Doctor suggests I increse Levoxyl dosage based on 5.34 TSH

[Susan_43]

I am a 43 y/o woman and I was on 88 mcg for many years. I just had my blood work done and my doctor says that my TSH, 3rd Generation levels are 5.34 so she suggested that I brake an extra pill in half and take it on Wed and Fri, then after doing that for a month take an additional 1/2 of 88 mcg on wed, after 2 months get retested. Does my body need time to get used to the hormone because last time i tried that my heart rate increased and I got scared and went back on 88 mcg. If I cannot tolerate the 1 mcg dose and stay on 88 mcg would it cause problems to my organs? Is it better to be a little overactive or underactive?

[TamraW]

Your doctor should be treating you based on symptoms and your FreeT3 and FreeT4 symptoms. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone, and isn't always reliable.

Also, I advise getting your adrenals checked. Many times those with low thyroid have low adrenals as well. It's hard to say which is worse, over or under. The racing heart is awful, but so is the colon tied in knots.

If your frees are in the normal range, yet your TSH remains high, you might want to have a good doc evaluate your pituitary gland.

Might be time to look for a thyroid doc who doesn't rely on the TSH test: This site lists recommended endos. Make sure the endo treats frees and symptoms.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/

:) Tamra

[goolarra]

Do you feel like you need an increase?  Symptoms are the most important thing.

Is your doctor testing FT3 and FT4 as well as TSH?  If so, please post FT3 and FT4 levels with the reference ranges from your lab report.  Meds should not be adjusted on the basis of TSH alone.

I'm not sure I understand what your doctor is suggesting.  Take an extra 44 mcg on Wednesdays and Fridays for a month, then add another 44 on Wednesdays after that?  Yes, especially if you've been sensitive to increases in the past, your body does need time to adapt to the increase.