Hypo to Hyper what next!!

[healthymarge]

TSH results for last year range (0.27-4.20) 1.93. 0.02. 23.50. 12.30. Gp changing eltroxin up/down from 75 to 100. Said its not unusual for thyroid to fluctuate at my age 66. My nails/hair have stopped growing, have skipped heartbeats, constipation, weight gain etc. Feel I'm going round in circles and getting nowhere. Any advice welcome. Took a course of zinc and selenium but no improvement.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, take last dose 24 hours prior to test, and take next dose straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's.

Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once . If you have Hashimoto's then many with Hashimoto's find strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

"Said it's not unusual for thyroid to fluctuate at my age 66"

Well, I think that statement should take the Oscar for Daft Doctor Comment Of The Week.

I'm 70, my TSH doesn't, and never has, fluctuated more than a very small amount.

"1.93. 0.02. 23.50. 12.30"

that seems very much like Hashi's.

Do you only get TSH tested? What about FT4 and FT3?

Have thyroid antibodies ever been tested?

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes, I'm pretty sure they make it up as they go along, to fit the situation.

[Marz]

I once read that if any Doc blames your age rather than seek solutions - then it is time to dump him ... !

[cabro2]

I would ask for antibody testing (TgAB and anti-TPO) for Hashimoto's autoimmune disease. When my TSH was going that bad, I had Hashitoxicosis and my (U.S.) doctor finally admitted it was becoming a threat to my health/life and I needed a thyroidectomy. My TgAB peaked at 2,240, which is wildly above range. I felt utterly awful. I hope you get answers and help. A new doc is an excellent idea. Going from .02 to 23.50 on a dose that only changes by 25mcg is not reasonable.

Reply

[silverfox7]

It's not unusual to have a doctor that doesn't know what he's doing either! Don't think he would like to be told that test he's messing you about either. Until

my idiot dropped my dose then my tests were pretty stable and I'm older than you are!

[healthymarge]

This was a new doc! I asked for a copy of my bloods and now my cholesterol is 7.8 with LDL 5.2. I'm seriously fed up if they they had their way I would be on about 10 different meds. Time to look for a functional doc! when my TSH was 23.50 the doc didn't even bother to call me. I had to call several times before I got results and he said he was very busy! Then casually said I was hypo and to increase to from 75 to 100.

[klr31]

Your cholesterol will probably be due to you being under medicated with your thyroxine.

Karen

[healthymarge in reply to klr31]

Yes absolutely. I had to tell my doc that no need for me to go on statins that I needed to wait until thyroid settled down!