Hi all. I am new to this site but I have been using the AF HealthUnlocked site for a number of years.
I have just had two blood tests one month apart and my TSH level was 0.04 and 0.07 mIU/L the higher figure is the latest blood test. My main symptoms are palputations, weightloss and tiredness. My T4 and T3 levels are ok. Oh, and crying is another one.
I have been researching this condition while I wait for my local endocrine team to advise my doctor on the best coarse of treatment. I feel they cannot prescribe medication accurately until they examine me to see if I have any abnormalities on my thyroid gland. The waiting time to be seen is in excess of 12 weeks. I am struggling now! I have just had a 72 hour episode of palputations. some of which, I think, were AF.
I think my diet is ok in the light I have AF. So, my main question is would it harm my current condition if is started taking kelp tablets?
Any info or links to clinical studies about this condition would be helpful at this stage of my diagnosis.
Kindest Regards
Paul Clark
Written by
pkc05
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Iodine has a very complex relationship with thyroid disorders... both in excess , and deficiency , iodine can have actions in both directions ........ ie. can worsen hypothyroidism and can also worsen hyperthyroidism ..... so yes it's possible that supplementing iodine with kelp tablets it at this stage could potentially make things worse.
Why are you thinking kelp tablets might be a good idea ?
post with collection of info about Iodine and it's potential effects on thyroid conditions here : healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thanks for the reply. I know kelp has iodine and I just thought it might be a natural way of getting some iodine into my system that is, to some extent, controllable. I would know if I got worse or better it would be the kelp tablets contributing in someway. My diet would stay as is. I understand the relationship with your iodine intake and thyroid function. I am baffled about the whole thing. I blame my dodgy genes, haha. Thanks for the link.
It will be very useful to measure your heart rate to see if it is high. Manually checking your pulse is helpful to see if it is rapid with a strong stroke. In the meantime your doctor could prescribe propranolol which as well as slowing the pulse reduces the rate of T4 conversion to T3 which is the active thyroid hormone.What are your fT3 and fT4 levels? Normal doesn't mean much if they are both in the upper part of their reference intervals.
Hi, on 14th my SF T4 was 11.1 pmol/l my thyroid peroxidase TPO antibodies 10iu/mL. My FT3 was 4.7pmol/L. I think that's about in the middle for both. With having high blood pressure and high cholesterol I keep a regular check in my heart's rate and rhythm. The number of medicines are increasing year on year. At 65 I consider myself fit. However my body is trying to change that 😄 🤣. Thanks again for your reply.
Do you have results and ranges for both FT4 & FT3? Please add.
TPO and other antibodies have a (0-X) range or (>X.) Meaning unless levels exceed the limit it’s negative - over the threshold is a positive level.
TG antibodies should also be tested but as the TSH is low which usually occurs when. FT4 & FT3 are high (hyper) you should also have Thyroid stimulating antibodies tested.
TSI & TRab.
The other reason for low TSH in the absence of high FT4 & FT3 is that the pituitary is not functioning normally, but this usually causes very low levels. This is why is always best to test & show TSH, FT4 & FT3 all together.
Hi, on 14th my SF T4 was 11.1 pmol/l my thyroid peroxidase TPO antibodies 10iu/mL. My FT3 was 4.7pmol/L. These are the only tests they have done. I am totally confused by the whole thing. I am so tired because I feel like I am on a fight or flight mode all the time. Sleep is a luxury at the moment.
FT4 of 11.1 is very low by some ranges. Below range in some cases. Were you told results but not given ranges? You need to obtain a printed copy of results of full results or set up online access so the can be Interpreted accurately.
I have sent slow dragon one of the administration team all my blood test results. I not sure if you communicate with them. If you do ask them to forward it to you. Cheers.
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FT4: 11.1 pmol/l (Range 7.5 - 21.1) 26.47%
FT3: 4.7 pmol/l (Range 3.8 - 6.8) 30.00%
Both your thyroid hormone levels are in lower 3rd. You have low levels not high thyroid levels.
Doctors will need to monitor & if become under range will need to replace. Doctors sometimes focus on TSH and incorrectly suggest medications to lower further to “make” the TSH rise. This would not be a good idea.
Finding out why you TSH / FT4 & FT3 is low needs to be investigated first.
'Severe subclinical' is a contradiction in terms. What do you think makes it severe?
Subclincial hyperthyroidism is a nonsense, anyway. It's not the TSH that makes you hyper, it's very high levels of FT4 and FT3. But you say they are 'ok'. So, I presume they are somewhere within the so-called 'normal' range.
However, it's very difficult to say anything much without seeing a full thyroid panel - with ranges. Ranges vary from lab to lab so we need those that came with your results. We need to see:
TSH
FT4
FT3
TPO antibodies
Tg antibodies
TRAB
TSI
That will give us a much clearer picture of what is going on. It could be that rather than autoimmune hyperthyroidism - Graves' - you have autoimmune thyroidits - Hashi's/Ord's - which fluctuates between hypo and false hyper. This is often the case when Frees are in-range, but the TSH hasn't yet caught up with their level. It moves far more slowly.
If you don't have either of these conditions, it could be that you have a pituitary/hypothalamus problem, rather than a thyroid problem. But, we can only know if the correct testing is done. So, if your doctors won't co-operate by doing the correct testing - all the correct testing - then you could get them done privately, without having to involve a doctor.
And, btw, high cholesterol would suggest you are hypO rather than hypER. High cholesterol is usually caused by insufficient T3.
With having high blood pressure and high cholesterol I keep a regular check in my heart's rate and rhythm. The number of medicines are increasing year on year.
So number of questions first
What are your main symptoms
What other medications are you taking
Are you taking a PPI like Lansoprazole or Omeprazle
Are you vegetarian or vegan
Thyroid levels
July results
FT4: 11.1 pmol/l (Range 7.5 - 21.1)
Ft4 only 26.47% through range
FT3: 4.7 pmol/l (Range 3.8 - 6.8)
Ft3 only 30.00% through range
Low Ft4 and Ft3 are not being reflected in an increased TSH
TSH is abnormally low
Vitamin levels are very poor …B12 and ferritin especially
So if you’re not vegetarian or vegan or on PPI ……
then thyroid most likely the issue
Low TSH
Could be early stage Hashimoto’s (autoimmune hypothyroid disease) …..and TSH hasn’t caught up with sudden downward swing
Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms, as thyroid cells break down releasing excess thyroid hormones
You need BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested together…..Will have to test privately as NHS won’t test TG antibodies unless TPO antibodies are high
Suggest you request An ultrasound scan of thyroid via GP or get privately (£100)
20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies
an ultrasound would also pick up another possibility…..a HOT nodule…..this make’s thyroid hormones regardless of TSH ……so TSH often low……but not normally as low as these results
Central hypothyroidism is also possibility…..
After ruled out other other options
Presumably you aren’t currently taking any vitamin supplements?
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
PKC vit d is low. The advice on here is a level of 100 is advisable. B12 again is low. Suggested level is 500. These levels are advised by folks on here who have read up and got experience of vitamins and supplementation. From your thyroid results you are not hyperthyroid. With an under range TSH a truly hyperthyroid patient would expect ft4 to be somewhere in 40s, 50s and higher with ft3 in the 20s. That is the pattern for hyper. Been there and got the t shirt!
Your results would suggest some sort of hypothyroidism. Perhaps a problem with the pituitary gland. Your ft4 is lower in range. In a normal person ft3 is slightly lower in range than ft4. Your ft3 is higher through its range than ft4 suggesting that the body is compensating for a too low ft4 by maximising ft3 levels.
With your ft4 and ft3 results you'd expect an elevated TSH to stimulate the thyroid. Your low TSH suggests a pituitary problem where the gland fails to stimulate the thyroid to produce more hormones.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common with any, autoimmune thyroid disease, but especially when hypothyroid as this results in LOW stomach acid……then poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels as direct result
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test
This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
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