Thyroid question

[Anonymousxo]

I've been getting dizziness for a while now and recently developed palpitations so I was told by 111 to go to the hospital, I had my bloods done and my thyroid checked which came back normal for two hormones and it came back high for the t3 hormone.
Doctor in a&e told me it isn't enough to cause symptoms (my mum has thyroid and told me that she had symptoms before she was put on medication) anyway, he said that I will need to be monitored now as I'm high risk for developing the condition so he says.
My question is, anyone gone through a similar scenario? Could this really be causing these symptoms for me or is it a separate issue do you think? I did look at dr google and it did say the t3 hormone alone can cause a few symptoms but I just wanted peoples opinions and experiences really, I'm a bit shocked that it came high for thyroid and wondering what will happen now, he did say he's going to write a letter to my doctor explaining the results and things.

@deathnotquitewarmedup

A low TSH is not a problem if your T3 and T4 are in range. It just means you don't need to stimulate your thyroid. For you this has been achieved by using levothyroxine.

There are studies that show that early use of levothyroxine in Hashimoto's prevents the swings in TSH and stabilises the T3 and T4.

Don't stop taking levothyroxine because you think it's better as you may trigger another loop of antibodies and TSH production

@OhLordyWhatNow

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is an autoimmune condition and at the start it can cause fluctuations in levels, palpitations, fluctuations in weight, and more.

Did the Dr check your antibodies?

Check your symptoms compared to the two types of autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto's, and Graves.

this.

Half my family have hashimotos and it starts with often signs/results that make it look like “ hyper” thyroid, my youngest daughter has become very slim & got palpitations. the pattern of hashimotos is it swings, so will eventually lead to low thyroid as a result of the immune attack.

my advice is to get a full panel done if possible get it done privately: i pay £85 twice a year & get full thyroid panel alongside vitamins inflammation etc. i would also say join health unlocked thyroid uk page and post results & symptoms. i’ve been on there 7 years and learnt everything i know (despite bad advice from endocrinologist and doctor),

if you take one piece of advice from me it’s this: do not let doctors with only basic training put you on thyroid destroying or suppressing medication before you do a lot of research. my experience from going to a&e and my GP is the know little of the thyroid and especially autoimmune. you need to get to know your own body and do some more testing and research first

[quote OhLordyWhatNow]@deathnotquitewarmedup

A low TSH is not a problem if your T3 and T4 are in range. It just means you don't need to stimulate your thyroid. For you this has been achieved by using levothyroxine.

There are studies that show that early use of levothyroxine in Hashimoto's prevents the swings in TSH and stabilises the T3 and T4.

Don't stop taking levothyroxine because you think it's better as you may trigger another loop of antibodies and TSH production [/quote]
So what about a high tsh with in range t3 and t4...I believe that's what I had in my results

@OhLordyWhatNow I stopped taking the levothyroxine last week on GPs advice... really hoping it doesn't swing back the other way now 🙈 although my T3 was above range and I was having symptoms of hyperthyroid again. Anyway fingers crossed I get an endocrinologist appointment soon and that they are a thyroid specialist!!

@Anonymousxo

A high TSH and normal range T3 and T4 would suggest your thyroid is struggling to produce enough T4 which is then converted into T3.

@deathnotquitewarmedup

A GP is not a thyroid specialist and will be 'treating the numbers' which is not recommended if you have autoimmune thyroid disease.

You need to insist you are referred to endocrinology, and a thyroid specialist.

[quote OhLordyWhatNow]@Anonymousxo

A high TSH and normal range T3 and T4 would suggest your thyroid is struggling to produce enough T4 which is then converted into T3. [/quote]
Ok, so was the doctor correct in saying this will take a while to diagnose and monitor?

@Anonymousxo

I'm not a medical professional I can't say what is appropriate in your case.

In my experience monitoring and titration is ongoing. I personally get an annual review, but can speak with my GP about increased symptoms any time and they'll order blood tests. My dose of levothyroxine has been gradually increased over the years as my thyroid becomes less able to produce T4 by itself. My GP looks at the T4 levels to determine if I need to increase n

To diagnose Hashimoto's Thyroiditis you need to have the antibodies present. That's it.

It's the monitoring and treating the symptoms that takes time.

@OhLordyWhatNow

To diagnose Hashimoto's Thyroiditis you need to have the antibodies present. That's it.

It's the monitoring and treating the symptoms that takes time.

Ok that makes sense, I had a test for thyroid last year as I was getting strange feeling in my throat and things however it did come back normal - now it hasn't so im hoping I've finally got to the bottom of these awful symptoms now

@OhLordyWhatNow

To diagnose Hashimoto's Thyroiditis you need to have the antibodies present. That's it.

It's the monitoring and treating the symptoms that takes time.

I have an under active thyroid. No one has ever referred me to a specialist so I imagine I don’t have Hashimotos? I’ve always assumed I had the autoimmune one as that came up when I had to Google what it was. I imagine I don’t then if I haven’t been referred? (Not that I have any confidence in the medical profession after they all told me I was overreacting and making it up)

Sorry for hijacking your thread OP but there seems to be really knowledgeable /helpful people here.

@brokenbiscuitsx the last endocrinologist that I spoke to told me that gps don't test for antibodies as a matter of course- he had to send a letter to my gp practise to tell them to test for them, so I wouldn't assume anything! Chances are of you are presenting with "straightforward" underactive thyroid symptoms and the feel that it is under control with levothyroxine then they probably haven't tested you for antibodies x

@brokenbiscuitsx

Before Hashimoto's became a more widely used term it was called Acquired Thyroiditis.

@brokenbiscuitsx Hashimoto's is just another name for autoimmune hypothyroidism. It's by far the most common cause of hypothyroidism in this country. Doctors often don't test for antibodies as knowing antibody status won't change the treatment they provide.