high TSH results

[shellmcintyre]

Hello, I am 23 Years old and for the past couple of years have had complications with my menstrual bleeding, with real bad stomach pains and cramps, my periods stopped for over 18 months and the pains i was getting were agony. I was still having all the sypmtoms sore tender breasts, spots, pains in stomach and legs but just nothing would happen, any how cutting a long story short i went to the doctors, and i was referred to the hospital for a scan to chack for any abnormality or cysts but that was fine, i then had some blood tests taken as me and my hubby have been discussing starting a family in the near future and were concerned there would be someting wrong. My doctor took the bloods for TESTOSTERONE, SHBG LH-FSH, FBC, TSH and PROLACTIN all of which came back fine apart from my TSH levels which at first were 7.2 she then asked me to return to have my bloods taken again a month later which i did, along with autoantibodies or thyroid antibodies (cant remember which she said) and found that my TSH levels had risen to 13.49 in that 3-4 weeks, but antibodies were Negative, she has started me on a low dose of thyroxine and i have to return again in a month to have bloods checked again, i am feeling abit run down and confused!
I have been looking up about thyroids and levels and i have noticed that underactive thyroids are normally diagnosed when there is a high TSH level and antibodies are POSITIVE, is this correct?? My T4 levels were also taken and they were 12.2 the first time and then 10.2 the second time if this makes any sense, please can you help me understand what this all means and whether i do have a underactive thyroid and will i always be on treatment for this???
Thankyou for your patience and help
Michelle

[shellmcintyre]

Hi stella, yes i am posting from the UK so dont think iv had T3 levels done.
So without POSITIVE antibodies it still indicates an underactive thyroid?
So by starting on a low dose at the minute when i next have my bloods taken should my levels start to come back down or will it take a while?
Thanks again
Michelle

[stella5349]

Let's take a look at the TSH you are at 13.49 at this time right? well that indicates Hypothryoidism. You TPO's really at this time (if as you say are normal) has no bearing on your hypothroidism. If however your TPO's was positve then Hashimoto would be your situation which many hypos face.

I take you are posting from the UK so a T3 test is not done. That is disheartening. Your T3 tells alot when it comes to your thyroid situation.

Your T4 test does not have a particular number to be under. T4 is the hormone that the thyroid and/or Thyroxine is and T4 is the hormone that needs to convert into the T3 to get your thyoid to start producing normally.

There are many symtoms in hypo thyroid patients. Yes weight gain can be one - some do loose though. See this check list link below.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/checklist.htm

[jax190]

hi when i was first diagnosed with underactive thyroid i was on a low dose and was monitored every 6 weeks and my dose increased to 100mg i was stable on this for over a year but then had to have total thyroidectomy since then my dose has been 150 -175 mg but this is because i was found to have a small amount of papillory cancer and have to have a supressive dose. your dr should monitor you untill your at the right levels and then you will still be checked regularly as levels can fluctuate. tiredness is a common sigh as well as feeling cold having cold hands and feet and mood swings brain fog becoming forgetful (i am so bad at that i get the blame for everything that goes missing) however once you are stabalised a lot of that should ease but for some reason the weight and brain fog are the hardest to get back to normal not sure about the fertility as i was past that stage in life when i was diagnosed but there are questions about that so they might help

[shellmcintyre]

Hi there, thanks for your response this has helped me understand abit more, I am really worried about my weight i was once over weight and i got so down i hated it, i managed to shed 3 stones 4 years ago and am now comfortable with myself, but when the doctor told me common signs of an underactive thyroid was weight gain i felt sick, i am quite active and i am always on the go at work, and i do try to eat healthy but latley i have been sooo tired i just cant be botherd with anything im also getting quite frequent headaches which i dont know whether that is linked to the thyroid problem!!!!
Your tsh is high still but your t4 seems to be ok as you say it needs to be under 5. Have you remained on the same dose of thyroxine since you were told or do you seem to be having your dose increased and decreased??
Do you know if this could cause problems with fertility as this is how i discovered i had a high tsh reading after coming of the pill and having tests for infertiltiy investigations!!
Thanks again for your help and responce
Michelle

[jax190]

hi not sure if i can be of much use but i have had an underactive thyroid for 2 years now and i know the test results are hard to understand but i know that t4 levels should ideally be under 5 some times even lower so yours need to come down a fair bit not surprised your feeling ill my t4 level is0.08 and my tsh is 22 and i take 150mg of thyroxine when i was first diagnosed i had memory problems brain fog always felt cold and tired and very irritable its surprising how bad you can feel when your thyroid goes wrong also put on 3 stone practically overnight.  as your t4 levels come down you will start to feel better but it can take a while.
once your thyroid has gone underactive (stopped working properly) it cant be reversed so medication is for life 1 consolation though in the uk if your on thyroxine you get free prescriptions so ask your doctors for a form