From hyper to hypo (no meds yet)

[svenena]

In March I was diagnosed as being HYPERthyroid. I've been referred to an endo, but my appointment isn't until next month. I'm not on any medication, other than iron supplements. In the meantime, I have had a blood test done via Medichecks, to check the results, and this has shown that I am now HYPOthyroid. I understand that it is possible to swing from one to the other, and that this could indicate Hashi's. But my results are not very far out of the ranges, so my main question is whether these would indicate that, or something else.

I do have positive Tg antibodies, and these have increased a lot over the past year, which I think could support an autoimmunity diagnosis (although Tg Ab are also common in the healthy population).

My hyper results in March were:

TSH<0.03mU/L (0.35 - 5.50)

FT426.6pmol/L (10.5 - 21.0)

Today's hypo results are in the screenshot.

Many thanks!

[pennyannie]

Hello Svenena :

Well, I think you have diagnosed yourself well - as I too believe you are looking at Hashimoto's auto immune thyroid disease.

However your " hyper " results in March do not show a T3 level anyway so a total waste of time and money .

Your TSH in the private test is over range suggestive of hypothyroidism and a need to start thyroid hormone replacement - T4 - Levothyroxine.

Your T4 is now under range and will ultimately take your T3 lower as well and it is low T3 that gives the symptoms of hypothyroidism just as too high a T3 and you can have symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

I'd suggest you try and talk with your doctor about your private blood test, they may not accept it, but this test should prompt them to organise a full thyroid profile and give them the medical evidence of Hashimoto's raised antibodies and commence treatment.

I read of people referring to the research of Dr Isabella Wentz who has Hashimoto's Disease herself and read of the healing of the gut wall and understanding and eliminating certain food triggers seem to be a common thread running through her rearch with gluton, wheat, dairy and processed foods being the main cluprits to triggering your immune system to attack your thyroid.

You may find your thyroid production becomes erratic, and read of " hyper swings " and of some people stopping taking their medication for a day or two, to offset the severity of the swing, but as we know when the swing swings back you may feel yourself slightly more hypothyroid.

Ultimately your thyroid becomes further disabled as this disease destoys your thyroid gland and you will need to be looking at increasing your thyroid hormone replacement to compensate accordingly.

P.S. It's quite likely that your absorption of nutrienrs from your food have also been compromised and suggest you also ask for ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D to be tested. They may well be in the NHS ranges, but for optimal absorption of thyroid hormone replacement, we need these vitamins and minerals optimal as well.