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What Causes Low TSH Inspite Of Loosing Weight?
Question: Hi i need some help... I have recently been admitted to hospital where they found my tsh level was 0.01 but my t3 & t4 were normal... The doctor i saw in the emergency department were concerned that the tsh level was so low but the other 2 were normal iv had another test yesterday an results have come back exactly the same my family doctor is telling me this is normal i am loosing weight for example yesterday was a wee if an unhealthy day for me with breakfast morning tea was 5 crackers with cheese lunch was 3 slices of pizza tea was 2 slices and a chicken sandwich... Jumped on the scales this morning and had lost 500grams... I am in and out of the doctors every week with differnt symptoms espically around the time of my mensturual cycle
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX,
Good day.
The pattern of thyroid function which you mentioned is very common especially when done while one is unwell.
This is called sick euthyroid syndrome where body tries to conserve energy by slowing down the metabolism. In this case, TSH can be low for few weeks followed by a temporary rise in TSH and then it stabilize. This can take few weeks.
Why were you in emergency room for ? any acute illness ?
Do you think you have a thyroid swelling ?
This type of thyroid test pattern is also seen in two more conditions.
1) Recovering from a viral illness and thyroiditis. In this case, your thyroid is inflammed and then the hormones will be pushed out of the thyroid causing hyperthyroidism initially. This may cause you to have bit of weight loss and palpitations etc. You may also feel tired and pain in neck. throat etc. Once the inflammation is over, t3 nd t4 settles soon, but the suppressed TSH takes time to recover. In your case, since you mentioned that you were unwell, this is the likely possibility. You may have to do folow up thyroid funstion test after 2-3 months. Did you have an ESR test done?
2) This pattern of thyroid funstion is possible in another condition called sybclinical thyrotoxicosis where you may have small thyroid nodule with excess hormone secretion.
The above three conditions present with the your type of thyroid function test.
Dont worry. You wil have to re do the test in 1-3 months and see the trend. If the TSH remain suppressed, then we may have to do a nuclear scan ( Tc uptake scan) to see if there are small hyperfunctioning nodules in thyroid. Hope this clarifies your doubt.
Regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX,
Good day.
The pattern of thyroid function which you mentioned is very common especially when done while one is unwell.
This is called sick euthyroid syndrome where body tries to conserve energy by slowing down the metabolism. In this case, TSH can be low for few weeks followed by a temporary rise in TSH and then it stabilize. This can take few weeks.
Why were you in emergency room for ? any acute illness ?
Do you think you have a thyroid swelling ?
This type of thyroid test pattern is also seen in two more conditions.
1) Recovering from a viral illness and thyroiditis. In this case, your thyroid is inflammed and then the hormones will be pushed out of the thyroid causing hyperthyroidism initially. This may cause you to have bit of weight loss and palpitations etc. You may also feel tired and pain in neck. throat etc. Once the inflammation is over, t3 nd t4 settles soon, but the suppressed TSH takes time to recover. In your case, since you mentioned that you were unwell, this is the likely possibility. You may have to do folow up thyroid funstion test after 2-3 months. Did you have an ESR test done?
2) This pattern of thyroid funstion is possible in another condition called sybclinical thyrotoxicosis where you may have small thyroid nodule with excess hormone secretion.
The above three conditions present with the your type of thyroid function test.
Dont worry. You wil have to re do the test in 1-3 months and see the trend. If the TSH remain suppressed, then we may have to do a nuclear scan ( Tc uptake scan) to see if there are small hyperfunctioning nodules in thyroid. Hope this clarifies your doubt.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was admitted to hospital for sinus tachycardia the doc decided to to a thyroid test and that was the outcome i was later discharged as my heart rate slowed back down... I have been having syptoms for a wee while now around the time of my menstural cycle... I have attached a photo of a point where my finger is placed were there is a small lump... Its gets sore every two months or so... Aroubd the time of my menstryle i develop low blood pressure not low low but 108/64 this is 2 weeks before my period and 1 week after so i some times get a weeks rest feeling great and then its all on again...
Brief Answer:
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
This reinforce my doubt that you had probably thyroiditis and you are recovering from that. I have not received the photo yet. Hormone changes during mensturation can cause little bit blood pressure variation and 108/64 is not that low ( that is my usual blood pressure).
I will wait fot the photo
Regards'
Binu
Hi
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
This reinforce my doubt that you had probably thyroiditis and you are recovering from that. I have not received the photo yet. Hormone changes during mensturation can cause little bit blood pressure variation and 108/64 is not that low ( that is my usual blood pressure).
I will wait fot the photo
Regards'
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I suffer from these syptoms every time before and after my menstural. I also suffer from anxity too extreme around my menstural time
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Got the photo. The small lump in the pointed area is a lymph node ( that is the position of a lymph node). This get inflamed each time we have an upper respiratory infection or a mouth infection, which is usual body defense against infection.
Hormone variation does happen during menstrual periods and changes in estrogen levels can make some women irritable and more anxious than usual. Some may develop breast pain . Unfortunately, this is a physiological change and some women experience symptoms more than others. We do have to come in terms with it.
You may find some improvement in taking Inderal ( propranolol) starting few days before the expected date of periods and continue for 3-4 days. This will take care of anxiety and heart rate. This is a very useful drug to deal with situational anxiety.
Your thyroid function test surely need a follow up. Please check TSH and Free T4 after a month and let me know the result
Regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Got the photo. The small lump in the pointed area is a lymph node ( that is the position of a lymph node). This get inflamed each time we have an upper respiratory infection or a mouth infection, which is usual body defense against infection.
Hormone variation does happen during menstrual periods and changes in estrogen levels can make some women irritable and more anxious than usual. Some may develop breast pain . Unfortunately, this is a physiological change and some women experience symptoms more than others. We do have to come in terms with it.
You may find some improvement in taking Inderal ( propranolol) starting few days before the expected date of periods and continue for 3-4 days. This will take care of anxiety and heart rate. This is a very useful drug to deal with situational anxiety.
Your thyroid function test surely need a follow up. Please check TSH and Free T4 after a month and let me know the result
Regards
Binu
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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