Extremely high tsh!

[Priss32]

I'm a little scared right now. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few days ago. My first results came back at 344 and my Dr thought the lab made a mistake and had my blood drawn again and then my tsh was at 357. My dr has ordered an MRI of my brain. I'm so confused right now. All these websites give different info. Can anyone shed some light? I've been having really strange symptoms and horrible head pressure all on the bak of my head and bad neck pain.

[LazyMoose]

Ah ha.........turn the ambulance around........

*My point is your post looks like an emergency situation*

Those high TSH levels, are now history, as you are on med now.

We dont know how long you have been on synthroid 125? With any one newly diagnosed, the med dose is slowly increased up in correlation to hormone levels taken in 3 to 6 weeks apart. It takes 6 weeks for increased levels from meds to take full effect. Big lag time.

What matters now is your current thyroid lab levels, and are your hypo symptoms going away or not?

The fact that you functioned with that high TSH is pure luck. You should have all other hormone levels checked - they 'pull' on each other, especially adrenals.

[Priss32]

Yes, they were. My lab results read TSH Sensitive >99.990 Actual value 357.7  and my FT4 was .18. Then he had me retested the next day and it came back as TSH @ 344 and my FT4 was .16. I have had almost all the symptoms of hypothyroidism but unfortunately i put them off as pregnancy issues then as post partum hormones getting back to normal.  But in the last 2 months I've my headaches have gotten pretty bad and I've been really  tired. I actually just got used to living with a headache literally all day. what really got me to start looking at it differently was the dizziness I started getting about a month ago. I would see spots and at times everything would go completely black and that when I scheduled a check up with my doctor. I never felt like i was going to pass out though and I've read about people with they're TSH being close to 100 and ending up in the ER and not being able to function, but i don't think I've ever been close to that. I guess that's why I'm so confused about how i could be walking around with my thyroid completely not working for so long.

[LazyMoose]

Still not clear.................those high tsh's were all before the synthroid 125? Right?

[Priss32]

He has me on synthroid 125 mcg. He ordered the MRI to make sure there are no tumors or cysts in my pituitary gland. I had a baby 9 months ago and he believes a lot of the syptoms that i experienced through my pregnancy were actually do to my high TSH levels but were put off as symptoms of pregnancy by my OB.

[goolarra]

I agree...you need to have FT3 and FT4 tested IMMEDIATELY to see if your TSH is really reflecting your thyroid levels or if something else is going on.

Do you have hypo symptoms?  I'm wondering why your doctor is ordering an MRI rather than doing further thyroid bloodwork and getting you started on meds right away.  Did he give an explanation?

[LazyMoose]

Can anyone shed some light? - That TSH is WAY high. EXTREME hypo, there should not be 'different info ' on this fact.

Very unusual. You are SURE there are no decimals missing?

You must have a bunch of other symptoms, I would think.

That's high enough for a thyroid induced 'coma' - dangerous. Body can shut down. You need med.

And you need to see free T3 and free T4 they must be absolutely minimal by now. Seek medical attention now -dont put this off.

[MANmom]

You may be close to myexodemic coma.  If that is your TSH, you really need medication.  Sounds like your thyroid is not working at all.  Google myexodemic coma and look at the symptoms, take it to your doctor.  After removal of my thyroid my TSH got up to 186, I thought I was bad and I felt horrible.  It could be an emergency situation.