TSH & turmeric

[Way2dry]

My recent TSH test came back at 2.61.  Previously it had been fluctuating within normal range until March of this year when it started creeping up to a high of 5.26. (I have not started taking thyroid medicine yet.)

Has anyone had their TSH level drop this much without medication?  Does TSH go back up again?

The only thing different that I have been doing recently was that I started taking turmeric for joint pain. Can turmeric affect TSH levels? 

[aussie mum]

Un-medicated thyroid issues can cause the TSH to fluctuate a bit but it is quite interesting what you ask about tumeric.
I think tumeric helps with the inflammation process, not knowing what's causing your issues, maybe it has had some calming influence on your Thyroid.

I've also started taking Tumeric/Curcumin and have noticed a lowering of my CRP, ESR and TSH on my latest blood results - so much so, we're tweaking my Thyroid medication.

I wonder if any research has been done on this.

[jazzlover]

Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and it may be that you have Hashimoto's?? Either way, it is working on your inflammation which should help your body (and your thyroid) run more efficiently.

[Maria3667]

@aussie mum: interesting theory! Whilst being on thyroid hormones and turmeric simultaneously, my most annoying side effect was an increase in anxiety. Now I wonder if it was caused by turmeric jazzing up my hormone levels? Anxiety seemed to be a rare duck in the pond, I couldn't find much reference to it. But it was bad enough to made me boot out turmeric and anxiety dissipated...

Unfortunately - I did not have a blood test during this period because I never suspected a correlation.

[aussie mum]

Maria3667 - Interesting point about your anxiety.

I hadn't noticed any dramatic change such as hyper type symptoms, certainly no unexpected weight loss.
My TSH was way low, around 0.2, my GP would rather it around 1.00, hence the tweaking of medication levels.

My GP doesn't know I've been taking the tumeric so I better mention it next time I visit.
I do think the tumeric helps with my joints so I'll be interested in the GP's opinion.

Having no thyroid at all, I feel that medication is the most important one I take.

[Maria3667]

Yes my TSH sometimes drops below 0,2 too and does cause hyper symptoms - without the weigtloss unfortunately 

Now I wonder how many other supplements also interfere with thyroid hormones? Many beneficial supplements/meds I've tried either cause hyper OR hypo symptoms in me, I never realised why until I read this post...

I'm guessing the interaction is an under exposed area of medical research... So we might need to be more careful in trying them out.

[Way2dry]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Maria3667 - I didn't have any weight loss, either. I was hoping I would since I gained 10 lbs. when I was hypo.  I haven't noticed any anxiety, but maybe it's because my TSH is higher than yours.

Aussie mum - it's interesting that your CRP & ESR levels dropped also.  Since they only tested my TSH, I don't have any other numbers to compare.  It does make you wonder if the turmeric was a factor.

My pcp said she wasn't aware of any literature on turmeric & thyroid, but that doesn't mean there isn't a connection. She doesn't think I have Hashimoto's because my tests were normal. She told to watch for any symptoms of hypothyroidism (not so easy to do with Sjogren's, etc.) and get retested in 6 months.

I'm going to continue the turmeric because I think it helps my arthritis pain.  So the saga continues 

[aussie mum]

Way2dry,

My past experience with Thyroid issues has shown that the TSH test does not tell the full story.

When you get retested, ask your doctor to do a full thyroid screen. Testing T3 & T4 levels as well as antibodies.
Also ask your doctor to physically examine your thyroid too (it is just feeling around your neck)

Then, your doctor can have a clearer picture of what's going on.

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

My TSH swings around ridiculously. When first dxd with Hashimotos 13 years ago it took 2 years to stabilize things. Things remained stable for about 8 years - then I swung 'hyper'. Since then my thyroid meds have pretty well been being adjusted every 3 months. It appears that 100mcg is too little but 125mcg daily - is too much. we've tried alternate days - 4 days out of 7, 5 days out of 7 - it wont stabilize.

At one stage I was on 175mcg daily - now it's 100mcg again and I have a blood test next week to see where I'm at. My endo told my GP to keep my TSH at 2 or under and said it didn't matter if my T4 was at the high end.

My TSH, since medication, swings between 6 and 0.003. I feel best when its about 0.5. What really annoys me this time is - I seem to have swung hyper - but I haven't lost an ounce of weight - and I need to lose a lot. I dont overeat so its very frustrating.

Take care - Scottie