Hi there, I had my thyroid totally removed a few years ago and take thyroxin. I've just lost some weight by eating differently and was pleased that my A1C had gone from 11.3 to 6.4 over the past few months, but I've noticed that my TSH has gone from 2.6 to 0.011. I am seeing the doctor on Monday to get her thoughts on the test results, but just wondered if anyone on the forum could offer me their experiences on how changing eating/reducing A1C might affect thyroid meds, etc. Thanks in advance.
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Thyroid Question
- Thread starter Phoebs
- Start Date
Indy51
Expert
Can't give you advice re. medication and thyroid removal, but at the time I was diagnosed with Type 2 I was also diagnosed as hypothyroid with a TSH in the 4's. Within a year, my TSH had lowered and I was back to normal range and haven't had an issue since. My A1c also reduced to normal levels during that time of BG control and low carbing. I don't think I'm the only person on this forum who has had this experience, so I'll go out on a limb and say that LCHF changes many metabolic functions, thyroid being one.
I'll tag @Totto as I know she's dealing with thyroid medication and may be able to assist on that side.
I'll tag @Totto as I know she's dealing with thyroid medication and may be able to assist on that side.
Thanks. I've just been Googling and seen that I probably should be taking a lower dose of thyroid med, whereas my uninformed instinct was that I should take more. I will obviously talk to the doctor, but it's really useful to get a mix of feedback from people who've actually dealt with similar things so I can balance the advice.
Totto
Well-Known Member
You can disregard the TSH test. It's completely useless once you are on medication. Your GP might not think so though.
How do you feel? If you good you are on the right dose.
What you can do to monitor things on your own is to measure pulse, PB and morning temperature. And ask your GP to test FT3 and FT4, FT3 being the most important test as it shows how well you convert the T4 in Levo to the active hormone T3.
I could lower my dose a bit after going LCHF and felt generally better. It's good to keep away from anything with grain in it anyway.
Thanks for the tag @Indy51
How do you feel? If you good you are on the right dose.
What you can do to monitor things on your own is to measure pulse, PB and morning temperature. And ask your GP to test FT3 and FT4, FT3 being the most important test as it shows how well you convert the T4 in Levo to the active hormone T3.
I could lower my dose a bit after going LCHF and felt generally better. It's good to keep away from anything with grain in it anyway.
Thanks for the tag @Indy51
ickihun
Master
I've just reduced my levothyroxine from 200mg to 100mg. I had to do it myself. Still waiting for gp to do it. I think he thought I'd lose weight by running high but nope! No weight loss. I'd been having palpations and sleepless nights. I'll see how my next thyroid test pans out.
I've stopped the beta blocker too. It made my palpations worse. Left me with poor hypo awareness too.
Yes lchf improved my thyroid function and ive reduced my meds to accommodate it. It takes me 3 weeks to have underactive symptoms. I'm going to wait and see.
Adding weight on more than 100g carbs. I've relaxed my strict low carb whilst on hols. Still have overactive thyroid symptoms as of yesterday. Today I'm in no neck/throat pain but still lively and it's 23.27 and whole family is asleep. I'm stopping internet so I should nod off.
Like others have said it's how you feel on your med that matters. Levothyroxine takes a few weeks to clear your system.
I've stopped the beta blocker too. It made my palpations worse. Left me with poor hypo awareness too.
Yes lchf improved my thyroid function and ive reduced my meds to accommodate it. It takes me 3 weeks to have underactive symptoms. I'm going to wait and see.
Adding weight on more than 100g carbs. I've relaxed my strict low carb whilst on hols. Still have overactive thyroid symptoms as of yesterday. Today I'm in no neck/throat pain but still lively and it's 23.27 and whole family is asleep. I'm stopping internet so I should nod off.
Like others have said it's how you feel on your med that matters. Levothyroxine takes a few weeks to clear your system.
Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. I have no thyroid at all, the whole thing was removed so I believe I have no option but to take meds - correct me if I'm wrong, I may well be. I feel mainly OK, but recently struggling a bit to get going and quite tired, it's hot so not sure if it's the weather. Also, now I've seen the blood test result, it may just be psychosomatic - I have an excuse to feel lethargic so I am ;-)
Indy51
Expert
I don't think anyone is saying you can stop your medication. Dosage may be an issue though.
Dark Horse
Well-Known Member
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- 1,840
Perhaps a typo for BP (blood pressure)?
Indy51
Expert
My understanding is that thyroid is not a hormone that works alone - if other areas of your endocrine system have become more efficient as a result of the new diet, it's quite possible that your dosage of thyroid needs to be adjusted. I could be wrong though.
Dark Horse
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,840
TSH stands for thyroid-stimulating hormone. It is produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. If the levels of hormones produced by the thyroid are too low, the pituitary detects this and sends out increased amounts of TSH to try and make the thyroid produce more hormones. Conversely if thyroid hormone levels are too high, the pituitary detects this and reduces its TSH output. In this way, thyroid hormones are kept at the right levels.
Without a functioning thyroid, the pituitary is responding to the intake of prescribed thyroxin. If the dose is too high, the TSH will be too low. If the dose is too low, the TSH will be too high. If the dose of thyroxin is adjusted, the TSH can be re-measured after 2 months:- http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/tsh/tab/test
More info here:- http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroid-gland-function
Just to add:- you are correct that with no thyroid, you will need to take replacement thyroxin for life.
Edited to add: To be more specific, I should have said that it is the hypothalamus which is adjacent to the pituitary that actually does the detecting and passes the message on to the pituitary.
Without a functioning thyroid, the pituitary is responding to the intake of prescribed thyroxin. If the dose is too high, the TSH will be too low. If the dose is too low, the TSH will be too high. If the dose of thyroxin is adjusted, the TSH can be re-measured after 2 months:- http://labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/tsh/tab/test
More info here:- http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroid-gland-function
Just to add:- you are correct that with no thyroid, you will need to take replacement thyroxin for life.
Edited to add: To be more specific, I should have said that it is the hypothalamus which is adjacent to the pituitary that actually does the detecting and passes the message on to the pituitary.
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