low tsh but weight gain

[Forestgreen90]

Hi there! I’ve been told I have a low TSH . This is so disheartening after 8 years of being told it’s under active form Googling it seems now its now overactive? Is that possible? I’ve been on 125 m levothyroxine for almost 3 years now without problems, but now I’m experiencing weight gain, low mood, how does this happen. Also, can you even experience weight gain with low TSH ? My T4 and ft3 are in range

[greygoose]

No, it's not possible. If you are hypo, you cannot suddenly become hyper. And, besides, it's not a low TSH that makes you hyper, it's high FT4/3. Your Frees are not high, so you can't possibly be hyper. Your TSH is low because you are taking levo. Not because your thyroid is over-producing, which is the definition of hyper.

And TSH doesn't cause symptoms. It's just a chemical messenger between the pituitary and the thyroid. It could be that your FT3 is a little too low for you. Or it could be nothing to do with the thyroid. So many things can make one gain weight. Do you know if it's fat or water retention? Have you tried the pinch test?

youtube.com/watch?v=oI9yurd...(Not working as expected?)

[Forestgreen90 in reply to greygoose]

What’s a pinch test? Thank you so much

[greygoose in reply to Forestgreen90]

It shows you in the video what a pinch test is.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No you’re not over active and probably not even over medicated

Was test done early morning, ideally just before 9am , only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

FT4: 16.9 pmol/l (Range 9.1 - 17.6)

Ft4 91.76% through range

FT3: 4.9 pmol/l (Range 2.4 - 6)

Ft3 69.44% through range

So Ft4 (levothyroxine) is higher than Ft3 (active hormone)

ideally we want both at similar levels

Which brand of levothyroxine are you taking

Do you always get same brand at each prescription

Also do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

You may have low vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Next step test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

[Forestgreen90 in reply to SlowDragon]

It was done at 8.30 without taking meds in the morning and 24 hours after last dose. My ferritin is ok and I’m taking vitamin d at the moment as it is always low.

Does this look normal then or low of not high?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Forestgreen90]

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Forestgreen90 in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you

[Forestgreen90 in reply to SlowDragon]

doc upped my thyroxine to 150 from

125. He agreed with me that I am experiencing all the symptoms of an underactive thyroid but the blood results are veering towards overactive.! Doesn’t make sense. Rechecking in one month

[Dakota1234]

Hi, thanks for asking, but I am not really in a position to give you any kind of answer: I've only been on Levo 100 mcg for about four months and I think I'm completely atypical - I had about 7-8 weeks between my diagnosis and my first post-Levo blood test during which time my thyroid shot straight back to normal. I'm waiting to see if it stays steady. I haven't had any weight changes, up or down; and I'm not qualified to comment on your low feeling because, without wanting to sound flippant, I was born depressed. I think there are plenty of more knowledgeable people on this forum and I hope you find help with your queries - good luck! But I will also say - don't worry. It makes mountains out of molehills.