High TSH Detected

[Nothingstoxic]

HI All,
Just finished my 24 weeks of Hep-C treatment(my weight fell from 70 kg to 59 kg during tx therpy for hep-C but have regained 7kg in 2 months after finishing my tx course).....went for a thyroid blood test  and have been diagnosed with Thyroid Problem.My TSH level is 84.57 uIU/mL.What does it mean and how serious it is? I do feel lazy but apart from that.. i don't have any other symptom.Doc prescribed me THYRO(Thyroxine Sodium Tabs.+ Calcium-Vitamin D-Folic Acid Tabs) and said not to worry.

Secondly,Is it Ok to have a cup of Tea 5-10 min after taking my Thyroid pill in the morning.I'm a Recovering Addict of Brown Sugar...clean since 14th Aug 2008...but do need a cup of tea first thing in the morning .

My final test for Hep-C is due in 4 months to see if I'm cured and now this hypo thyroid probs......is worrying me to the death.KINDLY HELP FOLKS.
Regards,
Monty

[Nothingstoxic]

Thx for ur advice

Regards,
Monty

[medicmommy]

I would wait for the 6 weeks that the thyroid meds take to reach full potential. -Just because you were so hypothyroid at the end of treatment. My levels were much closer to normal at my EOT. If you begin getting palpitations, frequent bowel movements, or feel jittery without explanation, then I'd get them checked sooner. -And then have the antibodies test done at the same time. It's pretty amazing how quickly things reset once the riba is out of your system! Remember too, your immune system won't be back to full strength for a few more months -so keep an eye one your neutrophil (white blood cell) and red blood cell counts! As they rise, you will feel stronger and have better ability to fight off infections. Going hyperthyroid (from thyroiditis or thyroid meds) can aggravate hemolytic anemia during treatment and can slow recovery time post-treatment.
Good luck in your recovery and I'll keep everything crossed for your SVR in 4 months! ~MM

[Nothingstoxic]

I stoped my Tx around 2 months back.My LFT and HCVRNA came out fine and presumed that Thyroid was nothing serious.... would settle down and is due to Riba and Pegasys.I was careless :(.I have started Thyroid medicine.Should i wait for a month and see if the med. is working and go for test after 1 month or should straight away go for Thyroid anti-bodies test to see if i have Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Congrats for overcoming the Demon of Hep-C and thx for waving ur lucky dragon-slaying sword.
Regards,
MOnty

[medicmommy]

Hello fellow hepper!
I did the whole txing and thyroid crankies afterwards. More than likely, you were hyperthyroid during the txing (as the interferon really ticks off the immune system and sometimes attacks the thyroid.) I went from hyperthyroid at week 10-18 and "flipped" to hypothyroid and had to take meds.
At the end of txing I was supposed to have stopped my thyroid med, but it was accidentally continued another 6 weeks and I went hyper again. For a while everything normalized after I stopped taking the meds.
So, here's the thing. More than likely, your TSH is going to normalize within the next 6 months. It takes 6 weeks to 3 months for the ribavirin to purge from your fat cells. Until then, your immune system will be recovering. You may need thyroid meds with monthly level checks until things straighten out.
Get tested for thyroid antibodies to see if you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Often, the hep C tx will reveal and accelerate any underlying disease processes (this is why prior to starting treatment, the patients are supposed to be carefully screened.) It did with me.
This will give you an indicator if your thyroid is going to settle down, or will need close monitoring for the next few years.
I cross my fingers and toes in hopes that you have killed your Hep C dragon and I wave my lucky dragon-slaying sword and emit a Howard Dean girlie scream to your success! YYYYEEEAAAGGGHHH!!!!  From one who has been hep C free for 3 years! ~MM

[Nothingstoxic]

T3 level is .60(...1.81-.27).......T4 level is 1...(5.01-12.45)

[FTB4]

Your TSH is high, and would indicate Hypothyroid, Although the important levels are your Free T3 and Free T4, these are the actual hormones, TSH is a Pituitary Hormone and is used to detect thyroid function, but FT4  FT3 are what should be used to fine tune your symptoms. and keep you healthy. If you can get these lab results with the reference ranges provided, post them for advise and comments. Good Luck FTB4