Tsh levels of 5.6

Hormones
1

So about a little over A month ago I started to slow to get panic attacks, anxiety over everything, feeling low, bloated, minor headaches, and being tired. I also lost appetite which made everything worse. It was so hard to get out of bed most days and now that I think of it, I dont know how I even managed to out of bed.

I am 27, male, very active: i play soccer 3 times a week ans i used to lift heavy weights 4 times a week. I was bulking and all but I lost about 8lbs in 7 days, i thought and still think it was because of not eating. Anyways, i went to a doctor 2 weeks later and had my blood drawn. The doc said my vitamin D was low(25ng/mL) and my TSH was 5.6 and she said this was normal. This doesnt seem right to me because I really thought and still do think that I have a thyroid problem since I did a lot of research and matched almost all of the symptoms.

Here is the good news. My anxiety is almost all gone, i still feel fatigue but not near how I felt intially. And I havent even used medicine. I only ate more food. I am still losing weight and I get sad some days for a while then it goes away but when it goes away, I dont feel great either. I feel okay.

My question is does a 5.6 tsh constitute a hypthyroidism?

Is it possible for hypo to show up then suddenly disappear?

2

I also had severe heart pelpitations, i dont anymore.

3

Hi. It sounds like it could be auto inmune related. So many times I thought I had thyroid but I don"t. But I do have an auto inmune disorder. Maybe you shoukd have your inflammatory markers checked to see if there is anything obvious going in.

4

That is high...Did they do a full panel? Ft3 ft4 ect. Just running the TSH is not enough. Most doctors don't run what they should...I would get a second opinion. Definitely don't just go with what 1 doctor says. Do some research. Even request to see a specialist!

5

Ahmed

The normal TSH level 0.5-5.0 but it sounds like thyroid issues to me. With the anxiety issues and tiredness.Sometimes your levels can be okay but you can still feel terrible and with the anxiety it comes and goes. My levels are normal right now according to my doctor but I have extreme hair loss still and anxiety and tremors like crazy. Also you can go from hyper to hypo that have similar systems but hypo your heart beats slower and you gain weight vs hyper you lose weight and have a faster heart beat. Have you seen an endocrinologist they specialize in thyroid treatment. I would set up an appt to see them first then go from there.

6

I am getting the full report later today. I will update on here if they or have not.

7

It is horrible isnt it? I hope you feel better. My anxiety was terrible initially and I couldnt understand why until i researched. I am going to make an appointment after I get the full break down in today's report. Thank you.

8

And are the symptoms the same for other autoimmune diseases? I have no heard of this one.

9

yes same symptoms. I do believe I am right in saying that thyroid is auto immune anyway. You may have nothing more than that. But I just have a history of being all round the houses trying to be properly diagnosed. Rule everything out! Hope it's nothing more. Best of luck. 

10

Yes, 5.6 is very high. This website keeps crashing when I take very long to write, so let me know if you'd like a detailed explanation.

The fact that you're losing weight could indicate your thyroid has gone into hyper mode since. If you continue this up and down cycle, it likely indicates Hashimotos or graves as this sporatic thyroid activity can be typical.

11

That sounds about right to me Catherine. It just looks like there is something underlying this situation. 

12

Yes, it's unfortunate that these blood ranges are set by laboratories, where (for most tests) they average test results from all the blood that comes in. See the problem with this? You're basing "normal" ranges on the results of sick people.

Thyroid disease is epidemic, difficult to diagnose, and can be the underlying cause of many illnesses.

It it is under diagnosed because treatment is only available for advanced thyroid disease, and because initial TSH results frequently show as normal, especially for long lasting subacute thyroid disease.

13

If you could be detailed, I'd appreciate it. In one month i went from 148lbs to 140lbs back to 146lbs to 140lbs last night and at 141lbw this morning.

14

ok...this is interesting. My sister had a thyroid issue for years and they kept telling her it was 'borderline' until her hair was almost gone at the front. Now treating her and say her levels are normal. Hair still coming out. Who knows. 

15

Ahmed, sounds like you need a full thyroid panel. The heart palpitations and other symptoms you mentioned are concerning. The rapid weight loss is concerning and in the best case could indicate your thyroid trying to regulate itself. 

You our just had a TSH test done... Get a full thyroid panel and a referral to an endocrinologist if you can.

All this his takes time, so while you're waiting, you can always try a thyroid supplement from your local health store. If that solves the problem, you're home free. If it doesn't, you aren't any worse off. 

The supplement  I use contains a blend of kelp/seaweed and tyrosine plus a few herbs. I use this even though I need medication.

16

Thyroid is autoimmune!! 100% and your symptoms aren't abnormal for that.

17

The fluctuations in weight are very rapid? Not just weight Loss? Could it be water retention or dehydration? Are you drinking enough fluids after a hot day of exertion? 

I'd also check your scale. Make sure it's on a good level surface. You probably don't want to worry too much about day to day fluctuations- those are mostly due to water. So check that you're drinking enough fluids, and aren't doing things that woukd cause dehydration, like an alcoholic drinking binge. But if you're eating normally and dropping ten pounds in a week, and again the next week, that's a concern.

18

You're right on, Katie! Thyroid IS autoimmune. So treating it needs to treat the immune system. You won't get this from a traditional Doctor.

19

Hello Ahmed:

My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA.  I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease since 1987.

Normal TSH is  0.45 to 4.50 and on the higher end of the scale means HYPOTHYROID, or not enough hormone.  Lower end is Hyper or too much.

They are opposite of each other.   The TSH is always in flux and can go up and down in a given 24 hour period of time.  If it stays above 4.50 they should do some extra blood work to check all the hormone levels.  This includes T3, T4, FT4 and FT3 and TPOA & TGab antibodies tests, and RBC count, B12 and B1 levels. Some doctors will refer you to an Endocrinologist who knows the thyroid.

Hypothyroidism can be from infections that bother the thyroid or a family trait.  Some people can have what is called Thyroiditis and can go away but most of us can have it for life. It tends to happen more to women during pregnancy.  Also our enviroment can cause problems with tainted water or chemicals used in foods or processed foods, or the way they spray the vegetables in the fields.  Always wash fresh veggies, etc..

You can do a lot to help your body.  Eat good non gluten foods and exercise, and avoid alcohol and any bad lifestyle choices.  Gluten bothers our thyroid gland and joints in our body.

If you have a family history of thyroid disease, it can come out in people during ages 20 to 45 and even skip a generation.  You should ask your family if anyone has thyroid problems and of course let the doctor know if you do.

Symptoms of Hypo are: feeling  tired, sleepy, brain foggy, weight gain, bruising, low  body temp and low heart rate, constipation, muscle aches, and in women no periods or infrequent ones.  Also low vit D has been associated with Hypo.  As we age we also can not make Vit D but it usually is over age 30.

Symptoms of HYPER or too much are: Nervousness, high heart rate, anxious, losing weight for no reason, insomnia, sweating, palpitations, jittery feelings, thyroid eye problems. 

Some people can swing back and forth bewteen HYPO and HYPER. Some people can have some symptoms of both sides of this disease.

So 5.6 is higher than 4.50 but I have seen people be much higher.  Hypo should be addressed by your doctor and some doctor's like to have 2 abnormal results in a 6 month period of time.   So you may ask that they retest your blood in 3 or 4 months.

Also many doctors will give you a low dose of Levothyroxine 25mcg as a trial and see if you feel better.  You may want to ask your MD for this.

I hope this helps you, any questions just ask,

Shelly