TSH too low but still tired

[Flowerpot108]

5th Aug test results came back showing I am just slightly out of range.

enough that if I send this to my GP they will lower my dose of levothyroxine, and I can't have that because I still get so tired sometimes.

I don't have any of the symptoms of overactive thyroid. Most of the time I feel just well medicated but then something like my period comes along and I feel really tired again.

I was taking Ashwaganda at the time (not the morning of of course but in the days before) do you think this could have screwed the results? I don't take it all the time, just near my period.

My T4 is also working very hard to convert to T3, which is now top of the range so by all accounts I should be feeling great?

Could just be adrenal stress...maybe I need to look at taking T3 rather than just Levo. How do I start that journey?

I didn't take any biotin in the run up. I did the test fasted in the morning before I took any meds.

All my nutrients have been fine for a while so I didn't test them all again, was only ever a bit low on ferritin but not dramatically and that's fine now.



[Flowerpot108]

I'm starting to doubt myself now....did I accidentally take my meds before doing my test?.....I've always bee very careful not to but I'm suddenly not sure. I might get the test and do it again....urgh what an annoying thing to suddenly not be sure about!

[Flowerpot108]

I can't believe I can't remember. That's such an expensive mistake to make. It's because I'm dog sitting at the moment and so I'm out of my usual routine...I usually put the pills on the other side of the room so I remember not to take them and then it's really memorable when I do because I get them from somwhere else after the test. Because I didn't do that I just can't trust I didn't accidentally take them first. Livid. And I don't want to do them on the NHS because if I am slightly low in range they will lower my meds and then I'll be off work and all sorts. So I have a private doctor in mind to pay to see if it ever comes to that as I know she prescribes T3 where needed.

I just can't face paying again for the full package so I'll have to just get TSH and T4 which is rubbish I know but I need something to send my GP to show I am still in range and they can keep prescribing the levo.

What shall I do about the Ashwaganda? Because it's the only thing that makes me feel alright when I'm on my period which I am right now. Is there a certain time you have to not take it like biotin before doing a test?

My thyroglobin antibodies have come down...but could that be screwed by taking the levothyroxine before the test as well?

TPO is the same...not sure what the difference is between the two....

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Flowerpot108

Yes your GP would reduce your Levo with those results, FT4 is not "slightly out of range", it is very over range.

As you have Hashi's this might be showing a bit of "false hyper". Also you could have taken your Levo. To be sure I'd repeat the test making sure that your last dose of Levo is 24 hours before you do it.

As you don't need antibodies repeating, it might be cheaper for you to use Monitor My Health which is £26.10 for basic thyroid panel - see here for code:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[Flowerpot108 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you! If it is a false hyper what's best to do? Wait a couple weeks and then do it again? Although I'd expect to be feeling better...like a couple weeks ago I had alot more energy than I do now. I'll get that test package thanks!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Flowerpot108]

Well, at the moment you don't know if it's a false hyper. Do you have symptoms of overactive which would be a clue as to whether it's a hyper episode? Fine tremor in outstretched hands is one way of checking. Maybe if you don't have any symptoms then just retest.

[greygoose]

I can totally sympathise with you not being able to remember if you took your levo or not before the test. But, frankly, that's rather irrelevant because your doctor will only look at your TSH, and taking the levo before the test would not affect that, because it doesn't move that fast.

But, how much levo are you taking? Your FT4 is very high. So, unless you are taking a very high dose of levo, it's unlikely to be that, and more likely to be a Hashi's 'hyper' swing. However, normally the FT3 would also be a lot higher than that with a swing. Could be both, of course. But, do you have other, previous results on the same dose for comparison? It's important to know, because those labs are saying that you are a truly awful converter - possibly the worst I've even seen!

[Flowerpot108]

My T4 does have to work very hard to convert to T3, but not as hard as the results from 5th Aug say! I have been planning to look into getting T3 privately but have always had something on that had made me not want to because I know that whilst I'm adjusting my levels of levo and T3 I will have periods of feeling awful (i assume like when i first went on Levo). I have been taking exams as well as working full time and have decided to stop taking exams and focus on my health instead. Then start again once I've been feeling well for a good while. The thing is I was feeling well. I have periods where I don't, but I think those are in line with my menstrual cycle and can also be from eating badly or being stressed and things like that. Normally as long as I take it easy and nourish myself for a few days i bounce back to normal. So I haven't felt the need to mess around with trying to work out bringing in T3 and reducing Levo accordingly. That and the cost....interesting though that the TSH wouldn't be affected by me taking the Levo because I would definitely say I am not in a hyper swing as I have all the usual symptoms of being the opposite - fatigue, sore muscles, brain fog...not surprising though as I am pre- menstrual and I always feel rubbish in this week and then bounce back around halfway through my period and go up and up as I get to ovulation. If my GP reduced my levo I would absolutely freak out. My hope was a test that showed me as being bottom of range TSH but still in range so GP would maintain my dose, take it easy this week and then expect to start feeling better next week.

Test results Nov 2021

[Flowerpot108]

Got my results back - worried my GP will reduce my levo if I show them these but I'll feel rubbish if they do. I don't feel at all overactive. If anything I still feel the other way sometimes 😬

Test results