What's going on!?!

[MiniMum97]

So I have Graves' disease (positive TSI test). I also have hypothyroidism but not hashis (confirmed via thyroid scan). So have fluctuated between being over and underactive for the last 4/5 years.

I have just come out of a period of being overactive, and my thyroid hormones have "stabilised" by themselves without any carbimazole needed.

My latest test results show that my FT4 is now 11.6 (12-22) and my FT3 is 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8). My TSH is 0.3 (0.27 to 4.2) but that's because it was suppressed so will be working its way up. My TSH seems very slow to respond to low thyroid hormone.

When I was diagnosed with hypothyrodism (which came before the hyperthryoidism) my FT4 teetered about between about 10 and 12 for months. In my second period of being hypo it did the same. Both times I felt absolutely horrendous - unable to function, multiple symptoms including unable to regulate temp, constipation, horrendous fatigue and awful brain fog so much so that I struggled or couldn't work.

This time however, FT4 at same level and FT3 lower than it was in previous two episodes and I feel OK. My skin is quite dry and my last period was very heavy and I have some mild muscle pain/RSI but other that that I don't feel too bad. I can run up the stairs, no more brain fog than normal, no constipation. What is going on? Could this be the calm before the storm?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH takes weeks/months to respond

Are you on block and replace?

Important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Heavy periods can quickly lead to low ferritin

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

[MiniMum97 in reply to SlowDragon]

No, not on any medication.

Yes I know about ferritin and heavy periods. Vit D, ferritin, folate and B12 were tested and all okish (optimal ir not far off). My ferritin was at 50 which is the highest its been in 4/5 years - have struggled to raise it so that was exciting - obviously may be scuppered by heavy periods.

Yes am gluten free.

My question was more about why I am not more symptomatic?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

Perhaps gluten free diet and vitamins are staving symptoms off.....but if Ft4 and Ft3 continue to drop I would expect you will see symptoms return

[MiniMum97 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I suspect you are right 😢

[Lora7again]

You might need to take Levothyroxine to bring up your levels up this what I had to do. Have a look at Elaine Moore's site she helped me go into remission. I agree with SlowDragon about the TSH it does lag behind especially if you have Graves'

Here is a link.

elaine-moore.com/