TSH wild ride

[JessicaBean1928]

I'm sorry this is so long.

I've been on the same amount of Synthroid (150 mcg) for nearly 20 years, with testing quarterly at times because it was included with other blood work I needed to have done.  Last fall, my TSH tested at 34.  I felt fine!  My physician thought it was a fluke.  Three months later, my TSH came in at 59.  I still felt fine.  Beginning in April, I started .175 mcg. and within 2 weeks I was suffering from severe palpitations, etc.  So, on the advice of my physician I went back to .150 and very, very gradually increased my dose.  I got to about .175 and was there for about 2 weeks and was tested in May.  My TSH was 9.3, my t4 was mid-range at 1.30.   My cholesterol numbers were the lowest they'd been in years.  So, due to the still elevated TSH, I was advised to continue a gradual increase.  Gradual it has been, but from here on out I started having very hyper symptoms...jittery, slight tremors, irritable, my first panic attack, etc, but I powered on.  I'm now up to .200 mcg with t4 @1.40 (.7-1.9) and t3 @ 3.3 (2.0-4.) for the last few weeks.  My TSH is 13.  It's gone up!!  Help.

I'm an anxious person anyway, but now even more so.   I'm not coping well with stressors and I'm overwhelmed by situations that prior to all this would have been pieces of cake.  I cry easier than before.  I still have slight tremors every now and then.  I can't stand the heat and perspire unbelievably with the slightest effort.  My cholesterol numbers have dropped even lower to a point I haven't seen since I was slender and in my 30's.  My ALT/AST are both now slightly elevated out of range.

I have a doctor's apt Friday.  I refuse to go any higher with the Synthroid and, in fact, want to drop to .175.  I'm concerned that this high level of Synthroid is overtaxing my liver, plus I feel like crap.  I felt better when my TSH was at 59.

Anyone see any potential contributors to this problem?  Please, please help me with your expertise and experience.  Thank you.

[JessicaBean1928]

Thank you for your response. I'll look for that story and the report. FYI, I've been tested for Celiac and, happily, am negative. The T3&4 readings are free t3&4. I'm already on a statin for cholesterol and have been for years. Guess there's nothing like too much Synthroid to do the trick. Thanks!

[gimel]

Doctors just don't understand that TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3.  TSH does not correlate with symptoms.  Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.  What is it that a high TSH is supposed to be showing the doctor that the Free T4 and Free T3 are not?  Makes no sense.  

If the doctor wants further evidence, beyond your test results, that TSH does not correlate well with either Free T4 or Free T3, show him this link.  The charts show clearly just how poorly TSH correlates with both Free T4 and Free T3.

http://www.clinchem.org/content/55/7/1380/F2.expansion.html

Beyond that your situation makes me think of one of our members whose doctor kept insisting that she was hypo, strictly because of her high TSH.  You need to hear goolarra's story.