I have a suddenly high TSH level

[earthchild1981]

I am 29 years old and a female. I have had my thyroid tested very often due to it being included on routine lab work which I have done pretty often. My thyroid level has always been normal. About 6 months ago the level came back at 7, it was retested about a week later and was just under 4 again. Then i recieved results from my lab work I had done today. ANd while 6 months ago I was back to normal from my elevated thyroid level, today the result was 203. My docotr started me on medication today, but it was a squeeze in appointment. I will not get to talk to her better until a week from now. Is this usual to go from always normal and then in 6 months time go from normal to 203? I know 203 is high, but how "high" of a concern is this level? What can cause that? During the same time time period my always normal cholesterol also went from normal to 302. ANy thoughts/information would be appreciated. Thanx.

[debbie0413]

I just wanted to chime in on part of this.  I do not know the specifics of interaction between lithium and thyroid meds, except that I read in a book once that I believe lithium DOES tend to travel to the thyroid somewhat like iodine does (but please double check that with a health provider).  

My connection to your situation is that my 20 year old daughter who has been diagnosed & treated by RAI for Grave's disease 3 years ago and now may have Hashihmoto's (we are waiting for confirmation on that) ALSO has recently developed an eating disorder (she states since March, 2010).  Since mid-April she has had FOUR psychiatric hospitalizations (2 voluntary and 2 unvoluntary because she took some pills).  She is currently in an eating disorders program for her bulimia and depression, and in my judgment it is the ONLY one that seems to really be effectively treating her.

We may never know whether the depression my daughter has experienced since December was CAUSED by thyroid imbalance, but the thyroid and female hormone imbalances may have kick started or at least complicated her eating disorder.  The people at this inpatient eating disorders program did SOME thyroid tests on my daughter prior to admission (not sure which ones yet), and they advise waiting about 10 days to 2 weeks to retest thyroid and other important levels after my daughter is more nutritionally stable.  It has been difficult to get all of the lab tests done because of so much time my daughter has spent in these psychiatric hospitals.

Anyway, if you want to scan some of the background of my daughter's experiences, you can click on my name to see my post about "psychiatric complications - thyroid involvement."  Maybe there are some parallels between her case and yours.  She seems to be doing really well in this eating disorders program.  Feel free to check back with me anytime about her progress.  

[goolarra]

TSH levels can fluctuate intraday.  Was the blood drawn at the same time of day both times?  Also, TSH fluctuates as a percentage, so the higher it is to begin with, the more it's apt to change.  Going from 203 to 236 is very much different than going from 3 to 36, for example.

You might want to wait until you're no longer hypo before attempting to fill that bed...that's when it gets dangerous!  LOL  Supervising is good...nothing wrong with that...I see you're beginning to realize one of the benefits of this disease!

There are "classic" hypo and hyper symptoms.  However, many symptoms can "cross over" and simply be symptoms of "thyroid not right".  Those of us with a tendency to gain weight, often do it hypo or hyper.  So, although loss of appetite is more often associated with hyper, that may not be the case for you personally.  I'm sure your appetite will come back once you start getting your thyroid hormones back in line.

Glad to hear you're getting feedback from your doctor.  Don't forget to get a copy of all your labwork for your records when you see him.  It's very important to have your history in your possession, especially if you move or have to change doctors for some reason.  Jot down symptoms and meds dosage(s) at the time of the blood draw on each lab sheet.  Later, you'll be able to look back and see when you felt well, not so good, etc.

[earthchild1981]

Hello again. I just got a call from my doctors nurse, she did not tell me much since I will be in office at the end of the week. But she did read off the TSH level from the blood they drew on Thursday. First though----the original tests that showed the thyoid levels elevated (and all the other stuff too) was done onWed. June 30th. So that is when It was 203 for TSH and also the low levels for the T4. I went to my doctor the next day, and she drew my blood again then. I was told today that the level came back at 236 for TSH.
I will have let you know when I hear more then. Hope you had a great 4th!! I ended up attempting to put together and assemble a water bed frame....with no instructions. lol. Normally I could do something like that, but I was tired and feeling sick to my stomach so I made my husband do it while I "supervised" lol. Is it normal to have a loss of appetite with this? Or am I just weird like that? I feel as though my eating disorder is controlled so just wonder if it could be something along these lines? Well anyway, ttyl

[earthchild1981]

Thank you for the site...I will go check it out---probably tomorrow though. I need sleep tonight!! lol All the fireworks going off near us have not woke my daughter and they have been some loud ones...I figure if she can sleep through this noise, hen maybe I will get lucky and she will actually stay in her own bed and make it through the night lol. (still seems a far stretch though, but hey I can hope!!)

[goolarra]

Neat site...thanks.

[Barb135]

Check this website for drug interactions.  Once you agree to their terms of use, you can get on a page that will let you enter all the meds you take and it will tell you which ones interact and how.  

http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html