Has anyone else dealt with their TSH levels being elevated, then returning back to normal on the 6 week blood test review? My blood tests have been like this for years and I'm really struggling to understand what could be going on with me.
I have the typical hypothyroid symptoms (really weak nails and hair and feeling cold all the time) but blood tests haven't shown evidence of hypothyroidism.
Have you had any other tests?
It sounds like autoimmune thyroiditis. Have you had any thyroid antibody tests done? TPO, TGAB?
Had TPO done and it came back within normal levels. All the regular thyroid tests were normal as well. Don’t think I’ve had tests for TGAB but will ask if that can be done, thanks!
I also tested ANA positive (1:640 staining)
Don’t think I’ve had tests for TGAB but will ask if that can be done, thanks!
NHS won’t test Thyroglobulin antibodies unless TPO are high
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)
NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO are high
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older
What vitamin supplements are you taking
VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Post all about what time of day to test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
In days before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70
My TSH is never the same from test to test. For me, however, it's the opposite from what it is for you; it goes from below reference interval into normal and back. I find TSH to be very volatile and much rather focus on FT4 and FT3. Fortunately I have a provider who does the same. Before I had this provider, it was a constant lowering and raising of my thyroid meds trying to catch up with whatever the TSH was doing. It was insane.
Do you mean that your thyroid blood tests show high TSH then 'normal' TSH, seesawing between tests or do you mean that your TSH always shows as 'normal' but you assume your TSH is high due to symptoms?
I am currently working with my endocrinologist as my tsh has not been in range or stable at all over the last three years.It can go from 0.012 up to 21 and anywhere in between.My GP has been changing levothyroxine dose every two months to no avail.I have now gone private and have been told I have chronic autoimmune thyroiditis.He has treated my vitamin d and b12 deficiencies and is now working to stabilise thyroid levels.So I say yes to getting antibodies test as if I had stayed listening to my GP I would not of known mine was auto immune.I am now going to start gluten free diet to see if this will assist me.My endocrinologist told me that if he was in my shoes he would do that.
TSH varies naturally during the day and what NHS GPS think is normal, often isn't (and might not be normal for you), and as others have said, with autoimmune thyroid issues, it will vary too; also some labs have different ranges so the number could look different that way too. Before treatment mine varied by only around 0.5 between tests I think, but that was with similar conditions for each test i.e doing fasting tests early morning (but with a bit of white coat phobia when done at the surgery!) and I believe I'd been sick for many years by then so the condition seemed more stable.
TSH LEVELS
Low tsh levels 
unstable tsh levels
TSH levels
TSH up and down, trying for a baby! Please help!
