Hashi's swings?

[weedee41]

Hello lovely people!

I've seen people here talking about hashi swings. I'm not yet diagnosed or medicated, but I'm just wondering if these swings can cause such big changes in just a few days? I did a medichecks full test, and finally got a test through the NHS after asking the nurse at surgery. The results for T4 were very different even though only a few days apart. Both fasted, no supplements etc in advance as advised here:

Medichecks Mon 15th July@ 8am

TSH 6.64 (0.27-4.2)

T4 17.6 (12-22)

NHS Thur 19th July @ 8.20am

TSH 2.23 (0.27-4.5)

T4 10 (8-18)

Also, the NHS range for free T4 seems low compared to my previous tests, is this usual for NHS? Annoying as i would have been out of range in my private tests, but I have the all ok from GP 😑

[greygoose]

Honestly, no. A Hashi's swing could not be responsible for those differences.

A Hashi's swing would mean that your FT4 suddenly got much higher - yes that could happen in a very short time. But it doesn't work the same coming down. After a swing the excess hormone is slowly used up/excreted until you're back to hypo levels again.

And a Hashi's swing would not have an instant effect on the TSH, either, because the TSH moves very slowly in response to changing FT4/3 levels.

FT4: 17.6 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 56.00%

FT4: 10 pmol/l (Range 8 - 18) 20.00%

So, there's something very peculiar about those results, and I have no idea what it might be - assuming, of course, that both blood draws were done under exactly the same conditions.

Ranges vary from lab to lab, and change quite frequently. So, there's nothing unusual about that. But your doctor is wrong, your FT4 is not ok, it's far too low on his test, even though the TSH isn't that high. Someone who know about thyroid would recognise that your thyroid is struggling, according to that test.

[weedee41 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose, I was struggling to understand it via my usual googling so that explanation is really helpful. I thought it seemed rather strange, i did both the same, and didn't feel any differently so couldn't understand why the medichecks results were so different. The NHS results do look more consistent with previous results that started me on this journey, and with how I'm feeling. Would it be worth querying results with medichecks?

My current gp is really terrible, I'm in Scotland so we can't even book a face to face and unfortunately our GP very rarely sees anyone. My sisters currently very ill in hospital (heart/chest problems) and our GP hasnt seen her once and said it was just her weight. So thats how bad! I've booked into the thyroid clinic end of August, and will be moving asap. Just glad my issues are not life threatening.

[greygoose in reply to weedee41]

I think if it were me I'd query the results with medichecks, yes. Mistakes do happen.

Most GPs are terrible where thyroid is concerned - and they seem to be getting worse and worse in other areas, too - and I have no idea what we can do about it, except be vigilant and stand up for ourselves.

Take care.

[weedee41 in reply to greygoose]

I've now contacted them about this, I was hoping to use that test for the initial consultation so a little frustrating. Hopefully they get back to me soon.

I'm happy to take charge of this myself, this forum has certainly been an eye opener to what some people have had to go through. Its ridiculous. Thanks again 😊

[greygoose in reply to weedee41]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous posts show that you definitely have Hashimoto’s

other results from profile

6th June 2024 (1pm)

TSH 2.4 (0.5-4.2)

T4 14.6 (11.9-21.6)

T3 4.94 (3.1-6.8)

15th July 2024 (8am)

TSH 6.64 (0.27-4.2)

T4 17.6 (12-22)

T3 6.3 (3.1-6.8)

NHS Thur 19th July @ 8.20am

TSH 2.23 (0.27-4.5)

T4 10 (8-18)

Vitamins levels:

Ferritin 97.6 (30-207)

B12 141 (37.5-188)

Vit D 80.4 (50-250)

Folate Serum 15.2 (>7)

what vitamin supplements are you taking

[weedee41 in reply to SlowDragon]

I stopped all my supplements a few weeks before the tests, so I was really happy with the vitamin results? Have ordered the Thorne basic B complex that was recommended though.

[tattybogle]

6th June 1pm: where was this test run ?

TSH: 2.4 [0.35 -5.5]

fT4: 14.6 [11.9 - 21.6] 27%

fT3: 4.94 [3.1 - 6.8] 49%

15th July 8am: Medichecks

TSH 6.64 [0.27-4.2]

fT4 17.6 [12-22] 56%

fT3 6.3 [3.1 -6.8] 86%

19th July @ 8.20am NHS/GP

TSH 2.23 [0.27-4.5]

fT4 10 [8-18] 20%

Hard to say what's going on ... could be your levels really are swinging around this much , (seems a bit unlikely in 4 days , but someone on here had a TSH that went from pretty low to about 100 in a week when thyroid failed , so it's hard to be definitive about what is/ is not possible with thyroid levels)

.... or it could possibly be something interfering in the test process .

since your other two tests are similar and the medicheck's one is so different ,then ideally you would do a direct comparison between a GP test and a Medichecks test using same blood sample sent to both. Unfortunately that's tricky and expensive to organise. (i've done annual GP venous test and 45 mins later done a postal/fingerprick for Monitor My health to compare my own suspicious results , but that took a bit of forward planning obviously, and was still not an exact like for like comparison ... but i thought it was close enough to give me an idea... GP had my fT4 higher than MMH 128% vs 101% , TSH was similar 2.65 vs 2.9 )

If i were you i would send all three of these result to medichecks and ask for their professional opinion on whether these results could indicate something interfering with the test process. it would be interesting to see what they come back with .

[weedee41 in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks for replying tattybogle, i guess anything could be possible with these things! Just didn't make sense as at those figures i would surely feel ok. Medichecks have asked me send the other results over so they can have a look, so need to pop to GP surgery tomorrow for a print out Hopefully get it all cleared up before my consultation.

[Wua13262348]

See post Agitator23, Finally treatment!!Central Hypothyroidism recognition, 1 month ago. Looks like a problem with the pituitary or hypothalamus. Agitator23's post explains.