 and folate are both on low side. Many find benefit from a daily good quality vitamin B complex. One with folate in not folic acid

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Only make one change or add one supplement at a time otherwise it's difficult to assess which is helping

Majority of us with Hashimoto's are not coeliac, but we do very often benefit from strictly gluten free diet

[SmPea in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks SlowDragon this gives me a clear plan of action.