Guest guest Posted September 4, 2011 Report Share Posted September 4, 2011 Saw a friend last night who has just been diagnosed as hypo and prescribed thyroxine. (She is not going to take it). She is 71 fit, active and healthy and has NO hypo signs or symptoms. One thing she has suffered for 20 years, since the menopause, has been several hot flushes a day/night. No one has ever found the reason for this. Her blood results are: Plasma TSH 8.49 mu/L 0.3 - 4.2 Plasma free T3 =4.8 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8 Plasma free T4 =10.6 pmol/L 12 - 22 We are mystified - does anyone know how can this happen? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2011 Report Share Posted September 4, 2011 Sounds like mind over matter to me :0) Her hormones are probably causing the flashes...she probably needs a combination of progesterone, estradiol and testosterone. These should be checked to see if they are off. Is she taking any supplements? Vitamin C, B12, D3, Iron, Vitamin B complex? Cheers, JOT > Plasma TSH 8.49 mu/L 0.3 - 4.2 > Plasma free T3 =4.8 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8 > Plasma free T4 =10.6 pmol/L 12 - 22 > > We are mystified - does anyone know how can this happen? > Thanks > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 Though quite a bit younger than your friend, I was in a v similar position when first advised to take thyroxine. I did try it and felt awful and took nothing for years until I developed a goitre which was jolly nasty, causing swallowing difficulties and other problems. it was only then I started trying to get onto thyroxine and I dont believe I'd be taking the stuff now were it not for the fact that it does seem to control the goitre and also as a bonus has made my cholesterol levels better ! Other than that, it does nothing for me, save keep my TSH levels down to the acceptable levels recognised by medics. I wouldnt advise anyone either way but just thought I'd mention my own experience as possibly, had I taken it sooner I may not have got the goitre. Who knows. Maybe she could try a small suckitandsee dose and see how it goes ! J > > Saw a friend last night who has just been diagnosed as hypo and prescribed thyroxine. (She is not going to take it). > She is 71 fit, active and healthy and has NO hypo signs or symptoms. > One thing she has suffered for 20 years, since the menopause, has been several hot flushes a day/night. No one has ever found the reason for this. > Her blood results are: > > Plasma TSH 8.49 mu/L 0.3 - 4.2 > Plasma free T3 =4.8 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8 > Plasma free T4 =10.6 pmol/L 12 - 22 > > We are mystified - does anyone know how can this happen? > Thanks > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 Hi Jot I think we all wish it was only a case of mind over matter! She really does not have any other symptoms, even has all her eyebrows. She has always taken a daily multi vit/mineral but no specific supplements. Is there anything else which can cause high TSH? > > Sounds like mind over matter to me :0) > > Her hormones are probably causing the flashes...she probably needs a combination of progesterone, estradiol and testosterone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 Saw a friend last night who has just been diagnosed as hypo and prescribed thyroxine. (She is not going to take it).She is 71 fit, active and healthy and has NO hypo signs or symptoms.One thing she has suffered for 20 years, since the menopause, has been several hot flushes a day/night. No one has ever found the reason for this.Her blood results are:Plasma TSH 8.49 mu/L 0.3 - 4.2Plasma free T3 =4.8 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8Plasma free T4 =10.6 pmol/L 12 – 22 Hello , It is rare, but not unheard of for people to be hypothyroid and just have one or two clinical signs or symptoms (I had 57 L) To the very best of my knowledge there is no condition other than hypothyroidism that will elevate the TSH above the ref range. If anyone knows differently, I would like to hear it. One could, however, argue what the upper limit of the ref range should be, and Prof. Weetmann and some of his peers do exactly that. In my personal view any TSH above 2 is suspect, but there you are, I am not a doctor. Non-thyroidal illness (NTI) can influence the total T's and the free T's, no doubt about that, but not the TSH. The TSH only shoots up when the body is deprived of thyroid hormone. Since your friend has a very "normal" looking FT3 yet a very low FT4, I would suggest that she asks her GP to check for thyroid auto-antibodies TPO and TgAB (tell her BOTH need checking – doctors usually just order the TPO). The presence of thyroid auto-antibodies can have the effect of erroneously elevating the FT's... and I think this is what is happening here. with best wishes, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 Hi again.... sorry forgot to mention.... Re the hot flushes - I would recommend for your friend to use Serenity cream. It will take several months before she might feel some relief, but she should persevere. I did not feel anything much for the first 3 months on it – it is a very gradual improvement. She can order online – http://www.progesterone.org.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info & cPath=65 & products_id=180 & zenid=6be9cd7d998a9eeacf441e50f4b60b39 and she should also click on the "Womans Health" section and read every article in there. Best wishes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 Thanks everyone for your replies Your suggestions and comments are all valuable and will be passed on to my friend. So glad I found this site - its a fount of knowledge! > > > > Though quite a bit younger than your friend, I was in a v similar position when first advised to take thyroxine. > I did try it and felt awful > and took nothing for years until I developed a goitre which was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 If she has no symptoms of hypothyroidism and feels absolutely fine, there is no reason for her to take thyroid hormone replacement, some people do have a high TSH - can't be explained always but considering they never test our level of TSH when we are young and healthy and 'normal' there is no way of knowing what our individual level is. However, have you considered subclinical hypothyroidism http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Subclinical-Hypothyroidism.htm Did Vicky have TPO and TgAb tested to see whether she has any thyroid antibodies? Luv - Sheila Plasma TSH 8.49 mu/L 0.3 - 4.2 Plasma free T3 =4.8 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8 Plasma free T4 =10.6 pmol/L 12 - 22 We are mystified - does anyone know how can this happen? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 I'd be interested to hear more about this as I have a fit and healthy friend who takes thyroxine just because her GP found her TSH to be high. She doesn't get any hyper symptoms from taking it, but I don't know how much she is on. Miriam > Saw a friend last night who has just been diagnosed as hypo and prescribed thyroxine. (She is not going to take it). > She is 71 fit, active and healthy and has NO hypo signs or symptoms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 5, 2011 Report Share Posted September 5, 2011 It's a good idea to read about the different hormones and how they interact. I like 's book because it is short and sweet and easy to read: http://www.amazon.com/-Lees-Hormone-Balance-Simple/dp/044669438X/ref=sr_1_1?\ ie=UTF8 & qid=1315229104 & sr=8-1 We have far too many people out there using hormonal cremes who aren't aware of how to use them. The last thing you want is to screw up your hormones..... Cheers, JOT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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