Aa
Thyroid Problem Newbie
I am a 57-year-old woman who received a phone call today from the doctor's nurse who told me my TSH level is 54.8 and that upper limit normal is 4.5. Recently, I have been having increasing heart palpatations. I went to my doctor who referred me to a cardiologist and he did a stress test this week which showed "a lot of PVC's." He has scheduled me for a stress test next week with radioactive dye because he thinks "there's a leak." Now of course I am wondering if it isn't the thyroid causing this (my blood pressure shot up to a high of 173/92 and the same cardio put me on 160 mg. Diovan). I take no other drugs. I have been really in a lot of pain for at least a year due to very sore body, some weakness, and right hip arthritis. The recent blood test was done by my gyn who is away for the rest of the week so did not give me the blood test results; my GP's nurse did today. So understandably, I am confused about what is going on. Is my heart rate and pressure messed up due to the thyroid? Should I try to get on some meds right away and not wait until my appointment on Monday?
Best Answer
p.s. in three weeks I will reduce to 100 mcg Synthroid which may end up being my maintenance dose. Dunno, the tests should tell if I will need more or different meds.
je
je
Just an update. First of all, thanks for responding to my question.
Second, I have been on Synthroid 175 mcg for one week and do notice a difference.
I am a very active person (no matter what!) and moving is easier now and also much less painful. I am off the bp meds and my heart rate is staying constant in the 120-something over 60-something range. My joint pain is reduced. I have more energy. My head is clearer. I feel as if I've just stepped into another world. Synthroid is the only medication I take. I am staying on the low-salt, low-fat diet I was on for the heart problems. Also, my appetite is definitely under control as is my depression. This feels like a miracle.
As far as tweaking any meds. I am a simple person and have taken very few meds over the course of my 57-years. I cannot remember the last time I took antibiotics, for instance. I am fortunate to live in a clean environment and so far the Synthroid is working so I am staying put and will await the lab tests in 5 weeks (have been diagnosed and on meds for 1 week now). All is well. And thanks again everyone.
judy
Second, I have been on Synthroid 175 mcg for one week and do notice a difference.
I am a very active person (no matter what!) and moving is easier now and also much less painful. I am off the bp meds and my heart rate is staying constant in the 120-something over 60-something range. My joint pain is reduced. I have more energy. My head is clearer. I feel as if I've just stepped into another world. Synthroid is the only medication I take. I am staying on the low-salt, low-fat diet I was on for the heart problems. Also, my appetite is definitely under control as is my depression. This feels like a miracle.
As far as tweaking any meds. I am a simple person and have taken very few meds over the course of my 57-years. I cannot remember the last time I took antibiotics, for instance. I am fortunate to live in a clean environment and so far the Synthroid is working so I am staying put and will await the lab tests in 5 weeks (have been diagnosed and on meds for 1 week now). All is well. And thanks again everyone.
judy
By the way, have been off bp med for 2 days and after taking the high-dose Synthroid for same amount of time my bp is down to 123/62, pulse 56, according to pharmacy bp machine. Not saying this is for everyone.
Hi Claire,
Yes, thanks for that gentle reminder. My decision not to take the blood pressure med was a personal one for me. I am not a self-medicating person, nor even though the pain I've had has been extreme I rarely take the Ultram which offered some relief because I don't like feeling woozy or dull. I just feel the Synthroid needs to be given a chance on its own so I can see what it's doing to my system. I don't mind being a guinea pig for six weeks with this somewhat unsophisticated treatment and don't think it will kill me. I just had a heart check which showed a good heart muscle and I have no real damage except some arthritis, so I'd just as soon see in 6 weeks in a blood test what just the synthroid does. That way, when I get the full battery of thyroid tests it will be easier to diagnose clinically what will work best. In the meantime, I am unwilling to give up even a moment of relief to try anything else.
Best Regards, Judy
Yes, thanks for that gentle reminder. My decision not to take the blood pressure med was a personal one for me. I am not a self-medicating person, nor even though the pain I've had has been extreme I rarely take the Ultram which offered some relief because I don't like feeling woozy or dull. I just feel the Synthroid needs to be given a chance on its own so I can see what it's doing to my system. I don't mind being a guinea pig for six weeks with this somewhat unsophisticated treatment and don't think it will kill me. I just had a heart check which showed a good heart muscle and I have no real damage except some arthritis, so I'd just as soon see in 6 weeks in a blood test what just the synthroid does. That way, when I get the full battery of thyroid tests it will be easier to diagnose clinically what will work best. In the meantime, I am unwilling to give up even a moment of relief to try anything else.
Best Regards, Judy
Thanks for your post.
I read that article and am now starting to see there is a learning curve.
I have been extremely symptomatic, however, and am grateful for any kind of relief so for now will just take the Synthroid for one month and then lower the dose, have my blood checked. Six weeks of this sort of therapy has got to be better than the 2 years of misery I've just been through with this condition untreated with anything.
I really thought it was just osteoarthritis so am actually glad there is a possibility of relaxation of symptoms. I am a very healthy person otherwise with good eating and exercise habits. I also live in a temperate environment (Florida!) so feel I still have a lot of quality of life left. However, with the way I was suffering wasn't sure how long that would last! So it's been an interesting and a good week. Everyone says it takes a while to feel the effects of the medication but I am feeling better right away. My energy level is good and for the first time in a long time I do not feel incredibly weighed down. It was like I was walking in water or like trying to run in a dream. If you all experienced that kind of difficulty just rolling around was hard for me and I am finally feeling optimistic about my health for the first time in a long time!
I read that article and am now starting to see there is a learning curve.
I have been extremely symptomatic, however, and am grateful for any kind of relief so for now will just take the Synthroid for one month and then lower the dose, have my blood checked. Six weeks of this sort of therapy has got to be better than the 2 years of misery I've just been through with this condition untreated with anything.
I really thought it was just osteoarthritis so am actually glad there is a possibility of relaxation of symptoms. I am a very healthy person otherwise with good eating and exercise habits. I also live in a temperate environment (Florida!) so feel I still have a lot of quality of life left. However, with the way I was suffering wasn't sure how long that would last! So it's been an interesting and a good week. Everyone says it takes a while to feel the effects of the medication but I am feeling better right away. My energy level is good and for the first time in a long time I do not feel incredibly weighed down. It was like I was walking in water or like trying to run in a dream. If you all experienced that kind of difficulty just rolling around was hard for me and I am finally feeling optimistic about my health for the first time in a long time!
Hi, folks,
Just a gentle reminder that medication dosage tweaks should always be supervised by an MD. There's a lot of great advice here that gives us the ability to act as our own advocates when we see our doctors, so that we can push for the treatment and tests that we need. Specific advice about medication can only be given if one has performed a hands-on history and physical, as well as a face to face followup. That's why Rx advice isn't given here, and why you should be sure to speak with your physician when contemplating any changes to the meds he/she has prescribed.
Claire
Just a gentle reminder that medication dosage tweaks should always be supervised by an MD. There's a lot of great advice here that gives us the ability to act as our own advocates when we see our doctors, so that we can push for the treatment and tests that we need. Specific advice about medication can only be given if one has performed a hands-on history and physical, as well as a face to face followup. That's why Rx advice isn't given here, and why you should be sure to speak with your physician when contemplating any changes to the meds he/she has prescribed.
Claire
In addition to the tests Stella recommended, you should find out if the cause of your hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, by testing for the thyroid antibodies, TPO ab and TG ab.
the most important thing for you is to find out if your doctor is going to be willing to treat you clinically, by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can read more about clinical treatment in this link. It is a form letter written by a good thyroid doctor to patients that he is consulting with from a distance. The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
If your current doctor is not willing to treat you clinically, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.
the most important thing for you is to find out if your doctor is going to be willing to treat you clinically, by testing and adjusting FT3 and FT4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can read more about clinical treatment in this link. It is a form letter written by a good thyroid doctor to patients that he is consulting with from a distance. The letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
If your current doctor is not willing to treat you clinically, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.
Stella,
So much information in your post it has taken me a while to digest. Finally, I had only been taking the bp med for maybe a couple of weeks before the blood test and did not take the bp pill the morning of the test, so I don't think it could have been that big a factor.
Thanks again,
Judy
So much information in your post it has taken me a while to digest. Finally, I had only been taking the bp med for maybe a couple of weeks before the blood test and did not take the bp pill the morning of the test, so I don't think it could have been that big a factor.
Thanks again,
Judy
Thanks for your comment. I did not take the 160 mg. Diovan today. Just taking the Synthroid. I am not a pill taker at all, so figure if I take one then we'll see what happens.
I did have a CBC and it all came out normal. WBC's 4.9 RBC 4, everything fell in normal range. albumin 4.7, globulin 2.1 and the Alb/Glob ratio was 2.2 (high) but that was the only thing out of range besides the TSH and also the cholesterol total 232 , LDL cholesterol 145.
I did have a CBC and it all came out normal. WBC's 4.9 RBC 4, everything fell in normal range. albumin 4.7, globulin 2.1 and the Alb/Glob ratio was 2.2 (high) but that was the only thing out of range besides the TSH and also the cholesterol total 232 , LDL cholesterol 145.
Thanks for your comments.
The doctor who ordered the blood work is my gynecologist who just did a routine screening as he does every year. This year he ordered TSH and last year he didn't order one, though I think I've been symptomatic for longer than that if my problems have been due to thyroid. Anyway, he didn't do a T3 or T4 with it. He's also out of commission due to an emergency and wasn't even the one who told me about the result! The copy was sent to my general doctor who called me in about it. Complicating matters was that the cardio he had referred me to for the heart thing did a stress test and found the heart was in good shape but I had a lot of PVC's so he had me scheduled for a radioactive stress test for next week! When I went into my reg doc yesterday to talk about the 54 TSH results, he said I should NOT do the radiology thing because my thyroid was already messed up/not working and that would further compromise it. Anyway, he said it wasn't enlarged, so that is good. He's not going to do another blood test until Mid May. He gave me 175 mg. Synthroid yesterday and told me to take it for a month and then take 100 mg. Synthroid for a couple of weeks and then have a blood test.
The doctor who ordered the blood work is my gynecologist who just did a routine screening as he does every year. This year he ordered TSH and last year he didn't order one, though I think I've been symptomatic for longer than that if my problems have been due to thyroid. Anyway, he didn't do a T3 or T4 with it. He's also out of commission due to an emergency and wasn't even the one who told me about the result! The copy was sent to my general doctor who called me in about it. Complicating matters was that the cardio he had referred me to for the heart thing did a stress test and found the heart was in good shape but I had a lot of PVC's so he had me scheduled for a radioactive stress test for next week! When I went into my reg doc yesterday to talk about the 54 TSH results, he said I should NOT do the radiology thing because my thyroid was already messed up/not working and that would further compromise it. Anyway, he said it wasn't enlarged, so that is good. He's not going to do another blood test until Mid May. He gave me 175 mg. Synthroid yesterday and told me to take it for a month and then take 100 mg. Synthroid for a couple of weeks and then have a blood test.
Thyroid does cause High Blood Pressure and High Chlesterol, also the hip pain and artheritic pain, joints,and muscle pain, heart palpatations occur with overactive thyroid, which with such a high TSH would indicate Hypoactive. Did they happen to do Free T3 and Free T4 with the TSH ? As far as getting on thyroid meds right away, I would not advise it until your test is completed, It would not change that fast anyway, it takes a while for thyroid meds to get in your ststem and make a difference, usual 6 weeks between blood work when adjusting meds. The fatigue and body aches you mentioned are more than likely caused by thyroid. Check your labs, if you have the Free's and the reference ranges they provided with them, you can post them for further comment from members. Best Regards FTB4
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Thyroid is a "direct" relation to angina, PVC, and cardio issues from palps to stroke. This is regardless of being to high or too low with thyroid function. The meds you have been given for the BP is only a bandaid and if thyroid was addressed better then this med you are on may not need to be given.
Directly the Free T3 lab - or T3 (hormone) in you is very responsible for the heart getting stressed.
I'm concerned that your doctor called you to talk about your 54.0ish level and only has a baseline conclusion drawn off the TSH test. Also your cardio doc isn't taking anything in thyroid related and that is scarey business with your TSH lab alone.
With your issues of heart problems you are recently having - I can't urge you enough to call the doctor and demand better tests right this minute - specifically the Free T3 and Free T4 tests. Also with the high TSH in the 54.0's I'd urge you to get the Vit B levels - RBC magnesium, Vit D levels and alos a CBC and Ferritin count.
You could be lacking in all of these killing off the function of the thyroid.
Those labs may be "altered" low also based off the BP medication. If you can ween with doctors orders to get better true labs all the better - if not then speak to the doctor about meds and lab work together and base individual ratios needed./