The Mystery of Sheenah's Hubby continues...

[sheenah]

Good Morning All!

The next episode of the mystery story about Sheenah's Husband unfolds!!. Unfortunately it is not a thriller.... The last blood test revealed high T3, high T4 and a TSH of 0.01. taking 1 grain of NDT at night. He was experiencing terrible sweats and a bit shaky. So off we went to Spain for a week, and bought some Levo (50mcg) over the counter. On our return, he stopped taking the NDT and switched to the Levo - this was 10 days ago. The sweats stopped almost immediately and he felt much better (yippee) but now the sweats are slowly returning.. AND.. he had another blood test on Tuesday because we are seeing the Endo next week which revealed T4 of 35.2 range(7.9-20.0) previous was 24 (same range) T3 13.7 range(4.00-6.60) previous was 12.8 (same range) and the same TSH of 0.01 range 0.34 -5.60 (same range. The Doctor rang me yesterday to ask what was going on. I explained the process we had gone through, told him we were seeing the Endo next week,and he was also mystified. He was very positive about our forum. Can anyone tell me what is going on??????

Love Sheenah xxx

[shaws]

Are they treating your husband as having hyPOthyroidism when he actually has hyPERthyroidism

[sheenah in reply to shaws]

I know what you mean! it looks that way. However without the NDT he goes downhill very fast. What would the treatment be for hyperthyroidism? His Mother had hyper.

Thanks Shaws

[shaws in reply to sheenah]

Thankfully your husband is seeing an endocrinologist next week. I believe he is hyperthyroid, so let's hope the endo is a good/sympathetic doctor.

"T4 of 35.2 range(7.9-20.0) previous was 24 (same range) T3 13.7 range(4.00-6.60) previous was 12.8 (same range) and the same TSH of 0.01 range 0.34 -5.60 (same range).

All of the results are all FAR too high and T4 and T3 well over-range.

I am not medically qualified but all of the signs must be having a terrible affect on your husband's health overall. I'd phone the Endos secretary and ask if husband should reduce his dose of thyroid hormones or stop them before his appointment (and how long the gap should be between last dose and appointment).

[Angel_of_the_North]

Does he have high anti-bodies? Could it be a Hashi flare up? Or is he actually hyper - those results suggest it?

[sheenah in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

They only tested the peroxidaseAb which was 1.8 in a range of 0.00 - 8.00 - can't seem to get them to test the other one. He lost nearly a stone a couple of months ago. Stopped taking the NDT altogether and hit the floor, shaking, sweating, very emotional, put a little back on but now seems to be losing it slowly again. But what medication, if any, should he be on for hyper?

Thanks Angel

[greygoose in reply to sheenah]

None, if he has Hashi's - and it certainly sounds and looks like Hashi's to me. Those levels aren't high enough to be Grave's. But, on the other hand, he shouldn't be taking levo/NDT whilst his levels are high, either. Just come off all thyroid hormone for a while whilst the levels come down.

Antibodies fluctuate, so you can't rule out Hashi's on the basis of one negative blood test - or ever, really. An ultrasound of the gland might give a better idea. That will show up any damage to the gland.

[sheenah in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Grey

You've always thought he had Hashis!!! We are going to Musgrove hospital in Taunton on Monday.

[greygoose in reply to sheenah]

So, ask them to do an ultrasound.

[sheenah in reply to greygoose]

Will do and will post results of the Endo meeting

Many Thanks Grey

[greygoose in reply to sheenah]

You're welcome.

[shaws]

If your husband is taking NDT, that will show his T4 and T3 as high. The reason being that the blood tests were introduced along with levothyroxine -T4-alone. So if we add T3 or take NDT the numbers do not correspond. However symptoms are a priority and dose should be increased until symptoms are relieved. Usually a 1/4 tablet every 2 weeks. The following dotor only took a blood test for the initital diagnosis and thereafter he concentrated on.small increases and relief of symptoms.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[sheenah in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws

What a great pity that Dr Lowe is no longer with us. Hopefully the Endo may have a few brain cells to roll together....

[shaws in reply to sheenah]

It is a big loss as he was such a humane person. You may have read the following and give copy to doctor:-

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

[MaisieGray]

sheenah I would say that 1 grain of NDT, being so small a dose, is unlikely to be the cause of your husband's high levels. I think the NDT was incidental, or at worst, simply exacerbating the core problem; and I agree with greygoose that he should come off whatever thyroid hormones he is now taking, and request an ultrasound.

[sheenah in reply to MaisieGray]

Thanks Maisie

He has been taking 50mcg of Levo for 10 days. Even the GP said that he couldn't imagine that that would cause a T4 level of 35.2 - so what do you think it is?

Sheenah x

[MaisieGray in reply to sheenah]

Given his symptoms, I'd guess that his results are accurate; but just to rule out one thing that is known to skew results for completeness sake, is he taking biotin in any form - as a supplement in its own right or within another product perhaps? It can react with a particular assay and skew results both up and down.

I don't have a definitive answer sadly, but my guess is also Hashimoto's.

[sheenah in reply to MaisieGray]

Hi Maisie and many thanks,

No, he is not taking biotin, but that is a snippet of knowledge worth knowing. I will report again when we have seen the Endo on Monday as I believe that all of our joint experiences help one another

Sheenah x

[MaisieGray in reply to sheenah]

Wishing him good luck and a prompt definitive diagnosis!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are his current levels of vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12?

Get endo to test them if not been done

[sheenah in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SG,

His levels were pretty good in September, but we are going t o make a list of things to ask the Endo, and having those levels checked will be on it!!

Sheenah x