Low TSH and High T4 - no thyroid

[Jenna5]

I haven’t had all the other blood test spoken about on here (probably won’t get them either) but I’m a little confused with my thyroid function results.

My TSH is below range and my T4 is right at the very very top of the range, which to me would indicate overactive thyroid? But I don’t have a thyroid so I assume this would be caused by taking too much thyroxin……I don’t seem to have any symptoms other than tiredness and brain fog though? If anything it’s the opposite, I’m gaining weight like there’s no tomorrow, no energy. When I was previously overactive it was very very obvious. Very confused 😐

[shaws]

T4 is supposed to convert to T3.

T4 is an inactive hormone and should convert to T3 and it is T3 that is required in our millions of T3 receptor cells, brain and heart contain the most.

That's why it is recommended that we have both Free T4 and Free T3 checked and also TSH should be around 1 or lower.

[Jenna5 in reply to shaws]

My TSH is 0.23 on a range of 0.27 - 4.20. So if it’s lower than 1 it’s ok?

[shaws in reply to Jenna5]

The priority is that we feel well and are symptom free.

[CraftyGamer19]

I would guess that you are taking too much thyroxine. Fatigue is caused both by hypo and hyperthyroidism. As for the weight gain, it could be that your appetite is increased by the hyperthyroidism and you may be eating too much because of that, or maybe you haven't been hyperthyroid long enough to see the weight loss, or maybe something else entirely. That's the issue with thyroid diseases - almost any symptom could be a symptom of the thyroid or it could be basically anything else.

[Hidden]

Two suggestions. Get a thyroid function test done privately if your hospital won't test for T3. I use Monitor My Health with the ThyroidUK discount. That will show you your T3 level. Also a DIO2 genetic test to see if you are not fully converting T4 to T3. I used Regenerus Labs in Redhill, UK. Both proved to be reliable. Good luck.

[tattybogle]

What dose of Levo are you taking currently ? .. and how do these results compare to previous results on that dose ?

TSH test has it's uses , it can be a 'clue' to overmedication, but it's not an absolute rule that "below range TSH= overmedication" .... it often doesn't mean that at all once we are taking levo , and once on levo doses should be adjusted by taking symptoms and fT4 /fT3 levels into account too).... if for example your TSH was 'usually ' around 1 when settled on this dose , and fT4 was mid range ... then your current results could indicate your dose has become a little too high and a small reduction in dose might be worth trying to see if it improves how you feel . ........ but a TSH of 0.23 and a top end fT4 do not in themselves indicate overmedication.

0.23 is only marginally below the range.... which is really not low enough to even suggest overmedication by itself .... but if fT4 is top of range it is worth getting TSH/fT4/fT3 tested together to see where your fT3 is .

[SarahJane1471 in reply to tattybogle]

This makes so much sense. It’s the FT3 that needs to be seen. You may not be converting and if FT3 is low that would be why you still feel rubbish. If you get the private test and post the results on here then someone can help you. Monitor My Health do the cheapest TSH/FT4/FT3 with a discount code it’s under £30.