Can losing weight decrease your TSH levels?

[sunshineisbetter]

I have gained so much weight over the last year (5 stone!)……I am starting to try and find a way to lose some weight in the hope that my energy levels may increase. Will it also help to lower my TSH & antibody levels?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

sunshineisbetter

With a TSH of 4.4 and FT4 level of 11.8 (8-16) (taken from your previous post) you are undermedicated.

You need an increase in your dose of Levo, 25mcg now and retest in 6-8 weeks, preferably including FT3 as well. Low FT3 makes weight loss difficult.

The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges.

Some information to discuss with your GP in support of increasing your Levo:

From GP Notebook

gpnotebook.com/simplepage.c...

Target level for TSH during thyroxine therapy

Fine tuning of the dose could be necessary in some patients

* aim of levothyroxine treatment is to make the patient feel better, and the dose should be adjusted to maintain the level of thyroid stimulating hormone within the lower half of the reference range, around 0.4 to 2.5 mU/l. If the patient feels perfectly well with a level in the upper half of the reference range, then adjustment is unnecessary

From GP online

gponline.com/endocrinology-...

Under the section

Cardiovascular changes in hypothyroidism

Replacement therapy with levothyroxine should be initiated in all patients to achieve a TSH level of 0.5-2.0pmol/L.

From the British Thyroid Foundation:

btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-fun...

How can blood tests be used to manage thyroid disorders?

.....

Occasionally patients only feel well if the TSH is below normal or suppressed. This is usually not harmful as long as it is not completely undetectable and/or the FT3 is clearly normal.

There are also certain patients who only feel better if the TSH is just above the reference range. Within the limits described above, it is recommended that patients and their supervising doctors set individual targets that are right for their particular circumstances.

.....

Also, Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine (the professional publication for doctors):

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l. In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l. This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l).*"

You can obtain a copy of this article from Dionne at ThyroidUK:

[e-mail]

print it and highlight Question 6 to show your GP.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for this. I haven’t been diagnosed or prescribed any medication at all yet. I would like to try to help my health in the meantime by trying to lose some weight and wondered if it would improve levels at all x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sunshineisbetter]

sunshineis better

I would like to try to help my health in the meantime by trying to lose some weight and wondered if it would improve levels at all

Personally I doubt it. Weight gain is a symptom of hypothyroidism. In some countries you would be diagnosed when TSH reaches 3, so technically you are hypothyroid but wont get a diagnosis in the UK until it reaches 10 for primary hypothyrodism, or if your TSH goes over range with raised thyroid antibodies this would confirm autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) and an enlightened doctor may start you on Levo.

[greygoose]

Doubt if losing weight would lower your TSH. But, it's not about the TSH, anyway. A high TSH is indicative of low thyroid hormone levels - TSH is a pituitary hormone. And, it's low thyroid hormone levels that cause symptoms. TSH doesn't make you feel anything.

Nor do antibodies. Losing weight certainly wouldn't lower them, but even if it did, that wouldn't change the fact that you have Hashi's, and Hashi's will eventually destroy your thyroid so that you are permenantly hypo, and losing weight isn't going to change any of that, I'm afraid. There's no way of changing it.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. I appreciate your honesty!

[greygoose in reply to sunshineisbetter]

You're welcome.

[Hidden]

Losing weight won’t help your levels but the easiest way to do it without over stressing yourself / your body (especially as under medicated) is just gentle walks, whatever you can manage to increase your physical activity. It’s hard and you probably feel rubbish but do what you can. I found walking helped me at least feel better for being outside - and as you feel better you will walk quicker/longer etc.

[sunshineisbetter in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. It’s crazy because Jan/Feb last year was probably the fittest I’ve ever been. I can’t believe how much weight I’ve put on and how awful I now feel in such a short space of time x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your high thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease

Low vitamin D and folate levels need working on

Are you now on absolutely strictly gluten free diet

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any significant diet changes

Getting thyroid tested as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water will give highest TSH

[sunshineisbetter in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve been taking multivitamin supplements for a month now with a high dose vitamin D oral spray.

I am not yet on a gluten free diet.

My 2 most recent tests were taken first thing in the morning before any food other than water.