Tsh levels changing

[kayfennell]

Hi. Back in April I had my tsh bloods done and it came back as 0.1 (0.5-4.4). I had them tested again this month and now they are 1.8. I had an overactive thyroid back in 2012 and they managed to fix it with medication. Is it normal for my tsh levels to change so much? I really want to go to the doctors but I always feel they fob me off. Thanks in advance.

[greygoose]

Yes, TSH levels do change, that's one of the reasons it's such a useless test. You also need FT4, FT3 and antibodies to get the full picture.

Do you know if they tested your antibodies when you were hyper? I suspect you could have Hashi's. So, you really do need the antibodies tested sooner, rather than later. If your GP won't do them, you could do them privately.

[kayfennell in reply to greygoose]

In April when my tsh was 0.1 my t3 was 8.3 (3.5-6.5) and t4 25 (10-20) I haven't got any results of t3 or t4 from October blood test as if the tsh is in range they don't test (the impression I got from the docotrs)

What is hashi's?

I will book a go appointment and see if they will test them for me. Thank you

[greygoose in reply to kayfennell]

Hashi's is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks and slowly destroys the thyroid. Full name Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, but often known to UK doctors as Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

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.

Therefore, it's very important that your doctor does not reduce your prescription, because you’re going to need it again! If you start to feel over-medicated at that point - some do, some don't - the best thing is to stop levo for a few days, then, when you feel hypo again, start taking it again. It's very important to know one's body, and how it reacts.

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.