Tsh 7.09

[Mollop]

Hello

My mum is 86 & on 75mg level.

She has recently had an iron infusion privately as had a ferritin of just 6. Those levels now normal

I asked for a full thyroid but they don't do T3 & will have to do a fingerprick test on her. (If she agrees!)

Tsh 7.09 (0.35 - 5.5)

T4 16.6 (10.5 - 21)

I'm trying to get her an appointment. Reception just told me that there is no flag for a doc to contact her even tho it is above range.

I think she should reduce the level?

Thank you for helping

[Forestgarden]

Hi there, I see in your bio you have mentioned hyperthyroidism. Is this your mother's diagnosis? What medication is your mother on? I'm presuming she is hypothyroid and on 75mcg levothyroxine? If so, she doesn't need a dose decrease, she might need a dose increase looking at her tsh

[Mollop in reply to Forestgarden]

Yes she has hypo thyroid

[pennyannie]

Hey there again -

When already diagnosed hypothyroid and taking T4 - Levothyroxine - the TSH should kept under 2 and we generally feel best when the TSH is towards the bottom of the range :

Ferritin needs to be a least over 70 for any thyroid hormone replacement to work well -

so for some period of time your Mum has been with insufficient ferritin levels and suffering with anemia and I'm assuming the T4 hasn't been utilised within her body and why the TSH is now so high and over range and shouting out for more T4.

Her T4 is currently just around 58% through the range - it doesn't need reducing anyway -

as it is the TSH that needs to be reduced down into the range and this happens when T4 medication is increased - but currently - until her ferritin level settles she will likely not see much improvement - it might take a good couple of weeks for her iron levels to settle - how long ago was the iron infusion ?

Do you have readings for her B12, folate and vitamin D as these also need to be maintained at optimal levels for any thyroid hormone replacement to work well ?

On another note - did you ever find out if you had Graves Disease - I think we were waiting on antibody blood test results last time you contacted the forum - ?

[Mollop in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you so much Penny. Yes I have Graves & ended up having to pay for an Endo as none did T3 or any proper tests. I'm almost normal & waiting for my Trab to stabilise for another 3 months. I'm on 5mg carb every other day. I've reduced lemon balm. Am having huge problems losing weight. I have to exercise a lot & eat below 1000kcal. Still need to watch heart rate as sometimes goes up when I'm sitting on the setee.

Mum is hypo. Her iron infusion was in November & now 167 (10 - 291)

B12 576 I make her take it tho

Folate 7.11 so slightly high (replete >6.13

Vitamin dD 83.9

[pennyannie in reply to Mollop]

You might feel a bit better chopping the 5 mcg into 2 and taking 2.50 mcg everyday ?

Are you still taking a beta blocker for the heart palpitations ?

You must rest up and not tax your body at all as with Graves you can be exhausted doing nothing as your body is in a ' heightened state ' - and there can be a brain/body mismatch with you driving yourself hard when physically and mentally exhausted, over thinking everything and feeling ' broken ' but unable to ' turn off ' physically and / or mentally.

With Graves there are both blocking and stimulating antibodies attacking your thyroid and it's a bit like being on a roller coaster but without the fun and quite why your immune system has decided to start attacking your body - the 64 million $ question.

Graves is an auto immune disease for which there is no cure - and there is likely a genetic predisposition with stress and anxiety tending to be common triggers - let's just hope this is but a blip and given enough time your T3 and T4 fall back into range and stay there without the need for any drugs.

All the AT drug does is semi-block your new daily thyroid hormone production to try to offset the extremes of systems experienced while we wait for your immune system response to calm down - bit like a plane waiting to land and put into a holding position while waiting for a landing slot.

Are you eyes dry, gritty, painful, constantly watering or light sensitive - please ensure all drops and lotions and potions are Preservative Free even those prescribed - and there is the Thyroid Eye Disease Charity who can signpost you to specialist clinics where an eye consultant and an endocrinologist - both with specialist knowledge in Graves and thyroid eye disease - work together in managing your symptoms - tedct.org.uk

When metabolism is running too fast or too slow the body struggles to extract key nutrients through food - so you too need to keep an eye on your core strength vitamins and minerals as low levels can compromise one's health further.

I now aim for a ferritin at around 100- folate around 20 - B12 75 ++ ( serum B12 500++ ) and vitamin D around 100:

What were your TSH Free T3 and Free T4 readings and the TRab positive number ?

I don't think I sent you the current research regarding Graves - apologies if I'm repeating myself -

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/306...

I found Elaine Moore's books and now her website - the most well rounded of all I have read elaine-moore.com

Mum's other vitamins and minerals are not too bad - but obviously she must have been very poorly and it will take time to build back her health and well being.