High TSH

[dori60]

What kind of medical problems can high TSH levels trigger?  I am 50 years old and have abnormal periods.  Have just had Levothyroxine meds increased.  Can this be a sign of menopause?  Could it be a sign of something more serious going on?  I have been having lower abdomen pain like in the ovaries and cramping in lower back and legs have also been cramping during recent periods.  Just saw gynecologist and he did an ultrasound and said cervix was ok.  Tried a biopsy but was too difficult and painful.  Said he could not get past the uterus.  Said I had some endometriosis.  Concerned there might be something more serious going on.  Will have another blood test next week to see if higher dosage of Levothyroxine is working.

[rumpled]

By the way, it will take around 6 weeks for a change in dose to impact your TSH. So usually testing is done at least 4-6 weeks apart after a change in dose to allow the dose to make a change.

In addition to the thyroid tests, the doctor should test your androgens and see if you are going into menopause, as well as test you for ovarian cancer just in case to put your mind at ease. I had endometriosis - and there is a forum here for that topic where you can ask more questions. There is also one for menopause.

[goolarra]

TSH, per se, causes no medical problems whatsoever.  TSH is merely a messanger from your pituitary to your thyroid, which tells your thyroid to produce more hormones (T4 and T3).

So, what is much more important than TSH is your free T3 and free T4 level.  These are the actual thyroid hormones and responsible for regulating metabolism.  Many factors, other than thyroid hormone levels, can affect TSH, so it's imperative that FT3 and FT4 be tested every time you have bloodwork.

I would think most of us were/are/will be in peri-menopause by the age of 50.  

You might try magnesium for the cramping.  Many of us find that helpful.

When you have your blood drawn next week, be sure they are testing FT3, FT4 and TSH.  When you get your results, you can post them if you'd like, and members will help you interpret them.  Be sure to get the reference ranges along with your results and post them too.  Ranges are lab-specific and have to come from your own lab report.  Just because results are in range, does not mean that you will feel well.  Low "normal" results (bottom half of the range) often leave us with hypo symptoms.

Besides abnormal periods, have you had other hypo symptoms?