TSH is 41; went from hyper to hypothyroid after radiation of thyroid

[laurfe20]

Today I was told my TSH level is 41.  I haven't received my bloodwork, other than this last bit of information.  What questions should I ask.  Since I had severe symptoms, the endo put me on Levoxyl 112 mcg.  That is a very high dose.  He did this by calling it in to the pharmacy, and he didn't want to see me in person, although I was trying to get in to his office to be checked.  Should I be worried about such a high dose?  I am 56 years old, was diagnosed with Grave's disease only in December of 2007, was put on Tapazole at the end of January of 2008, had a severe allergic reaction to the Tapazole only 12 days later, had radioactive iodine to destroy my thyroid February 20, 2008, and then became Euthyroid on June 9, 2008.  Two weeks later, I had severe symptoms, left messages on my SECOND endo's answering machine, was not called back, and then today called for the third time and told them I had severe headaches, insomnia, back pain, weight gain, severely swollen eyes and face, reaction to cold, constipation, loss of libido, rising cholesterol levels, no energy, impaired vision, depression, difficulty focusing, and the list goes on and on.  My family doctor called and said my TSH numbers were "through the roof" at 41.  I called the endocrinologist, who received the same results, and they finally acted and called in the prescription for Levoxyl.  They started me rather high, maybe due to my severe symptoms.  Without seeing me in person, I am worried that I could have heart palpitations.  I already am suffering from insomnia, so maybe this is too high to begin, especially since my father had a heart attack at age 50 and died two weeks later back in 1968.  My question is:  what questions should I aske the endocrinologist, what side effects should I be reporting, and what advice can you give me?  I just started the medication today.  Sorry if I am rambling.  Thank you for any help that I receive on this forum.

[laurfe20]

Thanks, Cheryl.  Your welcome and email helped me a lot.  I know my new endocrinologist's must be a very busy office, and the nurse called me back at 7:30 last night, and was patient with me on the telephone.  She calmed me down and answered all of my questions.  My headache feels much better, I've already taken the Levoxyl two more times the last two days, in the morning, and I'm hoping that I will start to feel a little better soon.  Yes, you are right.  They ordered blood work in 6 weeks.  So, I hope I'm on the right road, and I will see how my body adjusts to this high starting dose.  This community is great, and very supportive.  Thanks again, ChitChatNine and all others out there whose posts I've been reading.

[ChitChatNine]

A TSH of 41 is very high ..........so the dose sounds right ..............but I'm not a Dr.  You want to get it to a normal # ASAP to make sure no seide effects at that dose and the 112 should do the trick and then they will tweekit along from there for maintenance dose after your round of bloodwork in about 4-6 weeks.

WELCOME to the COMMUNITY,

Cheryl