Thread: Question to BD - Overactive TSH

Hi there BodyDoc

Hoping you can provide some insight. I had a blood test and it has come back that I have a very high level of TSH thyroid but the other two, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are relatively normal. The doctor did not give me the exact results.

She said at this stage no meds and to just re-test in a few weeks but went through some symptoms with me. It seems that I have a lot of the symptoms such as shaking, feeling hot all the time and sweating, anxiety and even heart palpitations etc

But my question relates to weight - I have been able to cut down easily in the past but have recently found it near impossible to shift my weight this time around. I thought it could be that I had an underactive thyroid and so had my bloods done.

I am not overweight at all. I did a bulk earlier this year and am almost at maintenance weight/bf but am finding it very difficult this time to lose the weight. I have tried all of the diet and cardio-related things but just seems 'harder' to lose this time and will even go up while dieting.

I was under the impression that hyothyroidism (underactive thyroid) caused issues with weight gain and that hyperthyroidism could cause issues with weight loss. My TSH thyroid is overactive which would indicate potential weight loss due to increased metabolism but instead am having the opposite issues? Any info you know that I don't?

Much appreciated,
Bianca

Hi Bianca, it's certainly a little contradictory as you correctly pointed out. Your TSH is elevated, but your thyroid hormones are normal? Did your doctor do any other pituitary hormone tests?

The normal homeostatic mechanism is that TSH stimulates the thyroid, thyroxine is produced, once normal plasma concentrations are established, the feedback mechanism stops the pituitary from secreting TSH.

I would ask your doctor to check your other pituitary hormones, particularly if the TSH levels were elevated significantly.

Also, what time of day were the bloods taken? Had you eaten, were you cold, had you exercised, etc.

Let us know a little more info, and if you're concerned see your doc or ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.

Keep us updated on how you get on.

BD

Doc,

I PMed Bianca about this, so as to not chime into the thread out of turn.

My suggestion was that she get her Reverse T3 (RT3) checked because despite it being a critical thyroid hormone which is almost never tested, it works against T3 if elevated. There is a cortisol/RT3 connection which will see issues like stubborn weight reduction even if T3/T4 and/or TSH are relatively normal.

Cheers

Good call!