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]

You hit the nail on the head...if your condition is controlled properly (for YOU individually) with whichever meds work best for you, then you should not feel ill.  I take just levo, as many of us on here do, and I feel just fine on it.  Many doctors don't know how to adjust properly or refuse to prescribe meds with T3 in them for those that need them, and that's where the problems come in.  We don't hear from people who are pleased with their treatment.  Also, there are many people out there who insist that there is only ONE proper treatment for hypo, and that's what EVERYONE should be taking.  We're all different, different things work best for each of us, they're full of sh/t no matter which treatment they're pushing.

Eight weeks is a bit long, I think, at this stage.  If you're feeling better after four weeks and don't mind waiting the extra four, it's not a problem.  However, if you don't see some improvement at the 4-5 week mark, I'd insist on labs sooner.  You're at the stage (very beginning) where you don't know if you'll need an increase or if the thyroid might recover somewhat after having a "rest" (if it's not autoimmune).  I think it's important to stay on top of it until you get on a stable dose and determine what's going on.  My endo was doing four-week labs when he was increasing my dose.  Judge by how you feel in a month or so...

[marymary820]

no he is still waiting for the results, just stumbled across some website about levothyroxine with all these people saying how ill they feel on it - but surely that is due to the fact their condition is not controlled properly? he said i would have a blood test in 8 weeks?!!

[goolarra]

It's always best to start at a low dose and build up...it can make the transition onto meds so much easier.  Just be sure to have bloodwork again in four to five weeks and have him adjust your dose again.  

Thyroid dysfunction or disease seldom works in a nice, smooth pattern.  It sounds like your thyroid just took a major step down.  

I'm glad he put you on meds.  It may take an increase before you see complete improvement.  Have your antibodies tests come back yet?

[marymary820]

well i went to my doctor he was going to call me latest bloods Free T4 7.4!! tsh 30 so he has but me on 25 mcg of levothyroixine, no wonder i felt so rough! i don't understand how my T4 dropped so quickly in two weeks i hope i am on a high enough dose!

[goolarra]

Your FT3 is over the top...I'm really surprised that you're not feeling hyper from that.  However, your FT4 is very low in the range...way down in the bottom quarter.  I'd suggest cutting back on the Armour a little bit and adding some T4 meds to the mix.  That would give you more FT4 for conversion between doses of Armour with its T3  .It would also help to balance your FT3/FT4. Since you're on meds with T3 in them, it's hard to say how you'd convert on your own.

I'm also surprised that your TSH is as high as it is with FT3 so high. It will be interesting to see what your current labs look like.  It looks almost like something else might be going on here.  Ever been tested for RT3?  

[CarolG52]

Yes- 5.3 is my FT3
I take Armour 1 grain 4 X week & 1.5 grains 3 X week
He upped my dose of 1.5 grains from 2 x week to 3 x week.
Mainly Hypo, although I'm now so much better than I was 2 years ago.
I'm scheduled to do labs again this week, I don't normally wait this long but we moved out of Sacramento for about 6months and are now back, so I hooked back up with my PCP & endo.
I wasn't sure if I should cut back to 1.5 2 Xweek.  I did notice slight palpatations a couple times in the last couple week or so but nothing major.
I have gone through the whole ga,et of hypo drugs trying to find the one that would work best for me.  Armour so far as beat, synthroid alone at different doses, synthrtoid & cytomel at dif doses.
I have also completed stopped intake of any form of sugar and honey.  I had a ELIZA test(blood) done and found out that my body was having ahigh reaction to any form of sugar & honey to name some.  So, I was thinking now that I have been off them for 6 months, maybe my body is ina healthy state and maybe the dose is a bit too high?  all speculation on my part and will need to review with my endo.