My recent TSH is 0.36 compared to 5.96 February 2024. Underactive to Overactive and high blood pressure.

[jackdaw50]

I have been experiencing very high spikes with blood pressure leading me to A&E four times since last summer. They do bloods and ECG all fine then send me back to my surgery. My recent TSH test came back at 0.36 which indicates overactive thyroid whereas last test in February 2024 was 5.96 indicating overactive thyroid at that time my levo dose was increased from 50micgm to 75micgm.

I know thyroid can effect blood pressure and wonder if this is actually my problem. I'm being treated for my BP with various different meds but with the same results. This has been going on since last summer. It's like "Ground hog day"!

My surgery only tests TSH should I privately test for full function? I seem to have other symptoms of hyperthyroidism that are similar to high BP e.g. palpitations, tiredness, anxiety, sweating.

Would like some advice please? Has anyone had a similar experience?

[greygoose]

A TSH of 0.36 most certainly does not indicate an over-active thyroid. It's still very readable. If your thyroid were over-active it wouldn't be readable. And the reason it's dropped is because you're now on thyroid hormone replacement (levo), which means you are hypo. And you cannot suddenly 'go hyper' if you are hypo. It doesn't work that way.

High blood pressure can be a hypo symptom, yes, as well as a hyper symptom. But it has nothing to do with your TSH. That doesn't cause symptoms. But on only 75 mcg levo it wouldn't be at all surprising if you still had hypo symptoms. It's only a low dose.

And just testing the TSH tells you absolutely nothing about your thyroid status. It is just a rough guide at best, and totally unreliable when it gets below 1. So it would be a very good idea to get private testing to see exactly what's going on.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

My recent TSH test came back at 0.36 which indicates overactive thyroid whereas last test in February 2024 was 5.96

How long have you been on 75mcg

Was test early morning

Which brand Levo are you currently taking

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune

Yes definitely get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

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

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)

ALWAYS test early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before 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

thyroiduk.org/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...

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

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

[humanbean]

When I was going through the process of changing my dose of thyroid hormones, when I increased my dose my TSH would drop sharply fairly quickly (I would test about 6 - 8 weeks after each dose increase), then TSH would start to rise again. If I tested again after another 6 - 8 weeks my TSH would be around 3 - 5. In that situation I would raise my dose again, but always in tiny amounts once I was close to what I thought was my optimal.

Sorry to say this but when treating thyroid disease the one thing you have to have is lots of patience.