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VERY high TSH level
On Sept. 10th, my TSH level was 485. After taking Synthroid for 4 weeks, it increased to 497. Just got home from the Endocrinologist, and he put me on not only synthetic T4, but also T3. Hope this helps. I feel bad, depression, fatique, hard time swallowing, bad skin problems.... Has anyone heard of a TSH level being this high?? Am worried.
You are very welcome. Did the Endo draw blood for tests? If so, do you know what tests are to be done?
Haven't they tested you for anything other than TSH? You should be tested for Free T3 and Free T4 each time you go in for tests.
No need to worry. TSH is primarily a signal to the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone. When there is inadequate thyroid hormone being produced, the TSH increases. The most common cause for this is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. With Hashi's the autoimmune system erroneously sees the thyroid gland as foreign to the body and produces antibodies to attack and eventually destroy the gland. As this happens the TSH is increasing and the Free T3 and Free T4 levels are diminished. The tests to check for the presence of Hashi's are Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies and Thyroglobulin antibodies. You need to test for both. The tests are often listed as TPO ab and TG ab.
The main thing you are going to need is a good thyroid doctor. A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
The next time you go in for tests, I also recommend testing for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. Hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for those as well.
No need to worry. TSH is primarily a signal to the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone. When there is inadequate thyroid hormone being produced, the TSH increases. The most common cause for this is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. With Hashi's the autoimmune system erroneously sees the thyroid gland as foreign to the body and produces antibodies to attack and eventually destroy the gland. As this happens the TSH is increasing and the Free T3 and Free T4 levels are diminished. The tests to check for the presence of Hashi's are Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies and Thyroglobulin antibodies. You need to test for both. The tests are often listed as TPO ab and TG ab.
The main thing you are going to need is a good thyroid doctor. A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
The next time you go in for tests, I also recommend testing for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. Hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for those as well.
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