Puzzling Results

[hunny59]

Let me preface this post by saying I wouldn't recommend anyone to do what I've done. I originally started self medicating with NDT in late 2015.

Results gradually improved with suppressed TSH and T3/4 where they should be. After about 18 months, things started to fluctuate despite no change in dosage. By last October I decided to reset everything for a number of reasons. I came off the NDT completely, only staying on vitamins (D3/K2/B12/B complex/iron/vit c) and decided to see where it took me. I have to say that I've felt surprisingly well - the occasional bout of fatigue and some hypo symptoms but slightly irritating rather than the debilitating symptoms I had before all this started.

I had my bloods done again by Medichecks in January (3 months after stopping NDT). TSH was up to 8.73 (0.27-4.2) - no real surprise there. What slightly did surprise me was that FT4 was 14.6 (12-22) and FT3 was 5.18 (3.1-6.8) (so actually better than when I was taking NDT). TPO is at 72.6 (<34) and TGAb 517 (<115) so about the same as they were when I was on 2.5 grains 9 months ago.

The long and the short of it is that I don't quite know what to make of these results. I would have expected with a TSH that high, my FT3/4 would have been under the floor. never mind on it. I have always drawn the blood first thing in the morning. I know Hashi's is progressive but I fully expected everything to be much worse than this - any input would be appreciated.

[Marz]

I have read that when the thyroid struggles - it throws out more T3 in a bid to keep things going ! I believe it doesn't last ...

[jimh111 in reply to Marz]

That's correct. It will last if the thyroid is not deteriorating. This is why a TSH under 10.0 is OK for many people. If someone is clinically hypothyroid with these number the cause is unlikely to be a failing thyroid gland. They may be hypo but not because the gland is not producing enough hormone. Unfortunately endocrinologists refuse to accept this reality.