High TSH and High T3

Posted by plshelpmyfatigue @plshelpmyfatigue, Dec 16, 2017

Hi--

I've dealt with extreme exhaustion (sleeping 12-16 hours a day) and weight gain the past 6 months and struggled to figure out a diagnosis; however, finally figured out I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. However, for some reason I have both high TSH and high T3-- when I hypothyroidism is suppose to cause low T3.... my TSH is 4.9 uIU/ml, my free T3 is 4.5 pg/mL and T3 was 230 ng/dL. The rest of the numbers were in range-- T4 being on the higher end. I was doing some googling and saw that high T3 and high TSh can mean tumors and I just wanted to make sure that wasn't the case here.

Thanks 🙂

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Hello, @macierubida. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sorry to hear the T4 therapy was unsuccessful. Hoping this new medication will work better for you.

I'm hopeful some of our members like @plshelpmyfatigue @mlbaier @spudsmacm @uselpmom @anon30885749 may have some insights for you on your experience with the T4 therapy and now the T3, especially the stomach soreness and swelling you've dealt with.

Has your doctor had any suggestions for what might help with these side effects from the T3, @macierubida?

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slow and steady. I have been going slow with my dose and the symptoms have started to clear up. I would be happy to share my progress with anyone. Hopeful this is my break I have been waiting for.

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Hi @plshelpmyfatigue
I’ve been googling high tsh with high t3 free, and your post is the ONLY thing that comes up. I also have high parathyroid. I have the same symptoms as you, and heart palpitations, and am feeling hopeless. I’m wondering if you’ve finally had an accurate diagnosis, and found treatment that has helped?
I just feel so lost. I do finally have an appointment with an endocrinologist on Aug 16, so in 2 weeks, BUT I’m hanging on by a thread. I’m hoping you’ll respond.
Thank you and I hope you are well…

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@coloradogirl

Hi - Longtime Hashi's patient here (20+ years). Because it's auto-immune, during the early stages, the thyroid can "storm," meaning that it will have periods of producing large amounts of hormone and other periods of producing very little. You may want to ask your doctor to recheck again in a couple of weeks to see if your levels change. I can't say for sure that it's not related to tumors, but from what I was told when I asked that question, it's fairly rare.

I assume that they actually found antibodies in your bloodwork and that's how you know it's Hashimotos? If not, they maybe need to do some testing for other conditions as well, as it would be unusual to be hyperthyroid and that tired, although it is possible depending on what else is going on with your body.

Hoping that you are able to figure it out and start feeling better soon. I know what that feels like and it's definitely not fun.

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I do have high TPOs 1,000 + and i think i am in storm zone now past couple of years. My tsh was 6.9 last June, then went back to 2.something zone. This year was in 6.1 and then came back in 8 weeks back to 2s..
Any recomendations ? I picked tons of books on Hashimoto...stil reading, taking supplements. Tried to talk to endocrinologist, but they only want to give meds, dont want to talk about diets or supplements. At least she agreed ok for now no meds until tsh goes above 7.5.
For symptoms - i do get tired, cold, hair loss, etc. My biggest one which i didnt realize is the symptom of low thyroid - is getting freq upper respiratory infections - sinuses, ears , lungs. 2 books that i read both mention it.
Anything else you would do since you mentioned you have Hashix 20 years.
Mine high tpos were discovered randomly when allergy md was doing array of labs almost 10 years ago.
Thank you,
Lena

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@lenchiksf

I do have high TPOs 1,000 + and i think i am in storm zone now past couple of years. My tsh was 6.9 last June, then went back to 2.something zone. This year was in 6.1 and then came back in 8 weeks back to 2s..
Any recomendations ? I picked tons of books on Hashimoto...stil reading, taking supplements. Tried to talk to endocrinologist, but they only want to give meds, dont want to talk about diets or supplements. At least she agreed ok for now no meds until tsh goes above 7.5.
For symptoms - i do get tired, cold, hair loss, etc. My biggest one which i didnt realize is the symptom of low thyroid - is getting freq upper respiratory infections - sinuses, ears , lungs. 2 books that i read both mention it.
Anything else you would do since you mentioned you have Hashix 20 years.
Mine high tpos were discovered randomly when allergy md was doing array of labs almost 10 years ago.
Thank you,
Lena

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You need to know the free t3 and free t4 number’s every time you get tested. Without those the TSH number is useless as you can’t tell what’s going on. Once you have all those numbers over a period of multiple testing times then you may be able to see what’s going on. I fought with my GPs for years about testing. Finally got my current general practitioner to start testing free t3 and free t4 and have now proven at least that there is an issue that needs to be addressed and finally got a referral to a endocrinologist. He was blown away by the bizarre numbers and we are investigating it now. He is suspecting MASH, but think it is a histamine disease as I’ve been having trouble with that and histamine can effect your hypothalamus (which in turn triggers your pituitary which then triggers the thyroid).

Sorry just realized now how old your post is. I will leave my reply as it might help someone else. I hope you figured it out.

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Putting my 2 cents worth in here. Thyroid & Parathyroid along with the various ailments (hyper hypo etc.) and associated labs & medications can result in a confusing conundrum. This makes diagnosis and the ensuing treatment challenging. It can be a tedious endeavor that often feels like trial and error.
I have a history of hyperthyroidism/ Graves’ disease. My husband had thyroid cancer and the removal of his thyroid. My daughter has hypothyroidism. We’ve all endured similar labs and medications in an effort to find and customize the best treatments for each of us. Sometimes things require a lot of fine tuning.

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@catherinebird

You need to know the free t3 and free t4 number’s every time you get tested. Without those the TSH number is useless as you can’t tell what’s going on. Once you have all those numbers over a period of multiple testing times then you may be able to see what’s going on. I fought with my GPs for years about testing. Finally got my current general practitioner to start testing free t3 and free t4 and have now proven at least that there is an issue that needs to be addressed and finally got a referral to a endocrinologist. He was blown away by the bizarre numbers and we are investigating it now. He is suspecting MASH, but think it is a histamine disease as I’ve been having trouble with that and histamine can effect your hypothalamus (which in turn triggers your pituitary which then triggers the thyroid).

Sorry just realized now how old your post is. I will leave my reply as it might help someone else. I hope you figured it out.

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lilyann here, i am trying to wrap my mind around these t-3 and t-4, tsh, and thyroglobin. maybe if i can slow down on all these dr. appt's. i can zero in better. yes, i am making excuses for this octogenerian. lol. truthfully it is hard and i have had this last blood test done on the july 11 and still have had no call from the endocrinologist to tell me what's what. she did say however how she needs to clone herself. so i am guessing its not a very easy job spreading yourself amongst patients. my sister who is an RN, said how she appreciates the knowledge they have to have. not an easy job for sure. your mentioning about "histamine" i have been itching for years 2007 to be exact, called atopic dermatitis, eczema, lots of names and even venous, where the blood vessels in the legs look like they are going to swell and bust, so i had endovenous ablation and guess what....didn't help. just had the barrium swallow last wednesday....said it was ok except for the holding of food further down the esophagus. the ENT said i had a problem with my epiglottis not closing fully and i could aspirate. last december 2022, when she looked down my throat said my rt. vocal chord was paralyzed, didn't say anything about the epiglottis then. i am trying to put the puzzle together. then jan and march of 2023, had the 2 thyroid surgeries. the right side was a radical dissection. lots of cancer removed. so here i am, still trying to read and learn from all of you. wishing everyone the best. take care all on this journey of life. lots of pebbles in the way.

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@lilyann

lilyann here, i am trying to wrap my mind around these t-3 and t-4, tsh, and thyroglobin. maybe if i can slow down on all these dr. appt's. i can zero in better. yes, i am making excuses for this octogenerian. lol. truthfully it is hard and i have had this last blood test done on the july 11 and still have had no call from the endocrinologist to tell me what's what. she did say however how she needs to clone herself. so i am guessing its not a very easy job spreading yourself amongst patients. my sister who is an RN, said how she appreciates the knowledge they have to have. not an easy job for sure. your mentioning about "histamine" i have been itching for years 2007 to be exact, called atopic dermatitis, eczema, lots of names and even venous, where the blood vessels in the legs look like they are going to swell and bust, so i had endovenous ablation and guess what....didn't help. just had the barrium swallow last wednesday....said it was ok except for the holding of food further down the esophagus. the ENT said i had a problem with my epiglottis not closing fully and i could aspirate. last december 2022, when she looked down my throat said my rt. vocal chord was paralyzed, didn't say anything about the epiglottis then. i am trying to put the puzzle together. then jan and march of 2023, had the 2 thyroid surgeries. the right side was a radical dissection. lots of cancer removed. so here i am, still trying to read and learn from all of you. wishing everyone the best. take care all on this journey of life. lots of pebbles in the way.

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Oh my you are having a rough time. Many gentle hugs ❤️

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@catherinebird

You need to know the free t3 and free t4 number’s every time you get tested. Without those the TSH number is useless as you can’t tell what’s going on. Once you have all those numbers over a period of multiple testing times then you may be able to see what’s going on. I fought with my GPs for years about testing. Finally got my current general practitioner to start testing free t3 and free t4 and have now proven at least that there is an issue that needs to be addressed and finally got a referral to a endocrinologist. He was blown away by the bizarre numbers and we are investigating it now. He is suspecting MASH, but think it is a histamine disease as I’ve been having trouble with that and histamine can effect your hypothalamus (which in turn triggers your pituitary which then triggers the thyroid).

Sorry just realized now how old your post is. I will leave my reply as it might help someone else. I hope you figured it out.

Jump to this post

Catherine,
Thank you. My post is only from yesterday am :).
Yes my free t4s were being tested (not free t3s). T4s are in good range (midrage) based on book i am reading - Stop the thyroid madness by J. Bowthrorpe.
My video appt with endocrinologist was a fiasco, just like some books say that these mds are found to be least open minded practitioners.
Now my tsh is back within norm and my pcp deems it being normal since i havent taken any meds.
I did ask Endocrinologist about checking free t3....just like everyone and written in books, medical community just stuck on tsh only. Endocrinologist respinse was "not really needed", only if you persist. Mid way through our "video call", i realized i dont really want from her anything, so close minded, yet in mid 40s and i always thought older practitioners old minded. Anyway, i am watching quite a few videos on youtube of ND practitioners, trying thyro8d diets and taking supplements for now.

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@lenchiksf

Catherine,
Thank you. My post is only from yesterday am :).
Yes my free t4s were being tested (not free t3s). T4s are in good range (midrage) based on book i am reading - Stop the thyroid madness by J. Bowthrorpe.
My video appt with endocrinologist was a fiasco, just like some books say that these mds are found to be least open minded practitioners.
Now my tsh is back within norm and my pcp deems it being normal since i havent taken any meds.
I did ask Endocrinologist about checking free t3....just like everyone and written in books, medical community just stuck on tsh only. Endocrinologist respinse was "not really needed", only if you persist. Mid way through our "video call", i realized i dont really want from her anything, so close minded, yet in mid 40s and i always thought older practitioners old minded. Anyway, i am watching quite a few videos on youtube of ND practitioners, trying thyro8d diets and taking supplements for now.

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Sorry, I thought I was replying to the original post from 2017

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