Tsh level

[Isaacsky]

Hi guys, I've been experiencing symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Went to the doctors for blood and the results of tsh were 0.893 which the receptionist told me is normal? Please help?

[greygoose]

A TSH test on its own tells you nothing. And, 'normal' just means 'in-range'. You need full thyroid testing:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit d

vit B12

folate

ferritin

What were your hyper symptoms?

[Isaacsky in reply to greygoose]

Palpitations racing heart weight loss fatigue breathless. Doctors keep saying it's anxiety and putting me on meds. All I saw on the note was full blood count liver kidneys and thyroid that's all they tested

[jimh111 in reply to Isaacsky]

I assume they have checked for anaemia?

[Isaacsky in reply to jimh111]

Yes I think they did

[greygoose in reply to Isaacsky]

You need to get a print out of your results to see exactly what they did test. If you live in the UK, you're legally entitled to one. So many symptoms can be both hypo and hyper, so you can't really go by symptoms. Even weight-loss can be a hypo symptom for some.

[Isaacsky in reply to greygoose]

Yes I live in the UK. I'll phone them on Tuesday as it's closed for the bank holiday weekend now and I'll request one thank you so much for your reply

[greygoose in reply to Isaacsky]

You're welcome.

[Goldengirl01 in reply to Isaacsky]

I lost 3 stone before anyone took any notice and I was thyrotoxicosis

[Nanaedake]

Have you been diagnosed with a thyroid condition? Are you taking medication of any sort? You need to get a print out of blood test results that include lab ranges. You are legally entitled then post them here for advice. Include any vitamin levels that have been tested.

[Isaacsky in reply to Nanaedake]

No not diagnosed. I went to the doctor for all the symptoms and he's passed me off as anxiety as the tsh came back normal

[Nanaedake in reply to Isaacsky]

Do you mean they've prescribed anti-depressants or SSRI's? You need all your vitamin. Levels tested to exclude low levels as a cause, B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D. Don't let the doc pass it off as anxiety without full blood tests that include antibodies and vitamins. Giving anti-d's is delaying a proper diagnosis. It might not be thyroid disease but you won't know until you gather all the evidence. It looks like your TSH is in range but as Greygoose says, you need full testing.

[Isaacsky in reply to Nanaedake]

Thank you. Yes I've been on sertraline for a year they have increased dosage to 150mg. I was on citalopram for 2 years before that. Anxiety is making my anxiety worse if you know what I mean. I've never been an anxious person than boom all of a sudden panic attacks I can't cope anymore

[Nanaedake in reply to Isaacsky]

You really need all the tests Greygoose has advised as a first step. Then you need to get copies of all results Including the lab ranges and post them on this forum then we can begin to help. You need to get to the underlying problem. Try to get good sleep, enough exercise and good support from friends and family in the meantime. If the doctor won't do all the tests you can get them done through private online lab like medichecks.

One thing is that panic attacks are worrying. embarrassng, frightening but they won't hurt you physically, if you see what I mean, so while trying to sort this out, try to relax about them and not be frightened.

[Isaacsky in reply to Nanaedake]

I have looked into getting a medicheck test done thank you so much for commenting made me feel a little less nervy. I just don't want to be on sSri the rest of my life.

[Grundywhiffs01 in reply to Isaacsky]

Hi Isaac.

Are you male? If so, id advise having your testosterone and estrogen levels checked. I was suffering from testosterone deficiency, and instead of treating this, I was given anti depressants etc. Turns out i was deficient in Testosterone, and therefore estrogen aswell, and im now on TRT ( testosterone replacement therapy) and feel like a new man. P.S. Im 34

[Isaacsky in reply to Grundywhiffs01]

No grundy I'm female thank you anyway x

[Grundywhiffs01 in reply to Isaacsky]

Ah ok. Sorry. Then as the others have mentioned, id run the Medichecks complete Thyroid test. Also check vitamin d, magnesium etc, as these can effect mood and thyroid function!

[Grundywhiffs01 in reply to Grundywhiffs01]

Testosterone deficiency can cause low mood, depression, anxiety, and a host of other issues. Medichecks have the Well Fit Ultra Man, which checks full blood, thyroid, hormones and vitamins etc..

Hope this helps

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Anxiety and depression are common hypothyroid symptoms

Antidepressants can tend to lower TSH

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see EXACTLY what has been tested and equally important what hasn't been tested yet

Absolutely essential to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that 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 or all vitamins

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

Medichecks currently have an offer on until end of May - 20% off

thyroiduk.org.uk/index.html

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.

[HLAB35]

I see that you're in your thirties. Keep a diary of your symptoms as hormones tend to fluctuate with your cycle. If anxiety reaches a peak before ovulation and before menstruation you are possibly suffering from Estrogen dominance ( which a lot of Hypos seem to have had). If you are on the combined pill this could actually be exacerbating things as well. Try to start looking at all your hormones.. adrenals, thyroid and sex hormones to find out where you are deficient ( thyroid / adrenals) or have excessive surges. You could benefit from a Magnesium and B6 combination to help with anxiety, especially if it is happening at certain times of the month. The TSH is NOT a diagnostic indicator either for or against a thyroid issue ( it is a pituitary hormone) so your doctor was lazy in assuming that your thyroid should therefore be normal.

[natcap1 in reply to HLAB35]

Dear HLAB35

Can you tell me a bit more about oestrogen dominance? Also how do you check adrenals (cortisol levels?). I have Hashimoto’s and as yet am not on medication. Things are ramping up though symptom wise e.g. fatigue, odd symptoms like tingling (I’m now on B12 injections for Pernicious Anaemia so it’s not that), food intolerances have worsened, periods all over the place and heightened anxiety. My anxiety peaks pre menstruation hence am interested in what you said.

My GP is wedded to TSH although has tested for antibodies which are high, the lab won’t do T3. I’ve fluctuated between just over the threshold for treatment for hypo, sub clinical and normal TSH for 6 years. We know my thyroid is visible damaged as a neck scan for another reason showed this. Another question is whether I should be on Levothyroxine to slow damage regardless of TSH not being sky high - I have read somewhere this but not sure if this is true?

My GP is going to talk to an Endocronologist about all this after my next blood test in early June.

Any info from your experience would be very welcome.

Many thanks

[HLAB35 in reply to natcap1]

My thyroid problems got picked up through having anaemia and gut issues. I didn't see improvements until I went gluten free though and restricting dairy.

Your situation is a little different. It may be early ( in your thirties), but Estrogen dominance can occur during peri-menopause for which there is quite a bit of useful info out there. Your GP can test for this.

shecares.com/hormones/estro...

A lot of people these days are using bio-identical progesterone gels to help them with this phase. An alternative way to damp down Estrogen is to look into reducing inflammatory histamines and prostaglandins (my daughter is doing this) by having a low histamine diet. 'Histamine intolerance' is becoming quite common these days (look it up). One of the best arguments for being vegan was made by someone who was suffering with PMS (as meat is high in histamine unless it's freshly cooked ) and prostaglandins are found in red meat and dairy. However, if like many you get low iron or b12 it is less tempting to make that change. My daughter finds that going vegan (lots of GLA and vitamin E) in the week before her period helps. She also supplements zinc and b6 ( the p5p form).

Magnesium is really important and if you read The Magnesium Miracle by Dr Carolyn Dean ( it has been updated several times) and Dr Marilyn Glenville's books on PMS and Menopause you will be well-armed!

As to getting treatment for sub clinical hypo - I agree that it should be nipped in the bud. This is easier to argue for if there is a family history. Just bear in mind that T4 requires good vitamin and mineral levels ( selenium, iron, B12, vitamin d) and 'happy' adrenals to work properly. Ideally, adrenals should be checked, so ask the Endo for adrenal stress hormone test. Check out Dr Myhill's website on Adrenals for details as it is quite a lengthy explanation.

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Adrenal...

[natcap1 in reply to HLAB35]

Thanks for this. I’ll look into it all.