High TSH

[Joyly]

I recently had blood tests performed for screening for a study testing the diet drug Remonabant (sp?).I was disqualified due to my High TSH results. My blood test came back with a reading of 13.8 for my TSH and 1.3 for my free T4. I do take 100 mcg of Levothroid, but I can't see that it does anything for me. I have  been back to my doctor twice since I started taking the Levothroid about 18 months ago and he said nothing needed to be adjusted. I belong to a health plan that offers only Kaiser (California resident) and it seems to be the pits as far as health insurance. I am grossly overweight, I feel horrible. I last lost weight by walking two hours a day everyday and staying on the Atkins induction diet for about two years. (seriously).  However, I hurt my knees and had to stop walking for about a year. Then I gained back the weight. I have fasted for two weeks straight (drinking water and broth and V8 juice) and I lost absolutely no weight...not even water weight. I have eaten under 900 calories regularly since I gain rapidly on a higher intake. I walk everyday- about an hour, I do step aerobics daily. I cannot budge the weight. My hair is very thin, I take 4 tablets of Vitamin A daily and that has stopped my hair loss. I have no nails to speak of, they just flake off. My skin is dry and rough. Any ideas, anyone?

[goolarra]

Your FT4 is high, and TSH a tad low, but not alarming.  Whether or not you are hyper depends on your symptoms.  Anxiety is a hyper symptom.  Do you have any other hyper symptoms?  Diarrhea, rapid heart rate, high BP, insomnia, etc?  

Do you know your FT3?

How long ago was your most recent meds adjustment?  Did you feel well on it for a while?

[marymary820]

hey
long time!! a question for you please, my consultant is on holiday and i think i have now gone hyper my T4 is 23 top of the range is 22 and my tsh is 0.2. range is 0.5 to something, does that mean i am now hyper? i don't know what to do about my meds, i have started getting anxiety attacks aswell :(

[goolarra]

Yes, the thyroxine can be a shock to your system.  You're body has to get used to having those hormones available again.

I do feel well now.  I haven't had any hypo symptoms in close to two years.  I briefly had some hyper symptoms a little over a year ago when I was overmedicated.  You will feel better, too.  This just takes such patience...it's really an art form getting your meds right.  You have to increase fast enough to keep symptoms at bay, but not so fast that your body doesn't have time to adjust to each higher level of hormones.  Just keep at it slow and steady...you'll get there.  You felt good for a while on 25 mcg, then you backslid a little...you'll probably find that that happens after every increase on your way to the proper dose, BUT the good days will increase and start outnumbering the bad days each time.  Do you keep a journal of meds and symptoms?  Sometimes the changes are subtle unless you can go back and read what was happening a while back.  Good luck with your increase.  

[marymary820]

thanks for replying, you are very helpful! when i first went on levo my chest went very tight, i had insomnia and palpations but that only lasted about 4 or 5 days but i was very hypo so don't know if the thyroxine was a bit of a shock to the system?! i will phone the doctors tomorrow then to see someone as can't stand feeling like this for another 3 days! do u feel normal now? i am worried i will never feel like myself again!

[goolarra]

Well, your labs still need some work, and you still have some symptoms.  I wouldn't have a problem increasing as long as you're tolerating your 25 mcg well.  You might consider taking 37.5 mcg for a couple of weeks to see how you do with that, then increasing to 50 if 37.5 goes well.  In order to do the 37.5, you'll either have to have 25s to break in half and take 1 1/2-25s or get some 75s and take a half.  I think the doctor who called you has the right idea.

[marymary820]

ok, sorry to bother you AGAIN!  i think i spoke to soon about feeling better, suddenly started feeling really tired and nausea but my bloods ar e so much better. My T4 is 13 range is 9.4-22 and my TSH is 11 which is still high but better than 45! range is 0.5-5 my doctor is on holiday but the one that called me wanted to put me up to 50mcg but i was not sure about this and said would rather wait for my regular doctor to come back?