overactive thyroid

[Kirsty_38]

hi all, new here! I started having symptoms recently where I have been having hot flushes and hair falling out so I booked a blood test as I thought I was premenopausal. Gp said she will check my thyroid, I did say to her I didn’t think it needed doing as TSH was 1.24 in October 2023 when I was having lots of fatigue. I’m 38 years old for context.

Anyway I have been taking pregnacare max for trying to conceive for over a year. I haven’t been actually actively trying as had another medical thing I needed to sort first but continued to take supplements for a year so my body was ready for when I was going to try which was this month but after having these blood tests, I’m so confused and no idea what it all means. Waiting to hear from gp and I’m panic mode. Anyhow I’m starting to think this could be all caused by too much iodine? my supplement has 150 microgram per day.

Results yesterday attached and any help would really help. Thank you

[Kirsty_38]

I would also like to add, all the symptoms started after a viral infection.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

welcome to forum.

Very important the right antibodies are tested to confirm cause of hyper.

Hyper can be transient (Hashimoto’s/ autoimmune thyroiditis) or continuous (Graves).

Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism) needs to be confirmed via positive TRab or TSI:

TRab - TSH receptor antibodies

TSI - Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin

These are considered diagnostic for Graves.

TPO & TG antibodies can be present with BOTH Graves or Hashimotos.

 TPOab - Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies

TGab - Thyroglobulin antibodies

Positive TPO & TG confirm thyroid autoimmune activity - but highest elevation with Hashimoto’s.

Ioidine can have unpredictable effect on thyroid. It may worsen hyper or an existing thyroid issue. I would not supplement for now.

You May be started on an anti thyroid eg Carbimazole which lowers production on new thyroid hormone. GP will likely refer you to endocrinologist but be sure to monitor levels & retest thyroid. TSH won’t be reliable important to test FT4 & FT3.

Always include lab range as ranges vary.

[pennyannie]

Hello Kirsty and welcome to the forum :

Do you have any further blood test results there detailing which antibodies were found positive and over range in this initial blood test -

They would look like TPO - TgAB - TSI - TRab - with ranges and or single number results and or anything reading as a - TSH Thyroid Receptor antibody / ab / AB - with a number and cut off value ?

If without any symptoms of a swelling in the neck or trouble swallowing, breathing or eating you are likely looking at an Auto Immune disease of which 2 present with a low / suppressed TSH and over range T3 and T4 readings.

Briefly :-

Graves Disease - requires a positive TSH Thyroid Receptor / TSI - thyroid stimulating / TRab - thyroid blocking reading and is treated with an Anti Thyroid drug to stop the T3/T4 keep rising, higher and higher :

Hashimoto's is not treated with an AT drug as the T3/T4 fall back down into range by themselves.

Both AI diseases tend to get triggered at times of increased hormone production such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause - with stress and anxiety being common triggers.

Both these AI diseases tend to have some genetic component but could have been triggered by a viral infection.

Yes, an increased intake of certain supplements could be part of the issue.