Is it possible to have weight gain with a TSH of only 2.5?

[hummingbird88]

I'm at a total loss--everything I read seems to suggest that a TSH of 2.52 means possible hypothyroidism in the future, but nothing that would have affected me or my weight now. I've gained 15-20lbs in the last 4-5 months with no change in diet (actually, a much improved diet once I realized I was gaining weight). NO ability to lose weight. Fatigue, irregular periods. I tested positive for pernicious anemia, but the doctor thinks it's a fluke, and that doesn't cause weight gain anyway. I'm afraid to go to an endocrinologist, because I'm worried they'll just dismiss me. Has anyone experienced this kind of weight gain (and other symptoms) with a TSH of only 2.52? Including other results in case they're relevant.

-TSH 2.52 uIU/mL, range 0.450-4.500

-Triiodothyronine,Free,Serum, 3.30 pg/mL , range: 2.0-4.4

-T4,Free(Direct)1.10 ng/dL, range: 0.82-1.77

-Intrinsic Factor Abs,Serum 13.50 AU/mL, range: 0.0-1.1

-Antiparietal Cell Antibody 17.20 , range: Units 0.0-20.0

-Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 25.50 ng/mL, range: 30.0-100.0

-Vitamin B12 7/28/2018 221.00 pg/mL, range: 232-1245

-Folate (Folic Acid), Serum, 18.10 ng/mL, range: >3.0

-Iron Bind.Cap. (TIBC) 427.00 ug/dL, range: 250-450

-UIBC 383.00 ug/dL , range: 131-425

-Iron, Serum, 44.00 ug/dL, range: 27-159

-Iron Saturation 10.00 % , range: 15-55

-RBC 4.56 x10E6/uL , range: 3.77-5.28

-Hemoglobin, 12.90 g/dL , range: 11.1-15.9

-Gastrin,Serum,16.00 pg/mL, range: 0-115

-Methylmalonic Acid, Serum 101.00 nmol/L , range: 0-378

[greygoose]

TSH has nothing to do with weight-gain. It's T3 that causes symptoms when it is too high or too low. And your FT3 is over mid-range, so not saying hypo at all. But, have you ever had your TPO/Tg antibodies tested? If they're high, that could change everything.

Your vit d is below range, so you really need to do something about that. But I don't know if that has anything to do with weight-gain. I can't see a result for ferritin.

[hummingbird88 in reply to greygoose]

I've never had my antibodies tested for that--do you think an endocrinologist would if everything is "in range"? And what would it change? Thanks!!

[greygoose in reply to hummingbird88]

I've no idea what an endo would do - they seem to be a law unto themselves, and totally unpredictable. But, can't hurt to ask.

What would it change? Well, first a short explanation of what the antibodies mean - high antibodies mean you have Hashi's.

OK, so Hashi's is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks and slowly destroys the thyroid.

After every attack, the dying cells release their stock of thyroid hormone into the blood stream, causing the levels of the Frees to shoot up - FT4 around 30 something, FT3 around 11/12 - and the TSH therefore drops to suppressed.

There is no knowing how long these high levels will persist, but eventually, they will drop by themselves as the excess hormone is used up or excreted, and not only will you become hypo again, but slightly more hypo than before, because there is now less thyroid to make hormone.

There is no cure for Hashi's - which is probably one of the reasons that doctors ignore it - apart from the fact that they know nothing about it, of course! But, there are things the patient can do for him/herself.

a) adopt a 100% gluten-free diet. Hashi's people are often sensitive to gluten, even if they don't have Coeliac disease, so stopping it can make them feel much better, and can possibly reduce the antibodies. Worth a try. But, you should be aware that even if you get rid of the antibodies, you will still have Hashi's, because the antibodies are not the disease.

b) take selenium. This not only reputed to reduce antibodies, but can also help with conversion of T4 to T3 - something that Hashi's people often find difficult.

c) the best way to even out the swings from hypo to 'hyper' (often called Hashi's Flares, but that doesn't really sum up the way it works) is to keep the TSH suppressed. This is difficult because doctors are terrified by a suppressed TSH, for various false reasons, and because they don't understand the workings of Hashi's. But, TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (a pituitary hormone) - tries to stimulate the thyroid to make more hormone, but it also stimulates the immune system to attack. So, the less gland activity there is, the less immune system activity there will be, meaning less attacks, gland destruction slowed down and less swinging from hypo to hyper and back.

So, what all this boils down to is that when you have a blood test, it just shows you what's in the blood at that instant - a bit like a photograph. It doesn't show what was there last week, nor what will be there in a week's time. So, if you know that you have Hashi's, you will know that your levels can just around. And, just because your results were OK on that day, doesn't mean they always have been, nor that they always will, and you need to keep testing.

So, imagine your levels had been very low for the past couple of months, that would explain the weight-gain and other symptoms. Then the TSH goes down a bit, and the FT3 goes up. So, it looks like your thyroid hormones aren't responsible for you weight-gain, when in actual fact, they were last month. You see what I mean?

[jamalka in reply to greygoose]

greygoose adopt me holly you ma'am following each comment of yours to feed my curiosity

[greygoose in reply to jamalka]

lol I'm a bit old to be a new mother!