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Dangerous TSH levels
How high can TSH levels get before they are life threatening?
What med are you taking? What are your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report? What, if any, symptoms do you have? What was the cause for you being diagnosed as hypothyroid and started on thyroid med?
4 Comments
On 25mcg of synthroid now. Tsh is 28.41 (.35 to 4.94); t4free is .71 (.70 to 1.80); t3 is 67 (58-159). I started taking koo thyroid in February 2006. Switched to levothyroxine about 2012 because of insurance. Had high cholesterol jump in 2006 and requested thyroid to be checked. At that time I had weight gain, high cholesterol, heart palpitations . Was told I was hypo. Don't have numbers from back then. Currently have weight gain and tired and now a period. Will see endocrinologist tomorrow. Irregular heartbeat is no longer since he lowered meds. He calls mine subliminal hypothyroidism.
Subclinical hypothyroidism
Forgot to mention hot flashes are back. Endocrinologist had also tested me for antibodies.THYROPEROXIDASE ABY was 49.76 (<5.61) and ANTI-THYROGLOBULIN was 45 (<4.0 IU/mL)
I expect that the doctor has reduced your med mainly due to suppressed TSH levels. That is wrong. TSH is useful for diagnosis only when at extreme levels in the untreated state. Taking the med only once or twice a day is totally different from the continuous low flow of thyroid hormone under normal conditions. As a result the TSH becomes suppressed for extended periods. That does not mean hyperthyroidism, unless there are excessive levels of FT4 and FT3. So TSH should never be used to determine thyroid med dosage.
So now you are back to being hypothyroid. What you need most is a good thyroid doctor that will first evaluate for symptoms, and then do extended testing to get a better idea of the underlying causes and then treat you with thyroid medication as needed to relieve hypothyroid symptoms. Symptom relief must be all important, not test results, and especially not TSH when taking thyroid med. For perspective a recent, excellent scientific study concluded that: " Hypothyroid symptom relief was associated with both a T4 dose giving TSH-suppression below the lower reference limit and FT3 elevated further into the upper half of its reference range." achieving FT3 levels adequate to relieve symptoms usually requires the addition of a source of T3 to your med.
In addition the correct definition for hypothyroidism is not just "inadequate thyroid levels", but instead it is "insufficient tissue T3 Effect due to inadequate supply of, or response to, thyroid hormone. It is the TISSUE T3 EFFECT that determines your thyroid status. So in addition to adequate FT4 and FT3, you need to know your Reverse T3, cortisol, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, since they can all affect the response to thyroid.
You can confirm what I have said by clicking on my name and then scroll down to my Journal and read at least the one page overview of a full paper on Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism: A Patient's Perspective. You can use this info with the Endo. If he tries to refute all this then you are going to need to find a good thyroid doctor who will diagnose and treat clinically, rather than just based on a few test results..
So now you are back to being hypothyroid. What you need most is a good thyroid doctor that will first evaluate for symptoms, and then do extended testing to get a better idea of the underlying causes and then treat you with thyroid medication as needed to relieve hypothyroid symptoms. Symptom relief must be all important, not test results, and especially not TSH when taking thyroid med. For perspective a recent, excellent scientific study concluded that: " Hypothyroid symptom relief was associated with both a T4 dose giving TSH-suppression below the lower reference limit and FT3 elevated further into the upper half of its reference range." achieving FT3 levels adequate to relieve symptoms usually requires the addition of a source of T3 to your med.
In addition the correct definition for hypothyroidism is not just "inadequate thyroid levels", but instead it is "insufficient tissue T3 Effect due to inadequate supply of, or response to, thyroid hormone. It is the TISSUE T3 EFFECT that determines your thyroid status. So in addition to adequate FT4 and FT3, you need to know your Reverse T3, cortisol, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, since they can all affect the response to thyroid.
You can confirm what I have said by clicking on my name and then scroll down to my Journal and read at least the one page overview of a full paper on Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism: A Patient's Perspective. You can use this info with the Endo. If he tries to refute all this then you are going to need to find a good thyroid doctor who will diagnose and treat clinically, rather than just based on a few test results..
I am 66 and in menopause. No periods for 15 years. My endocrinologist lowerwe my meds to 25 mcg because tsh was .oo1. Now tsh is 32 and I had a period this week. What's happening. Had hysteroscopy last month
and all is fine
and all is fine
What was the diagnosed cause for your hypothyroidism that you have been dealing with all your life? What symptoms do you have? What thyroid med are you taking and what is the daily dose? What is the reference range shown on the lab report for the T4 test?
My t4 is 0.50, my tsh is 69.200....please help been dealing with this all my life but this is the highest level I have ever had
If you will tell us your location perhaps we can suggest a good thyroid doctor in your area.
Yes my sons levels have change drastically within the last year . He goes to the endocrinologist twice a year, which I think is obsurd. I think it should be more often. His last visit prior to yesterday was six months ago and his numbers were .89 so no up on dose. This time they were 3.10 the time before that were 6.65, we are now up to 100 mcg and I am at my wits end with the Dr. I asked for an ultrasound on his thyroid like his last endo did, and she chalked his numbers up to puberty. He has surpassed puberty last year to that level. How hard is it to just look at his thyroid to see if there has been a huge change from 3 years ago. We do everything we are supposed too, no dairy, eat as healthy as we can, for a 16 year old and takes his meds at night so it is not interfering with anything. I think our next step is seeing a doctor that will actually listen to my concerns instead of rushing him like he is cattle and not listening to our concerns. I wish his original doctor would not have moved...
Please keep us posted on your progress.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
Yes, I had graves disease over 5 years ago and they cant seem to get my levels right. I feel horrible. The tsh is 44 right now and feel like im dying as well. Im so tired that every afternoon I need to take a nap or feel like I may pass out. Im also unbalanced and feel dizzy at times. This is such a horrible disease because half the time I don't even understand it. Do you ever feel sick to your stomach or balancing problems? I have read a few post that people feel the same as me. Please me posted.
Karen
Karen
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is a very old thread and NYNY2020 is no longer active on the forum... Many of us take synthetic hormones and do just fine. I, for one, don't think that desiccated hormones are "natural" either, because they come from pigs and are not identical to what we, as humans, produce. Not all of us need the amount of T3 present in Armour and other desiccated options, while others do.
I do, however, feel that ALL options for thyroid hormones should be kept open, since we're all individual and we all react differently to different medications.
I do, however, feel that ALL options for thyroid hormones should be kept open, since we're all individual and we all react differently to different medications.
Why would anyone willingly put a synthetic hormone into their body every day for the rest of their lives when there is a natural alternative? Armour Thyroid is the safer alternative, IMO
I'm not a doctor, and I can't tell you what the risk is to your baby. However, with a TSH of 8, you should probably increase your meds again. Also, be sure to ask your doctor to test FREE T3 and FREE T4. They're much more important than TSH.
All you can do is take your meds and get tested again in about four weeks to see if your dose needs to be raised again.
Did your doctor test anything besides TSH? T3 or T4? If so, please post those with reference ranges.
Did your doctor test anything besides TSH? T3 or T4? If so, please post those with reference ranges.
The doctor increased the medicine from 88mcg to 100mcg,but i worry about my baby.Idon't know what can i do.
when i pregnant 8 weeks my tsh is 400,i take the medicine ,when 12 weeks,my tsh is 54,how can i do that,i worry about my baby.
This is a very old thread. It would be best if you go to the top of the page, click the orange "Post a Question" button and start your own new thread. You'll get more attention that way to your individual concerns. Please post a lab and medication history when you do that.
I was told I had Graves Disease 6yrs ago. After many drs and lots of tests they finally used the Radioactive Iodine 131 to kill my thyroid. Well it worked and its been 3months and I feel terrible. My Dr has done changed my synthroid 3x in 6 weeks. My levels went from 0.01 to 97.11 and they didn't give me my T3 or T4 results so all this is new to me and I'm confused. I know about hyper. Hypo is to all over the map to understand. I have been reading people with levels in the 300. So why was my Dr wanting to put me into the hospital for just being 97???? Any help would be wonderful.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You've attached your question to a very old thread and most of the previous posters are no longer active on the forum. You question would get much more attention if you start a new thread of your own. You can do that by clicking the orange "Post a Question" button at the top of this page, then after you type you question, click the green "Post a Comment" button.
You can also access the home page of the forum via the following link:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Thyroid-Disorders/show/73
Didn't your daughter's doctor start her on any medication, while waiting for the specialist appointment? Her TSH is elevated, and while not dangerously so, I can see where she might be miserable.
Were there any tests done, other than TSH? For instance a Free T3 and/or Free T4? If so, please post the results and reference ranges. Was your daughter tested for thyroid antibodies?
You can also access the home page of the forum via the following link:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Thyroid-Disorders/show/73
Didn't your daughter's doctor start her on any medication, while waiting for the specialist appointment? Her TSH is elevated, and while not dangerously so, I can see where she might be miserable.
Were there any tests done, other than TSH? For instance a Free T3 and/or Free T4? If so, please post the results and reference ranges. Was your daughter tested for thyroid antibodies?
Hi I read your story my daughter is 12 and been tested her result came back her tsh level is elevated 5.4 this is new to us and she is not being treated yet. She gose to see spelist on december 20. But her symptoms our grtting worse sge is extermly tired and always cold and headaches our bad I don't know how to help her till her app. Any advice would help,
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