Do natural TSH levels change?

Hormones
1

Evening all.....Just a quick question.

I have once again badgered my GP for a thyroid test. I have 90% of the symptoms - I won't go into them, we all know what they are!!! I was tested a few years ago with a TSH level of just under 4 and was basically sent packing because I was 'normal' although I felt, and still do feel far from normal!!

Although my GP agreed to do a new test, he said that the TSH level would be unchanged from 3 years ago. Would that be true?

Sharon

2

Certainly not. If your thyroid gland is not producing sufficient thyroxine naturally your pituitary gland will secrete thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to tell it to produce more. If it is not producing enough then more TSH will be secreted to try and get the gland to co operate. If your T gland is not producing enough then over 3 years more and more TSH will be produced by the pituitary and the level will go up.

However, if it is not the thyroid that is at fault then the TSH will not change. Either way your GP needs to do more investigation, do not be fobbed off. Change your GP if you really think you have a problem and he is not helping. From what you have said it sounds as though I know more about hypothyroidism than he does.

Thyroid UK is a very useful website with a lot of helpful information. Just google it, I can't put the link on here.

Good luck.

3

Thanks Alicia, GP's never fail to amaze me!

It is interesting, and comforting to an extent, that if my TSH doesn't go up I will know it is not my thyroid.

Anyway, let's see what the results bring. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again.

Sharon

4

Of course the can change…but if your doc is only checking TSH then they are not doing you any service. they know that you have the symptoms so they need to find out what is causing it…you should ask them to check your TSH, T4 and T3 if these are normal then you have eliminated one thing…It is as much your GP’s job to find out what it Isn’t as much as what it is ..Other reasons can be things like

B12 deficiency, Fibromyalgia or ME..

You need to check out all the symptoms and work with the GP and eliminate what it isn’t and hopefully find out what it is

good luck and be strong...knowledge is power.

jack