TSH Levels comparison for Hypo v Hyper

[W3ndy2159]

Are there any people who are overactive and graves?, can I ask?

What was your TSH levels like when you were diagnosed and also how do they look now with medication?

Was it an extremely suppressed TSH and over active symptoms that gave you that diagnosis? Is this how they diagnose being overactive or something else?

My TSH is 0.04 (0.27-4.4) abnormal according to labs and Drs.

I’m hypo with hasimotos. My endo is wanting to reduce my T3 only medication to try to bring it to what they consider normal!

I know my TSH will be suppressed when taking T3 but I’m trying to gauge that’s normal for someone with overactive/graves to compare what’s considered normal for hypo/hyper to see if there is difference

I’m wondering what a TSH looks like and is considered normal for someone who is overactive/graves? What range are Drs/endocrinologist trying to get your levels to look like?

Thanks in advance for your help 😊

[radd]

W3ndy2159,

You can't compare because they are two different autoimmune diseases that just happen to have the thyroid as the common denominator. But you are right in that they will try to lump us all within the same category and squeeze our health within the same ranges . But is blatantly doesn't work.

In Graves a suppressed TSH indicates elevated thyroid hormones which if left long term brings a risk of osteoporosis & heart issues. However, in Hashi we often require a low/suppressed TSH to be able to achieve & retain well-being, and as long as thyroid hormones are not over range there is categorically no research to evidence a low TSH on its own carries these risks.

Your TSH is fine. Medicating T3 commonly reduces TSH levels.

[W3ndy2159 in reply to radd]

Thanks Radd I’m going to write to my endocrinologist to ask for a T3 increase again, as since being reduced by 20mcg on a weekend (60mcg daily on Saturday/Sunday and 80cm daily midweek) I have become severely hypo again. ☹️

[radd in reply to W3ndy2159]

W3ndy2159,

It is levo that has the long half life that allows the varying of dose amounts on different days. T3 med doses should always be consistent and your endo should know this..

Are your FT3 over-range?

[pennyannie]

My diagnosis of Graves Disease was through positive and over range antibodies :

The two unique antibodies for Graves Disease are expressed as either a TSI a ( thyroid stimulating ) or a TR ab a ( thyroid receptor blocking ) over the range number.

You can have Graves and have dominant TR ab and not have many, of the typical " hyper " symptoms : you can have dominant TSI and feel very " hyper " and in the first phase of this disease these two extreme of symptoms can take control or a middle ground can also be found where you feel neither extreme of symptoms.

The TSH in Graves is known to be an unreliable measure of anything as the antibodies are said to " sit on " the TSH receptor sites distorting TSH readings.

I have had RAI thyroid ablation in 2005 - a treatment I deeply regret as i was more well on the AT medication and I now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease - caused by the RAI, and hypothyroidism.

I became very unwell some 8 years after RAI in primary care as I was being dosed and monitored by a TSH to be in the TSH range and it was seen as best practise to prescribe me anti depressants rather than run the T3 and T4 blood test.

I now self medicate and am so much improved, thanks is the most part to this amazing forum, and a couple of books.

I look after myself, and take full spectrum thyroid hormone replacement and my TSH is at 0.01 and I run myself with mild hypo symptoms and now 4 years in, I just arrange a yearly full thyroid panel but mainly to see where my vitamins and minerals sit as I need to self supplement these as well.

The TSH blood test was originally introduced as a diagnostic tool to help identify a patient suffering with hypothyroidism, and it was never intended to be used when the patient was on any form of thyroid hormone replacement as then you must be dosed and monitored on your T3 and T4 levels,

Once hypothyroid you can't become hyperthyroid - but you may become over medicated if your T3 is over range.

Medical mainstream work to guidelines and believe that by getting " you " in the ranges they have achieved their goal :

Maybe they have -

BUT this doesn't guarantee you, your health back, as the ranges are not fit for purpose and too wide, and this is especially true, if you are living with a thyroid autoimmune disease or have had a thyroidectomy or RAI thyroid ablation.

[W3ndy2159 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you Pennyannie this is useful information 🥰

[pennyannie in reply to W3ndy2159]

T3 is the active hormone and if a dose needs adjusting you adjust every dose throughout the week - so to give consistency of T3 through everyday ;

Cars do not run on less fuel at weekends - nor does your body :

[W3ndy2159]

Exactly my thoughts too. 😵‍💫 thanks for reply.