TSH levels out of control

[ravenmfox]

My levels have been spiraling out of control.  12/05 3.41, 12/06 9.74, 2/07 11.401, then in 5/07 my tsh levels was 58.09. They had started me on synthroid as my numbers started to rise and as they increased my synthroid the numbers kept rising.   After starting on synthyroid, I began having numbness in my hands and feet at night, trouble sleeping and irratic emotions.  At the point my tsh was 58.09, I began having numbness/tingling throughout the day, dramatic change in skin and hair texture, extreme bloating and irratic moods.  I asked the doctor to take me off the synthetic version and we started Armour, the first month at the lower dose my numbers came down some to 53.? and so they increased the Armour dose, now tsh is over 60.3.  As we speak they are rechecking my bloodwork to get the t4 and t3 numbers.  Any suggestions of what to look for ?  

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Absorption problems.  Your symptoms are/were not due to the synthroid, but to the HYPOthyroidism.  So I would be concerned with the increasing TSH that you are on way too low of a dose OR you are not absorbing the medication.  In these cases,  best to take first thing in the am on its own 1 hour before a meal and apart from other meds.  Certain meds -- calcium, iron, cholestyramine, welchol and a few other should be separated by 4 hours.  Another potential problem is celiac sprue, which is more common potentially in patients with hashimotos.

[cosmicsoul]

I am so sorry to hear all this - must be very frustrating. I have heard somewhere that people can be (few % of people) actually sensitive or allergic to thyroid hromone. I hope they also check for antibodies, and other autoimmune disease. I am curious what the dr here will say... Also - it takes time to normalize numbers but yours seem really out of control! I hope you feel better soon!