Hypo symptoms with normal blood results?

[spingi]

Hi everyone, I’d be grateful for anyone with a similar experience to shed some light on my health situation, or to help me understand whether I need to investigate further for any other conditions (Blood results at bottom of post)

About 18 months ago I lost a large chunk of hair (3cm in diameter). My original dr said it was simply alopecia and refused to do bloods. I suffer from lots of food allergies and IBS so I suspected might possibly be autoimmune related. After changing dr, they ordered a full blood panel and everything came back in normal range.

Then, in the last few months I have unexplained weight gain (8kg since June), brain fog, fatigue. For as long as I can remember I have had very cold hands and feet and always been cold. I did some more research and found that the rest of my symptoms might look like hypo (resting heart rate 58bpm, monthly migraines, eczema on face especially around lips and nose). I have also noticed further hair loss, and I suddenly saw I have several tufts / chunks of hair which are really short sticking up all over my head! Dr ordered new bloods but did not test thyroid so I have done private Thriva test. Dr said conditions were mental, however I am good at managing my mental health and the fatigue, tiredness behind the eyes etc loss of drive, libido and low mood do feel new to me.

I also read that my TSH might be too high if trying to get pregnant - so I’ve posted all relevant results below (starting oldest) to see if you think I could be hypo (or eventually) or I should be looking for other conditions. I am not vegan or vegetarian, and I would consider my diet to be pretty healthy. Thank you.

October 2019 - afternoon, not fasted

TSH: 3.81 [0.3 - 4.2]

Serum folate: 4.3 [> 2.7]

Ferritin: 62 [10 - 120]

Vitamin B12: 330 [160 - 800]

Vitamin D: 72.7 [70 - 150]

Oct 2020 (NHS) - afternoon, fasted

Ferritin: 71 [10 - 120]

Vitamin B12: 271 [160 - 800]

Oct 2020 (Thriva) - taken in morning, fasted

TSH: 3.27 [0.27 - 4.2]

T4 Total: 120 [66 - 181]

Free T4: 16.2 [12 - 22]

Free T3: 4.75 [3.1 - 6.8]

Vitamin B12 Active: 115 [> 37.5]

Vitamin D: 84.8 [Deficient <30, Insufficient 30 - 50, Consider reducing dose >175]

Ferritin: 102 [13 - 150]

Folate: 11.6 [8.83 - 60.8]

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs <9.0 [<34]

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs 11 [<115]

[fuchsia-pink]

Welcome to the forum.

Your symptoms certainly suggest that you're hypo - and many of us would happily slap your doctor for suggesting it's a mental thing instead

In many countries you would be treated as hypo when TSH goes over 3. In the UK they don't just want it to be over-range, but waaaay over range - often as high as 10 (which rather makes a nonsense of having a top of the range less than half that), or a bit lower but with raised antibodies.

You're not yet over-range. Free T4 is 42% through range and free T3 is 44% (so balanced but both less than half way).

I have read that you really need TSH to be less than 2.5 if you are or planning to be pregnant ... hopefully someone will post the link, maybe SlowDragon ? - so this may be the way in ... ideally you want to persuade a GP (perhaps a different one?) to give you a starter dose of 50 mcg of levo to bring your TSH down to less than 2.5 (ideally quite a lot less) and bring your "frees" up - you will likely feel better when these are both at least 2/3 through range - one you are started on levo re-test your bloods every 6 -8 weeks to see if a dose increase is needed.

Don't forget to have early morning blood tests, when TSH is highest. Good luck x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Do you have any autoimmune diseases running through family?

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

IBS suggests gut issues, common with Hashimoto’s

Have you had coeliac blood test?

Tried strictly gluten free diet?

Before considering TTC levels need to be stable

verywellhealth.com/infertil...

Pregnancy guidelines

thyroiduk.org/having-a-baby-2/

TSH should be under 2.5

gp-update.co.uk/files/docs/...

Important See pages 7&8

btf-thyroid.org/Handlers/Do...

[spingi in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for sharing, I will be sure to read these.

No known autoimmune diseases as far as I am aware although my father also has several food and animal allergies, my brother also has allergies and severe asthma.

I have followed a strictly gluten free diet for a year or so before, a few years ago. It did make a noticeable improvement to IBS however I have tested negative for coeliac’s disease when not following gluten-free diet. When I realised I wasn’t doing any severe damage to my body I returned to normal diet and put up with symptoms... typical triggers are very high gluten food, cheese and large portions of red meat so I do tend to avoid although not completely!

But I am strongly considering returning to GF diet with the onset of the additional symptoms.