Aa
TSH of 11.6
I recently went to a family medicine doctor for a moderately itchy rash on my forearms. I also have been unusually tired and have been gaining weight. The doctor felt the rash maybe caused by a blood pressure medication I had recently started (Lisinpril) and he switched me to Benicar. I still have the rash.
At my visit, my blood work was done and my TSH was 11.6. Could this be causing the rash? Also, I am wondering how long it should take for my TSH to get back down again. I have taken Levothroid for over 15 years due to complete removal of my thyroid because of thyroid cancer. I have had a few medications adjustments over the years but my last major adjustment was 6 months ago when my dosage was decreased from 175mg to 125mg (my TSH was 0.6). My new dosage is 150mg. How long will it take for me to feel better again? When should my blood test be repeated? Should I be seeing an endocrinologist. I am feeling very frustrated.
At my visit, my blood work was done and my TSH was 11.6. Could this be causing the rash? Also, I am wondering how long it should take for my TSH to get back down again. I have taken Levothroid for over 15 years due to complete removal of my thyroid because of thyroid cancer. I have had a few medications adjustments over the years but my last major adjustment was 6 months ago when my dosage was decreased from 175mg to 125mg (my TSH was 0.6). My new dosage is 150mg. How long will it take for me to feel better again? When should my blood test be repeated? Should I be seeing an endocrinologist. I am feeling very frustrated.
COMMUNITY LEADER
AR-10 has not been on the forum for a long time, so he won't answer your question.
You might want to post a thread of your own in order to get current member's thoughts on your situation.
At 11.6, you probably feel very poorly; however, you should not be dosing thyroid med, based solely on TSH. Have you had Free T3 and Free T4 tested? If so, please begin another post and include the results for Free T3, Free T4, TSH and any other tests you might have had done (such as antibodies), along with the reference ranges shown on your lab report, since these vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report.
That said - it takes at least 4-6 weeks to get the full benefit of the med, so at 2 weeks, no, you should not be on a higher dose. It's always better to start lower and work your way up slowly, in order to avoid adverse reaction. You should retest about 6 weeks after changing a dose or med.
You might want to post a thread of your own in order to get current member's thoughts on your situation.
At 11.6, you probably feel very poorly; however, you should not be dosing thyroid med, based solely on TSH. Have you had Free T3 and Free T4 tested? If so, please begin another post and include the results for Free T3, Free T4, TSH and any other tests you might have had done (such as antibodies), along with the reference ranges shown on your lab report, since these vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report.
That said - it takes at least 4-6 weeks to get the full benefit of the med, so at 2 weeks, no, you should not be on a higher dose. It's always better to start lower and work your way up slowly, in order to avoid adverse reaction. You should retest about 6 weeks after changing a dose or med.
my TSH level was also 11.6 but my doctor gave me only 50 mcg i only learned of this condition after going to a weight loss clinic and the test results came back 11.6. I have only been taking this medicine for about 2 weeks and i was wondering should i be on a higher dose?
The reason I asked about the testing intervals is I was curious to see if your doctor followed up after changing your meds.
He didn't. He should have re-tested 6-8 weeks later.
The reason I asked about your general health is I wanted to hear you say you have not been miserable for fifteen years. Thank you for that. I needed to hear it.
He didn't. He should have re-tested 6-8 weeks later.
The reason I asked about your general health is I wanted to hear you say you have not been miserable for fifteen years. Thank you for that. I needed to hear it.
After my total thyroid removal surgery, I had a very hard time adjusting to and feeling well with my thyroid medication. It took a good year before I felt good. After that my blood work was usually checked once a year. For the most part, I felt well other than two other times for a few months. Once it was when my TSH level was around 4.5 and the internal medicine doctor felt that was ok. (I ended up going to an endocrinologist and having my dose changed.) Another time, I felt poorly was when I was prescribed and took the generic drug. When my thyroid levels are off I gain weight no matter what I eat.
Currently, I have gained 40 pound since last June. And I have been trying to lose, eating around 1100 calories a day, low fat diet. When I was feeling good, I do very well weight wise by following a low carb diet. That means, no bread, no pasta, no rice, limited starchy vegetables like potatoes and carrots and eating fruits like strawberries, melons, and peaches.
The family medical doctor, who recently ordered blood work and upped my Levothroid dosage, did not tell me when to make another appointment. What I have done is made an appointment with an endocrinologist and my appointment is in early May. That was the earliest appointment I could get with an experienced MD.
Currently, I have gained 40 pound since last June. And I have been trying to lose, eating around 1100 calories a day, low fat diet. When I was feeling good, I do very well weight wise by following a low carb diet. That means, no bread, no pasta, no rice, limited starchy vegetables like potatoes and carrots and eating fruits like strawberries, melons, and peaches.
The family medical doctor, who recently ordered blood work and upped my Levothroid dosage, did not tell me when to make another appointment. What I have done is made an appointment with an endocrinologist and my appointment is in early May. That was the earliest appointment I could get with an experienced MD.
It may take several months for you to feel better again.
That adjustment from 175mcg to 125mcg was huge, and obviously too big a jump. Hopefully the 150mcg will bring you back to where you need to be.
I have a few questions.
How often do you have thyroid bloodwork, normally?
How often did you have it checked after the change from 175mcg to 125mcg?
When is your next bloodwork going to be?
Over the last fifteen years, have you had times when you felt fit and healthy?
That adjustment from 175mcg to 125mcg was huge, and obviously too big a jump. Hopefully the 150mcg will bring you back to where you need to be.
I have a few questions.
How often do you have thyroid bloodwork, normally?
How often did you have it checked after the change from 175mcg to 125mcg?
When is your next bloodwork going to be?
Over the last fifteen years, have you had times when you felt fit and healthy?
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