Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Elliebee]

Hi Wrensong at the moment I am ok with the decision as my symptoms are mild. I feel better since my B12 injection and taking iron and vit b supplements. Of course if I start to feel worse I will request a further blood test.
My antibodies were 227 (0-33 is normal). So not sure if that is a really high level? Also I think just because I have the antibodies it doesn’t mean I will develop full blown hypothyroidism?

[Spiderley13]

Hi Spiderly13, I'm sorry you've had no answers to your post.  I haven't been in your position of raised T4 with normal TSH, as I'm long term hypothyroid, but as our thyroid replacement dose requirement tends to lessen with age, I do know what it feels like to be on too much, leading to a raised T4 & symptoms of effectively being temporarily hyperthyroid.  Do you have symptoms that you're thinking could indicate an overactive thyroid that are making it difficult to know whether everything you're experiencing is "just" down to perimenopause?  If you'd like to post your TFT results with ref ranges & any symptoms you're concerned about, that will help us to get an idea of what might be going on.  I'm not on the forum much at the mo as have had a bit going on past couple of months, but we have quite a few members with experience of thyroid disease, so hopefully one of us will be able to help if you don't mind giving a bit more info.  You could also PM me if you get no response, but not all PMs are coming through to email for some reason, so I'm finding I'm unaware until I log on that messages are waiting.
Wx

Thank you so much for your reply ….. the symptoms I experience are  :-

Anxiety
Fast heart rate
Raynaulds
Weight Loss
Hot flashes

Test Results :

TSH  (0.27- 4.2)      T4 (12-22)
1.54                        24.5
1.23                        23.9
1.16                        21.6
0.8                          27.8
2.13                        28.7
1.8                          27.9
2.35                        30.5

 Went to gp after first test and they did bloods but T4 was in range on there tests so referred to specialist , they did do some tests but as it was years ago can’t remember what all of them were to be honest ! I’m just unsure whether to look into it again further or just conclude I’m one of those people who is consistently out of range for no reason !!

Thanks again for any advice anyone can offer

[Wrensong]

Elliebee, that's really good that you feel better for the B12, iron & B group.  I think your intention to leave things as they are for now is sensible, flagging up any changes that concern you.  Do make sure not to take B vits containing biotin in the few days before any future TFT though, as this can skew the results, as I think has been mentioned already on this thread.

Yes, it is possible to have thyroid antibodies without progressing to thyroid dysfunction of a degree that requires treatment. 

I think at the point my thyroid condition was diagnosed my antibodies were in the high hundreds, but can't be sure as it was nearly 30 years ago.  I wasn't given the results though I recall the requesting Consultant who went on to do my thyroidectomy remarking on how high they were.

[Wrensong]

Hi Spiderly13, thanks so much for posting with more info.  What a difficult situation for you    Your TSH has always been unequivocally within range as you say, yet all but one FT4 are above range & the in range one was also near the top.  It's true that some people's results in good health fall naturally outside the ref range, but with those symptoms at perimenopause it's so difficult to be sure what's going on. 

Though I also had marked weight loss, taking my weight way too low in peri, this, together with your consistently raised FT4 does make me wonder what's going on.  The anxiety, hot flushes & raised heart rate can be due to peri or thyroid dysfunction as I'm sure you know.  If your heart rate is consistently raised though, rather than just in short episodes, that would also make me more inclined to think about thyroid as possible cause.  I also have Raynaud's btw & had all the other symptoms you mentioned  & more throughout peri so I know these don't come without worry at this stage of life when there's a nagging question over possible dodgy thyroid involvement.

Can I ask is your weight too low, or have you just lost a bit?  Also do you have any other medical conditions & are you on any supplements or medications, inc HRT?

The normal TSH with raised T4 is unusual & I'm afraid I can't find much research that gives helpful insight.  The links are to articles from a Clinical Endocrinology journal & GP Notebook, but the former is complex & I've struggled to make headway with it.  The relevant section in the GP Notebook article is headed "normal or raised TSH, raised free thyroid hormones".
I have not copied out extracts, as you may prefer not to read the detail if you are happy with your doctor's guidance.

Clinical Endocrinology
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04023.x

GP notebook
https://gpnotebook.com/simplepage.cfm?ID=-1080426419&linkID=63475

Can I ask do you know whether you have thyroid antibodies & has anyone tested your FT3?

In your position, if it's some years since you saw an Endocrinologist, I think I'd want further expert advice at this stage, but if your GP doesn't think it necessary & you are happy as you are for now you could watch & wait.

Sorry, this doesn't feel like any help at all but I do feel for you.
Wx

[Wrensong]

Bumped for klf68.