Advice about recent NDT thyroid blood tests and high SHBG

[RatherBeSleeping]

Hi there! Is there any connection between high SHBG and taking NDT thyroid medication? I've been feeling better than ever on my Erfa thyroid medication and I don't feel over medicated at all, but I had high SHBG. My estradiol also seems high. I've read that one reason for high SHBG can be hyperthyroidism, but my thyroid tests are well within range. Another reason can be liver issues, but I did a liver ultrasound and it was completely normal. My liver function test was also within range. I am on HRT and I think my SHBG means my testosterone isn't circulating/available to my tissues? I'm pretty confused. I was very happy about my thyroid results and feel good, but the high SHBG and estradiol is worrying me quite a bit. Any help or advice would be most welcome 🌷

Here are all my results:

TSH 0.02 mU/L Reference Range: 0.27 to 4.20 mU/L

Free T3 5.4 Reference Range: 3.1 to 6.8 pmol/L

T4 Total 92.0 Reference Range: 66 to 181 nmol/l

Free T4 18.1 Reference Range: 12.0 to 22.0 pmol/L

Cortisol at 9 am 332.0 Reference Range 73.8 to 507.0

Serum Folate18.80 Reference Range 8.83 to 60.8 nmol/L

Vitamin B12 496 Reference Range 145 to 569 pmol/L

Magnesium 0.87 Reference Range 0.66 to 0.99 nmol/L

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs 9.0 Reference Range <34

Anti-Thyroglobulin abs 23 Reference Range <115

Albumin 46.7 g/L Range (35 to 50)

SHBG <200 Range (27.1 to 128)

Estradiol 2036 pmol/L Range

Testosterone 0.61 Range (0.101 to 1.42)

Free Testosterone 0.00272 Range (0 to 0.02)

[GreenTealSeal]

my SHBG is also very high (nearly off the scale) my endo said although it is more common with hyper it can also happen with hypo. They said once I’m on the right dose it will still take a really long time for it to come down (like a year or so!)

[RatherBeSleeping in reply to GreenTealSeal]

Bingo! That is why this happened then. Thank you!!! I took to high of a dose of Erfa for two months because I had a severe infection and was in and out of delirium at the time. It was a new medication for me. So it'll probably just take time for the SHBG to come down. Essentially, i made myself hyper and the SHBG just hasn't normalised yet. Would you be willing to message me the name of your endo? I am looking for a new one and it'd be great to have someone familiar with this issue.

[Charlie-Farley in reply to GreenTealSeal]

Lived experience is the best! 🤗

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi RatherBeSleeping

This is beyond me but I found an article (which I am working through myself now). Thought I would share if you haven’t seen it already.

medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/s...

If you are feeling well - take the wins! I’m not being flippant when I say that. Doctors treat the lab work and we have a tendency to follow suit. You are feeling well.

Could it be HRT? Are you having a discussion with the doctor about these levels? That looks like a possibility see photo- it’s from the link I have shared 🤗♥️

Like you say all your thyroid hormones are well within, TSH is unreliable so discounting that as too often doctors intent on using this as a management tool fail their patients miserably.

Only other thing is folate looks a bit low.

Possible causes of high, SHGB

[RatherBeSleeping in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Thank you Charlie! That's super nice of you. I think it's probably because I was on too high a dose of NDT about six months ago. GreenTealSeal hit the nail on the head, I think! How did anyone get by without groups like this before? I can't believe how helpful and knowledgeable this group is. I feel so much better! Thank you 😀

[Charlie-Farley in reply to RatherBeSleeping]

Could even be a combination of factors- nothing is ever mutually exclusive.

Fabulous GreenTealSeal actually has experience if this - bet you will be sleeping better tonight. I love the power of this forum. Makes my heart sing! 🤗♥️

[Charlie-Farley]

Yep that’s exactly how I felt when I landed here about three years ago. Feeling very blessed.