Constant increase of TSH Levels

[XdarkangelleX]

Hello, I have been a sufferer of Hashimotos for over 7 years now after the birth of my 3rd child at the age of 28, I had been feeling generally unwell, tired, constant yawning, aching feet!!! And an odd feeling when I swallowed, My GP decided to do a TSH test after many many visits to the Dr. ( My ailments were put down to PND) Anyway the levels came back @ 178, and my Doctor was flabberghasted, I was put on replacement thyroid and referred to the endocrinologist. My point is, that ever since then.. even when my TSh level is in "NORMAL" range I have NEVER felt the same as I did prior to illness. I suffered massive weight gain which no matter how hard I try, what plan I use I can never shift it, I also suffer from Vitiligo now a common addon I have found out. Also, I am concerned that even though I was originally on 150mcg for a few years, last December my TSH rose again  to 70 so I had to increase my intake to 200mcg, I went to the Doctor again recently as I was falling asleep all the time and had awful aches and found it difficult to walk short distances ( not good when you have 4 children!) my levels then came back @ 33 so now Im on 250mcg... WHY does it keep rising, will i EVER feel normal Again? I look at pictures of myself before the onset of my illness and compare them to now and it is like I am a different person. Noone understands the horrid feeling it is to always feel under par.

I hope you can give me some advice

Heres Hoping

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Sounds like you are not absorbing thyroid meds consistently or there is some strange interference with the lab measuring TSH -- would send the blood to a different lab to be certain this is not the case.

If there is an absorption problem, consider things like celiac sprue, other meds interfering (eg iron or calcium carbonate), generic thyroid med use.  There are some patients who need 300-500mcg/day due to decreased absorption.

Make sure you take the med first thing each am at least 30min before food -- if this is difficult, there is good data on bedtime synthroid dosing producing nice results.

Also ask primary doc to do general checkup to make sure nothing else is the matter.

[lorilady13]

Hi.  I know EXACTLY how you feel.  I've been dealing with hypothyroidism for 12 (or so) years!  Once diagnosed I felt great for the first year or longer.  That's because I felt extremely terrible for a very long time (at least five years).  my levels go up and up... I even went off my meds (shame on me) and my TSH went up to nearly 300.  Why?  Why won't physicians try anything other than T4?  Maybe I have an issue with another area of my endocrine system??  All physicians go by the TSH results.  Nothing else.  I saw an endo last year... what a waste of $385.  He even reduced my synthroid because I was slightly hyper and it was too much for my body weight.  

I keep gaining weight.  I have no energy.  My hair and skin are in terrible condition.  I yawn all the time.  I'm sleepy yet don't sleep as well as I should.  Not to mention the numerous other symptoms I'm having.

Why won't anyone help????  I don't want to end up with heart disease and the other complications from prolonged hypothyroidism.

Lori

[XdarkangelleX]

Hi,

I do not know whether it makes much of a difference, but I live in the UK. I have read that the levels used in the UK and USA differ slightly.

I went to my GP yesterday, and basically was told to just plod along with it and wait for my TSH level to decrase!!!!! I wanted to shout I AM NOT A LAB. I AM A PERSON. I also fear that there maybe some other problem in my endocrine system, I have read that it m ay be due to an inability to convert to T2... but again I am not a doctor so I just have go along with what I am told and prescribed. It's not nice to be at the mercy of someone elses diagnosis especially when you STILL do not feel well even when the levels are within range.

My GP stated that although most people are treated very easily ( often same dose for ever) a few are difficult to treat as their TSH is erratic.  I was under the impression that my thyroid had actually gone as that was what my endocrinologist advised all those years ago, but in fact my GP told me that it wouldnt have gone yet and the reason my TSH levels change (ie INCREASE) is that my thyroid was actually working a little bit, but fizzled out more.

Its a grey area, and I do not think enough is understood about the symptoms we have when we are not treated correclty and enough.

I have the feeling I will always be like this, always overweight ( to my dismay my GP weighed me and I had gained 10 Kilos since 2005), skin always craggy looking, vitiligo spreading... and probably... diabetes in the future.

I hope you feel well soon, and get it sorted, although I am not optimistic if you are as similar to me.

Take Care

Elle

[XdarkangelleX]

T3 not T2 soz for typo

[signing1080]

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