levels

[swenger]

I had a TT on Jan. 12, 2011. I have been on meds for 6 weeks now and just had blood work done. My TSH levels were at 23.1 and so they increased my meds to 150mcg daily. Is this normal??

[jjones770]

Are you having your TPO antibodies checked? High TPO antibodies are a sign of a an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Basically what this means is that your immune system mistakes your thyroid hormone for something foreign, like a virus, and unleashes antibodies that attack your thyroid gland. (I highly recommend looking this up, because I am not a doctor and am certainly not explaining it as accurately as it could be.)

What my endo told me is that because your immune system is in overdrive, you can experience things like chronic hives and facial swelling, like an allergic reaction. You also can have a perfectly normal TSH but high TPO antibodies for years without realizing it unless you are specifically tested for the antibodies.

I would wait and see what your test results are, but also do some research on Hashimoto's to see if you have any of the other symptoms in addition to chronic hives.

I personally experienced horrible hives for only 3 months, so I sympathize with you. Once I was put on Levothyroxine, and took one Claritin every day, the hives subsided.

Good luck and good health!

[Toobigadog]

Has anyone experienced chronic hives as a result of being hypo?  I am currntly waiting on my blood test results because I have all the "usual" symptoms, but have also had chronic hives for about 10 years with no known cause.

[redheadaussie]

You can ask your primary care doctor as well for these tests, TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Tg antibodies, TPO antibodies, as well at the thyroglobulin.
If you want to wait till you see your oncologist, then that's ok too, just make sure you insist on those tests as they will give you a better picture of what is happening.

[swenger]

Do I need to specifically ask my oncologist to test for these levels? I go back on April 13th to have a thyroidglobulin(sp?) test.

[redheadaussie]

Yes,  as some people don't do well on a lower dose. However, it is far more important to know what your Free T4 is doing, this will show if the medication is actually being used in your body. The Free T3 is also important as this will show if your body is converting the medication into usable 'energy'

  If you don't have any symptoms of feeling bad then a higher dose may not be for you.
Many doctors only go by the TSH which while helpful, it is on its own useless in diagnosing hypothyroidism. The TSH is made in the pituitary gland to stimulate the thryoid to produce T4 which in your case is now replaced by your medication.

Cheers