Suppressed TSH AND LOW T4

[Shug1974]

Hi all, was wondering if any one can help me with my results as my Endocrinologist has reduced my medication and discharged me saying he could no longer help me, he was going by my suppressed TSH and would not be leave i was having symptoms despite the weight gain and other symptoms. Had test results from Gp recently, due to see them for a review in October.

These are my test results.

TSH 0.005 mU/L normal range 0.570-3.600

Serum free T4 10.9 pmol/L normal 7.7-14.0

Free T3 4.4 normal 3.1-6.8

Bearing in mind i do source my own T3 and take 12.5mg.

I also have Cons syndrome.

Thank you all in advance.

[greygoose]

Try increasing your T3. You might be ok with the reduction in levo if you increase your T3. If not, source your own levo, too.

[MaisieGray]

As he's discharged you, declaring he can't help you, then his opinion regarding your dosing is irrelevant and has no validity. He therefore has no continued say or sway, over your health. I'd suggest telling your GP that you don't accept the reduction, especially as the Endo's admitted lacking the necessary skills and expertise required to participate in your health care, and therefore you're fearful for your health and of the consequences of taking less of your meds than you clearly need .......

[shaws in reply to MaisieGray]

Has he 'signed you off' so that it wont show on his records that he's failed to restore your heatlh? Most get afraid when our TSH is 1 or lower, when we actually feel better on that than 'TSH somewhere in the range'.

[Shug1974 in reply to shaws]

Hi, yes he has.

[shaws in reply to Shug1974]

It looks as if you will be forced to do what many on this forum have done i.e. source their own additional thyroid hormones. Both your frees could be a bit higher and you then may feel much better.

[vocalEK in reply to MaisieGray]

...especially as the Endo's admitted lacking the necessary skills and expertise required to participate in your health care.

Love it!

[MaisieGray in reply to vocalEK]

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

How much Levo were you taking in addition to the 12.5mcg T3 when that test was done?

How much has your Levo been reduced to?

Does your endo and GP know you take T3?

Taking T3 lowers, even suppresses TSH and also lowers FT4 so your results aren't surprising really.

Your weight gain and symptoms are likely to be down to your low FT3 which is only 37%through range.

[Shug1974 in reply to SeasideSusie]

It has been reduced from 112.5 to 100mg. They are aware that i am taking T3. From what i can remember my TSH has always been suppressed before i started taking T3. I have had partial thyroid removal due to a tumor. At the time of removal which was about 6 years ago i was told i did not need the medication till i went back with a huge weight gain and test showed hypothyroidism. I also have a benign tumor on my right adrenal gland and basically on blood pressure medication to control my blood pressure. Both of my adrenals are producing high Renin. Been told surgery is not an option.

[Ruthi]

T3 Tends to suppress TSH especially after a while. I have been taking NDT for years and my TSH is zero!

When this happens the only valid tests are FT3 and to a much lesser extent FT4. And your FT3 is rather low, and should be near 5.0.

[estrellaliliana]

How much of what med were you taking and for how long before these results?

I think is better not to be TSH under 0. Lots of people are at their best around 0 TSH, ,even though the most common is 1.

[MaisieGray in reply to estrellaliliana]

How is it possible to be under zero - having nothing of something is the least you can have surely?

[Bunny3 in reply to MaisieGray]

0.005 isn’t less than zero 😊 it would have to be a negative number. 0.005 is the same as 5/1000th of 1. So very very small but more than zero 😊

[MaisieGray in reply to Bunny3]

Yes I'm aware what 0.005 is, my TSH has measured around that number or less, for the best part of 40 yrs; but I wasn't commenting on that - estrellaliliana wrote that it is 'better not to be TSH under zero' and I was making the point that in quantative terms a substance can't be a negative amount. You cannot have a minus number of eggs, or minus weight of flour, or minus measure of TSH.

[Bunny3 in reply to MaisieGray]

Oh haha! I’m sorry! I didn’t read that in her post! 😊 I thought you were just asking how it could be that low 😊 now your reply makes sense 😁👍🏻

[MaisieGray in reply to Bunny3]

No problem

[Valarian in reply to estrellaliliana]

Lots of people who are hyper have TSH of ‘around 0’ - eg 0.002 - and they are certainly not at their best !

[Howard39 in reply to Valarian]

Hi

Lots of people have suppressed tsh ‘s and feel well. Especially if they are taking t3.

A tsh really is meaningless. It’s the t3 and vitamin levels that matter.

[NWA6 in reply to Howard39]

I second that TSH measurement is meaningless! 🤗

[estrellaliliana in reply to Valarian]

You just added what is obvious.

Mine is 0.something and I m perfect

[vocalEK in reply to estrellaliliana]

You are, after all, Lily Star.

[NWA6]

Hey Shug1974. If you look at your FT4 and 3 you’ll see that you are very much under medicated.

Your FT4 is only 50% through range and your FT3 worse at 35% through range

chorobytarczycy.eu/kalkulator

When you see this on black and white you see that you could raise both Levo and T3 and you’d feel fabulous! Raise one at a time and see how you do.

Please disregard any TSH test and use the calculator I have pasted here to help you get those numbers up. HTH 🤗

[Valerie0106 in reply to NWA6]

Hi NWA 6 - i would like to use this tool but don't know how. I have looked up the translations “norm from” and “down” - can you help please?

[NWA6 in reply to Valerie0106]

Hey Valerie0106. It says FT4, then your result, then it’s says ‘norma od’ and then you put the first number of your range, then it says ‘do’ and you put in the higher number of your range. When you’ve done both (or you can just do one) and hit the ‘Oblicz’ button

So for example

FT4 (your result here), norma od (12),

do,(22)

Press ‘oblicz’

[Valerie0106 in reply to NWA6]

Thanks NWA6

[Teresamarie]

Secondary hypothyroidism? Possible pituitary problem? Suppressed TSH and T3, T4 in range might suggest it. Meaning pituitary is not releasing TSH.

[vocalEK in reply to Teresamarie]

That's only true if you are not taking any medication. It's how a doctor would diagnose a new patient.

[Teresamarie in reply to vocalEK]

Very true!

[Trinav]

I'm very similar with tsh of 0.007 and t4 12.3 .gp referred me to endo for advice and I'm awaiting results of pituitary mri so doesn't seem that they have investigated anything for you !!! I still wasnt feeling great on those readings so endo upper t4 by 25mcg but decided I didnt need t3...found low vit d though so hoping treating this will help. Can they re refer to another endo for 2nd opinion??

[Shug1974 in reply to Trinav]

Hi, i will ask for a second opinion when i see them.

[Teresamarie in reply to Trinav]

Same as me! Good to have wonderful people like you to help feel your not going 😜

[Trinav in reply to Teresamarie]

I'm lucky as 1 gp at my surgery asks how I'm feeling using numbers as a guide but most look at my tsh and cut dose or one consultant told me didnt think I needed levo at all! Cut dose to 50 cue 3 months of misery ...more informed thanks to groups like this now so can fight my corner a bit better!!

[Shug1974 in reply to Teresamarie]

LOL

[vocalEK in reply to Trinav]

The good news is that optimizing your Vit D will help with conversion of T4 to the active T3. You can use this calculator to figure out how to get your blood levels up to a target level. I would aim for at least 50. grassrootshealth.net/projec...

[Shug1974 in reply to vocalEK]

Thank you

[Trinav in reply to vocalEK]

Thank you for that there is so much info out there !! Lots of sites recommend vit d to be over 100 with autoimmune thyroid disease so using sprays as b12 is lower end of range so wonder that absorption could be problem too !! Its a proper minefield with so many things linked back to each other .

[vocalEK in reply to Trinav]

My apologies. My comment about aiming for over 50 applies to the measurements expressed in ng/mL, which is common in the U.S.. In the UK they tend to use nmol/L.

vitamindcouncil.org/i-teste...

[Maryah85 in reply to Trinav]

Hi, your results are similar to mine I’m also waiting on an mri too. Can I ask your Levo dose? I’m on 50 and feel awful

[Trinav in reply to Maryah85]

Hi Maryah85 I'm now on t3 10mcg once a day and 100 mcg levo after an endo suggesting it. Have been on it since last May and am doing OK. Ironically I have an endo phone call this Thursday but haven't had a blood test since last May so doubt anything will change !!.

[Maryah85 in reply to Trinav]

Thanks! I’m seeing my endo next week. My endo actually wanted to lower my dose, I’m on 50 and my gp wants to up it! I just want to feel better having lightheaded episodes close to fainting and not feeling right at all! I’m new on my thyroid journey and trying to get my levels right. I’ve got my mri soon too to see if it’s the pit gland. Hope yours went well.

[DotLeeds]

I am one of the fortunate few with a great NHS consultant who has just managed to get my T3 funded after a short trial followed by a year of giving me private prescriptions. I take 20mcg T3 with 100mcg Levothyroxine on 4 days and 75mcg Levo the other 3 days.

[Svelsker]

My TSH Is also 0.005 and my T4 is towards the higher side of the range - I've been taking 25mcg T3 with 112mcg thyroxin (I cut a 25 in half) for ages and feel fairly balanced at the moment - by no means hyper, but really quite well. I can't drop the T3 without feeling rubbish. Fortunately my private doctor hasn't questioned my low TSH although my NHS doctor refused to continue with T3 last year sometime.

[vocalEK]

Mine is 0.02

since my doctor added T3. I have also gotten rid of many of my hypo problems, and have begun seeing weight loss again on my low-carb diet.

[Shug1974 in reply to vocalEK]

You are lucky. I source mine. My Endocrinologist was no help what so ever.