What causes subclinical hypothyroidism?

My brief history:

Diagnosed subclincal last year and have felt persistently awful on all doses of levo (25-75mcg) and 75 pushed my t4 slightly too high. The side effects of it have been debilitating and in many ways I feel worse taking it. 25mcg puts my t4 at around 18 which seemed high for a tiny dose?

Briefly tried t3 only and this made me feel more hypo and cause awful pains and throbbing in my lower legs that only got worse over the weeks as I increased my dose. It was so bad I couldn’t sleep properly.

Then tried both together but still awful and side effects from both were still present and debilitating.

I get the shakes now even taking 25mcg levo and still have all the awful side effects. I feel like thyroid meds are doing me much more harm than good. Tried 3 different levo brands and 2 different brands of t3, all cause the same issues.

My TSH just before starting meds was 4.15 and had come down by itself from 7. FT4 always around 16-17. FT3 was 5 prediagnosis.

Since starting levo my prolactin is through the roof at 1500+ as is my SHBG at 200+ and my testosterone is now well below range, all of which wasn’t an issue before.

My iron has also steadily dropped since diagnosis and is now too low along with ferritin. I’ve also been on a combined contraceptive pill for 10+ years due to PCOS cos I never had periods, could this medication be contributing to my problems?

Iron has always been very low in range so I’m just wondering if this is the cause for my thyroid dysfunction? Is that possible? Hashi antibodies are both always negative.

I know this is just speculation but I’m just feeling so tired of having absolutely no idea of what’s going on with my health…

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I wonder if you couldn't have corrected your issues by adding the right supplements and sorting out your low iron as your pre diagnosis levels don't look to bad?

Sub clinical means slightly underperforming

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

This is exactly what I’ve been wondering too cos after reading so much here I don’t feel like I ‘fit in’ that well with hypothyroidism. Like don’t get me wrong I felt apocalyptically awful when my TSH was 7 but when it came down I felt some mild improvement. I suppose I’m just wondering if something else is at play because my TSH seems to rise and then drop and just do that over and over 🤔 like I feel rubbish without meds but then I feel even more rubbish with meds…just feels like a bit of a miserable situation really!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Do you have antibodies which suggest Hashimoto's as this flares up and calms down whilst eating away at your thyroid?

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

nope both my antibodies have always been low in range but have also been gluten free for 10+ years if that’s relevant too? Not coeliac though!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

🤔 Some euthyroid people do actually run with a higher TSH hence the range and your frees were pretty good 🤷‍♀️ the thing is if you've tried lots of intervention and feel worse it's probably worth going back to the beginning now you are so much more knowledgeable about what you need and don't need.... what were your symptoms like to start with?

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

This is my thinking too and I’ve really given meds a good try for well over a year now! Tbh I sometimes wonder if GP rushed into diagnosis faster to get rid of me…there was only 4 weeks between my diagnosis tests.

So before starting meds I was unbearably cold all the time, very dry cracked inflamed lips, constipation and was very sleepy all the time to name a few but this would improve a bit when my Tsh eventually dropped back down by itself.

I just feel like there’s something else wonky with my body and the thyroid dysfunction is a symptom of that, if that makes sense? 🤔

I have an appointment with a thyroid doctor coming up soon so planning to discuss all this and see!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

If you were low in iron, folate, B12 or Vit D it would have put a strain on your thyroid to deliver the goods... perhaps you should be asking for a scan to see if you have any nodules which could be causing the ups and downs

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

Okay so interestingly, yes ALL of these were low or deficient last year and I’m still working on them now.

I have an NHS appointment next week about my crappy iron panel so will definitely ask about investigating my thyroid dysfunction further with a scan. I had no idea nodules could cause fluctuations so I’m astounded this wasn’t suggested by NHS at the start really!?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

I think there are various things they can check with a scan... I've never had one, but it makes sense to investigate doesn't it 🤗

[userotc in reply to Hidden]

If you need further help in considering the best nutrients, you could consider seeing a qualified Nutritional Therapist specialising in endocrine system/thyroid (I can send links). Clearly you may have little success with medics, as you'll know from this forum.

[Hidden in reply to userotc]

thank you, that would be really useful. Yes, not surprising, I've had little success with any medics ever tbh!

[userotc in reply to Hidden]

Some links below from which you can hopefully selecting an appropriate NT (should be BANT approved/regulated). Good luck.

practitioner-search.bant.or...

naturopathy-uk.com/resource...