Emotional stress cause thyroid fluctuations? - Thyroid UK

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Emotional stress cause thyroid fluctuations?

6 Replies

Hi

Could emotional stress cause these thyroid lab results or is there most likely something deeper going on? I currently feel very tired, retaining a lot of water, and have a lot of symptoms of hypothyroidism. I have posted my current results and April’s lab results. Both tests were done at 8am after fasting. My thyroid has been fluctuating like this for the last four years and appears to drop in response to any type of physical and or emotional stressor and my TSH appears to not respond to the drop in thyroid hormones. I’m not under a doctors care because I’m afraid they won’t help me due to my normal TSH. When my thyroid hormones drop I start to feel symptoms and when my thyroid hormones are in range I feel good. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Current results

TSH 1.7 (.45-4.50)

Free t4 .69 (.82-1.77)

Free t3 2.5 (2.3-4.4)

TPO 5 (0-34)

TG negative

April results when I felt good

TSH 1.7 (.45-4.50)

Free t4 1.2 (.82-1.77)

Free t3 3.9 (2.3-4.4)

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6 Replies
Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake

As your TSH produced by the pituitary gland is not responding to reduced thyroid hormones, I wonder if you need investigating for a pituitary problem. However, this is something I know nothing about, however, I think one of the admins on this forum knows about this. Hopefully others will respond too.

I can understand why you've not consulted a doctor, but Thyroid UK have a list of Thyroid experts who you could research if you live in the UK. There might be one with some pituitary knowledge.

jimh111 profile image
jimh111

Severe stress or depression can affect thyroid hormone levels, usually by lowering TSH. In your case your TSH hasn't changed although your fT3 and fT4 have, substantially. A point to bear in mind is the TSH assay just measures how many TSH molecules there are. TSH is composed of a number of isoforms with varying bioactivity. When the hypothalamus or pituitary is underperforming TSH with lower bioactivity is secreted. You can see this in your case as the same amount of TSH stimulates the thyroid to different extents.

If possible try to resolve your stress situation. If this doesn't succeed I think you might have to try and get a referral to an endocinologist to investigate possible secondary hypothyroidism. (I'm a patient not a doctor).

in reply tojimh111

HiThanks for your response. So it most likely is my hypothalamus or pituitary is underperforming rather than stress alone?

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake in reply to

Something to bear in mind is that imbalanced thyroid hormone can feel like stress. Situations you would normally manage well or reasonably well can feel overwhelming. So, it can be tricky to work out. If you feel less stressed when thyroid hormone is good then it's likely that it's the imbalance causing you to feel stressed rather than the other way around.

jimh111 profile image
jimh111 in reply to

Stress can affect the hypothalamus and pituitary and as noted above hypothyroidism can cause stress. You have to try and work out which way around it is.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Have you had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested?

Do you currently take any vitamin supplements

What’s your diet like?

TSH should respond by rising to low such low Ft4 and Ft3

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