Frustrated again

[Janek1983]

all, so I got my tsh checked again, they wouldn't fo the ft4 but it has come back down again to 4.5 from 6.2. Lab ranges for my docs is 0.5-5. So no further action being taken but I know I will start to feel rubbish again and it will go back up again. Why is my tsh fluctuating? Anything I can do naturally? I'm pretty healthy, exercise 5/6 times a week and eat well, like a glass of wine and chocolate but who doesn't? Thanks

[shaws Administrator]

I'd reduce your exercise until you feel better.

When we exercise, if hypothyroid, it can reduce our thyroid hormones. i.e. T4 and T3. T4 is an inactive hormone (levothyroxine) and it has to convert to T3, the Active Thyroid Hormone, and it is T3 that gives our body energy it needs as T3 has to saturate the millions of T3 receptor cells and brain/heart need the most. You should wait until your hormones are at an optimum level but you can do gentle exercises.

Do you get the earliest possible blood tests? Fasting (you can drink water)? Do you allow a gap of 24 hours between the last dose and the test? The TSH is highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day. Have you had thyroid antibodies checked? If they're present you have an autoimmune thyroid disease called Hashimoto's and it is the commonest form of hypothyroidism.

[Janek1983 in reply to shaws]

I had my antibodies checked a while back and they were fine. I'm not on any medication and had the test done at 8.30 and fasted. It seems to be a vicious cycle, I take a break and feel better then exercise and feel fine then within a week I feel rubbish again. I don't want to stop exercising as it's good for my mental health. I will need to look at this in more depth. Thanks

[shaws Administrator in reply to Janek1983]

As your GP has not prescribed but you have thyroid antibodies, he should do.

Email Dionne at Thyroiduk.org.uk and ask for a copy of the Pulse Online article by Dr Toft wherein he states that if antibodies are present we should be prescribed. Dr Toft is the Queen's physician when she's in Scotland. Dionne's email below.

[e-mail]

I realise why you exercise, but it reduces your T3 - which is the energy hormone needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells and if we've got antibodies, it is those that attack the thyroid gland and they wax and wane until we're hypo. Going gluten-free can help reduce the attack on the gland. It also means you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's. Maybe give GP copies. Particularly Dr Toft's.

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

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Janek1983 in reply to shaws]

Sorry, confused, antibodies were okay? As in none present?

[greygoose in reply to Janek1983]

Doesn't prove anything, because antibodies fluctuate. Also, you can have Hashi's without ever developing high antibodies. That's the thing with Hashi's, you can prove you do have it but you can't prove you don't.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Have you had BOTH TPO AND TG antibodies tested

Low vitamin levels are extremely common.

Ask GP to test vitamins

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

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

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Janek1983 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much, I feel I may have to go private. As they want to just leave me for another 6months because the tsh decreased again. Thanks