Fluctuating TSH?

[dania]

I seem to have fluctuating TSH levels. In 2014, my TSH was 4.4 and my TPO antibodies were 393. Then my TSH came down to 1.7 and stayed near there for a number of months. Then Oct 2015 it was 4.1 and Dec it was 4.7. My doctor was just about to try me on a low dose of thyroid medication but he wanted it tested once more first, and now TSH is back to 1.7.

Are TSH fluctuations like this normal? Or is this a symptom of Hashi's, like I have read on some sites?

also, strangely, whether my blood test is fasting or after eating seems to affect the TSH. The higher TSH results seem to be when fasting overnight, and the lower ones are when the test is after breakfast or lunch. Any ideas why?

[cyclinglady]

I have Hashi's.  It was stable for many years until I hit the year before menopause.  A few months after menopause, I was diagnosed with celiac disease.    My swings from hypo to hyper drove my doctor crazy (my family too).    It took about a year to calm down after I went gluten free.   It has been stable for almost two years.  We look at my lab results as well as how I feel, to determine my thryoid replacement dosage.  

From my understanding, you can flucuate a lot with Hashi's.  Not sure about how fasting could impact the numbers.  

And...I will take being hypo (high TSH) over being hyper!  ?

 

[dania]

Oh ok so were you already on medication for Hashi's and then later on your TSH became more erratic, and then going gluten-free eventually helped stabilize?

I am not on any medication and it's sort of frustrating because every time my TSH lowers for a time my doctor says my thyroid is perfect and we don't need to do anything. And then I'm like, well what about all the other times my TSH is out of range/high? I feel that I have symptoms..

[cyclinglady]

I had been on thyroid replacement for years (1997).    I took a tiny dose of Armour thyroid long before my TSH went out of range.  My doctor was hoping that my thyroid antibodies (over 2,000) would diminish and my enlarged thyroid would get small.  It did help bring down my antibodies to around 1,000, but my thyroid reminded slightly enlarged and  I had a few nodules.  

I needed more thyroid when I was pregnant, but slowly over the years, I needed more thyroid replacement.  It did not swing wildly until the year or two before I went through menopause, so I assume it was related to my other wild hormone swings (e.g. Estrogen) and general inflammation from celiac disease (the gluten-free diet might have helped with  inflammation).  Today, my thyroid is no longer enlarged, but I continue to take replacement. 

Perhaps you can do some research (reliable sources) and present it to your doctor about taking a tiny dose to help stablize your thyroid or find a new doctor.  When I took that intital dose back in 1997 it was an miracle .  I could feel the  difference in less than 48 hours!  I hope you find your answers.