Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Hashimoto’s or other thyroid problems with normal tsh

13 replies

whosaidtha · 18/04/2025 15:47

Anyone experienced having hashimoto’s or other thyroid problems with normal tsh levels? I’m trying to look for a cause for some symptoms I’ve been experiencing for a while and this seems to fit but my blood tests are all normal. I’ve been tested for everything and my dr has no idea what it could be so I’m researching myself. I’ve seen that you can have hashimoto’s even with normal tsh and I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this? I have an appointment soon and want to bring some ideas with me.
thanks for any help

OP posts:
RuffledKestrel · 19/04/2025 01:20

I've tested positive for Hashimotos with the anti bodies test. I have widily fluctuations with thyroid blood test levels for the best part of 2 years. However they have now settled to be more or less normal. Conclusion is my thyroid when into "shock" due to stree or such like.

What symptoms/blood test have you had?

RuffledKestrel · 19/04/2025 01:27

Just to add I had very low vit D and folic acid, which after 5 months of taking high strength supplements for has now been corrected and I feel much less fragile/fatigue/fuzzy/pins and needles than before.

Various other low vitamin values are common with thyroid issues

TequilaNights · 19/04/2025 01:41

Have you had your TPO tested?

Selttan · 19/04/2025 02:26

I have hashimotos and at my last bloods 6 months ago my tsh was less than 10.
We’re doing some more tests now as my symptoms are worsening - fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, weight gain.
I had an ultrasound 9 months ago to confirm hashimotos and I’ve just had another one. Going to the drs next week for the results but the ultrasound technician did say there are changes.

AlteredStater · 19/04/2025 07:52

RuffledKestrel · 19/04/2025 01:20

I've tested positive for Hashimotos with the anti bodies test. I have widily fluctuations with thyroid blood test levels for the best part of 2 years. However they have now settled to be more or less normal. Conclusion is my thyroid when into "shock" due to stree or such like.

What symptoms/blood test have you had?

The explanation for the wild fluctuations is actually a Hashi's thing. As your thyroid comes under attack from antibodies it will have periods of cells being destroyed, and large releases of hormones, followed by quieter periods. This causes your TSH, FT4 and FT3 values to swing up and down. Eventually this settles down as you have less and less active thyroid tissue. Sometimes referred to as having a 'Hashi's flare'.

AlteredStater · 19/04/2025 08:01

@whosaidtha it is possible to have what's known as 'central' or 'secondary' hypothyroidism, which occurs when your pituitary fails to produce enough TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and so your thyroid gland fails to make enough hormones and you develop hypothyroidism whilst your TSH stays low. This can also happen if your hypothalamus doesn't produce enough TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone).

When you produce thyroid hormones from the thyroid the order of stimulation in the pathway goes from the hypothalamus to the pituitary then the thyroid gland, so if any part of that pathway goes wrong you'll end up with hypothyroidism, but your TSH won't rise if your pituitary or hypothalamus are at fault. Whether GPs know this is another matter, I only found out because of spending a lot of time on thyroid forums after being diagnosed with Hashi's myself.

If you visit HealthUnlocked and post there you'll almost certainly find someone who has one of those more unusual variations.

Octavia64 · 19/04/2025 08:08

To diagnose hashi’s you really need multiple thyroid readings over time.

my DD has hashi’s and it very much comes in flares.

Original poster
whosaidtha · 19/04/2025 08:34

TequilaNights · 19/04/2025 01:41

Have you had your TPO tested?

What is this? Sorry. I’m just trying to figure everything out.

OP posts:
Original poster
whosaidtha · 19/04/2025 08:41

RuffledKestrel · 19/04/2025 01:20

I've tested positive for Hashimotos with the anti bodies test. I have widily fluctuations with thyroid blood test levels for the best part of 2 years. However they have now settled to be more or less normal. Conclusion is my thyroid when into "shock" due to stree or such like.

What symptoms/blood test have you had?

Fatigue is the main one. But also weight gain, memory problems and low mood (although I put this down to tiredness) ( and I also have dry skin but only noticed really when I started reading about hashimoto’s so might not be related). Also it has come on gradually which I also noticed was part of hashimoto’s.
the drs are ready to give up on diagnosing me. Tsh was within the normal range 1.1 range is 0.27-4.2.

OP posts:
Original poster
whosaidtha · 19/04/2025 08:43

AlteredStater · 19/04/2025 08:01

@whosaidtha it is possible to have what's known as 'central' or 'secondary' hypothyroidism, which occurs when your pituitary fails to produce enough TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and so your thyroid gland fails to make enough hormones and you develop hypothyroidism whilst your TSH stays low. This can also happen if your hypothalamus doesn't produce enough TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone).

When you produce thyroid hormones from the thyroid the order of stimulation in the pathway goes from the hypothalamus to the pituitary then the thyroid gland, so if any part of that pathway goes wrong you'll end up with hypothyroidism, but your TSH won't rise if your pituitary or hypothalamus are at fault. Whether GPs know this is another matter, I only found out because of spending a lot of time on thyroid forums after being diagnosed with Hashi's myself.

If you visit HealthUnlocked and post there you'll almost certainly find someone who has one of those more unusual variations.

How do you test for this then if your tsh could be normal? I really feel like this is the best fit for my symptoms but has been dismissed because of my normal tsh level.

OP posts:
AlteredStater · 19/04/2025 09:52

whosaidtha · 19/04/2025 08:34

What is this? Sorry. I’m just trying to figure everything out.

Show quote history

TPO = Thyroid peroxidase, you need to get your TPO antibodies tested. As well as TG (Thyroglobulin) antibodies - either or both will be raised in an autoimmune condition such as Hashimoto's.

AlteredStater · 19/04/2025 09:57

OK so you also need to have FT4 (free thyroxine) and FT3 tested along with TPO and TG antibodies to give a full picture of your thyroid health. Trouble is if a GP sees a normal TSH they will just dismiss there being any problem with your thyroid gland and won't look at other tests. You can order finger prick blood tests yourself online to test those other parameters. I use Medichecks but there are other companies as well.

As I said, go to HealthUnlocked and they'll give further advice as to how to proceed, they've a lot of experience with all sorts of thyroid issues and the problems with GPs who won't understand.

https://healthunlocked.com/

Original poster
whosaidtha · 19/04/2025 10:13

AlteredStater · 19/04/2025 09:57

OK so you also need to have FT4 (free thyroxine) and FT3 tested along with TPO and TG antibodies to give a full picture of your thyroid health. Trouble is if a GP sees a normal TSH they will just dismiss there being any problem with your thyroid gland and won't look at other tests. You can order finger prick blood tests yourself online to test those other parameters. I use Medichecks but there are other companies as well.

As I said, go to HealthUnlocked and they'll give further advice as to how to proceed, they've a lot of experience with all sorts of thyroid issues and the problems with GPs who won't understand.

https://healthunlocked.com/

Thank you. I’ve got a gp appointment in a few weeks and I’m going to be pushing really hard for some answers. I want to go in with all the information. If not I will look at getting tested myself.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page