Meaning of a Suppressed TSH anyone ?: Is it... - Thyroid UK

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Meaning of a Suppressed TSH anyone ?

Jillymo profile image
15 Replies

Is it harmful to have a suppressed TSH ? I am hypothyroid and also have hypoparathyroidism. My endocrinologist keeps me over medicated but I am concerned about my constant suppressed PTH. No matter what my blood results are my consultant never alters my medication.

150mcg Levothyroxine

20mcg Liothyronine

Test reslts -

Free T4 level, plasma 15.7 pmol/L

Thyroidstimulating hormone, plasma < 0.01 ( munit/L LOW )

Free T3 level, plasma 4.9 pmoI/L

25 vitamin D comment LABR2168

Vitamin D level, blood 0.78 g/L

Vitamin B12 level, serum 363 ng / litre

Folate level, serum 6.3 microgram Per L

Red blood cell count, blood 5.09 x10 / L ( High )

Mean cell heamoglobin level, blood 26.9 pg ( Low )

Write up-

Her red cell count is slightly high, and the MCHC slightly low.

The TSH is suppressed, but this has been the case in the past.

I will see her again in six months

Is there anyone on here who can enlighten me with these results ? Please

P.s I have antiphospholipid syndrome and on anti-platelets.

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Jillymo profile image
Jillymo
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15 Replies
bantam12 profile image
bantam12

Do you mean PTH or TSH ? There's no PTH or Calcium result that I can see.

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo in reply tobantam12

Hi bantum12

Sorry my mistake I meant to put TSH.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toJillymo

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Jillymo profile image
Jillymo in reply tohelvella

Thanks helvella. I am not a newbe to the site it was just an error I mad when posting. I shall put it down to brain fog and fibromyalgia.

Thanks you

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

Hi reallyfedup,

Please go into detail why you say be thank full ? Is it good that I have a suppressed TSH and over medicated. Kindly enlighten me.

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

Thank you for your response it is appreciated. I havn't any symptoms of hyperthyroidism all though I could do with the weight loss but I have plenty of hypo symptoms the main one being chronic over heating.

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

I was hyperthyroid to start with sand lost lots of weight then changed to hypo and blew up like a balloon. On top of this I have the hypoparathyroid problem which adds to my problem. The over heating is a true misery and now I dread the summer.

I thought to have a suppressed TSH for a long time was not good and could cause cardiology problems hence why I put the post on.

I have had thyroid issue for 'many years' but i'm still not able to understand the levels.

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

Hypoparathyroid not hyper my son also has the same as I.

I am treated with calcitriol and a calcium supplement.

Why do you think you are overmedicated? You don't give ranges for your free T4 and free T3,so not possible to tell. Have you been tested for anaemia? A full iron panel is needed with that MCH result (and high red blood cell count can indicate low oxygen in the blood)

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

Hi Angel,

I wasn't given the ranges on the consultation letter. My Dr rang to say I were over medicated ! My endocrinologist did many tests but not sure if he tested me for anaemia. I will look up what is needed for a full iron panel and see the tests on amongst the results.

Sorry to be so vague I have had a very strange head all day and simply not functioning at present.

14ajl348 profile image
14ajl348 in reply toJillymo

Jillymo, one way to find out actual tests and reported results might be to go to the lab/facility website. Many now list a type of patient-portal site or a link where after registering an account, you should be able to sign-in and access all tests and results as sent to your physician. I'm in the US and am not sure but believe the UK laws grant individuals the right to freely access and "own" their own medical records. If this is the case, you may want to simply request these records.

Depending on one's medical training and experience, it can be very easy to misinterpret the clinical implications of these test values. I'm an RN with 27 years experience in the ED and as an Educator and know that different procedures, tests and findings will mean different things for different individuals.

SilverAvocado profile image
SilverAvocado

Doctors are often quick to say we are overmedicated. Really the only way to determine if a person is overmedicated by blood tests is if freeT4 or freeT3 are over range, and of course if you have symptoms of overmedication.

Unfortunately you don't have the ranges for these, so we can't tell if they're over:

Free T4: 15.7 pmol/L

Free T3: 4.9 pmoI/L

The ranges I get for my tests are freeT4: 10- 22, and freeT3: 3.1- 6.7. Now, labs can vary a lot, and I've seen freeT3 ranges quite a bit lower than this, but I think it's pretty unlikely that freeT3 is over range. It your lab ranges are similar to mine your freeT3 would be roughly halfway through the range, which would mean you are undermedicated.

Given that you still have hypo symptoms I think it's very likely that you do have room for an increase, and that your doctor is going completely by TSH when they say you're overmedicated. Luckily for you they are not insisting on a decrease to match, because your symptoms would probably be worse on a lower dose.

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo in reply toSilverAvocado

Hi SilverAvocardo,

I really cannot see the point in sending out results with out the lab margin.

Wouldn't it be nice to find an endo to give us that little bit of extra fine tuning. It would make such a big difference to our well being.

Thank you for your response.

SilverAvocado profile image
SilverAvocado in reply toJillymo

Yea, they just know very little about how to dose and treat us :(

If you want to go into it yourself, its possible to mail order a finger prick blood test from Bluehorizon or Medichecks. Its about £40 for a full thyroid panel, and they sometimes have sales on.

I skimmed through your list of posts and saw you've got other health problems. In your position I would really be tempted to get that private test, and tweak the meds if necessary. Its crazy that so many people are left languishing on a one-size-fits-all dose when we'd feel so much better on a slightly adjusted dose that's right for us :( Being on the perfect dose could help with other symptoms, because every organ and cell in the body needs thyroid hormone!

Alongside this definitely look into vitamins, because they have a big impact on it all, too!

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

SilverAvocado,

Tell me about it, I have had years of poor treatment. I did a private panel test through Bluehorizon a while back but Dr's wouldn't acknowledge the results. If I were just hypothyroid I might just tweak my meds a little but because of my other health issues i'm reluctant to do so in case I set off a land slide in the way of a health crisis.

I have been under the same endo for many years who tends to drag his heals to say the least, he does the tests but doesn't act on them. I have just managed to get myself a new endo who's a professor. A fresh pair of eyes looking at my case might be rewarding - only trouble is I cant see him until early Sept. I shall have a look at what deals Bluehorizon are offering and look at taking a multivitamin.

If only one size were to fit all - I would be in a size 12. 😀

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