health

[radha12]

my tsh level is 49 what does it mean

[gimel]

Please post the actual thyroid test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also identify if you were taking thyroid med at the time or not, and if so, what dosage.  Also, if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, please post those as well.  

Those symptoms are very symptomatic of hypothyroidism  Likely your dosage is inadequate, or your are not converting the T4 to T3, which is common when taking T4 meds.  You should make sure they always test you for Free T3 and Free T4 each time you go for tests.  Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms while Free T4 and TSH do not.  

[speller]

My TSH is over 6, my T4 is normal, and I am very symptomatic of hypothyroidism. I have become extremely fatigued, I've gained at least 10 lbs this month even though I've switched to a fruit-vegetable-protein based way of life, my hair's falling out, and I'm always cold, even though the temp outside is finally hitting 70 degrees.. My doctor upped my levothyroxine from 1.00 mcgs' to 1.12 mcgs..

How long until I feel relief?
Thank you..

[gimel]

Even though TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that it is inadequate as a diagnostic for thyroid problems, when a TSH is that high, it likely means that you are hypothyroid.   At best TSH is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also the levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4.  Free T3 is the most important test because scientific studies have shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while TSH and free T4 did not correlate very well at all.

Please have a look at this link and tell us if you have any of the symptoms listed for hypothyroidism.

http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/hypothyroidism-too-little-thyroid-hormone

If you do have symptoms, I suggest that you try to get testing for free T3 and free T4 (not the same as total T3 and total T4).  Together with symptoms, the test results for FT3 and FT4 will be adequate to determine if you need medication for hypothyroidism.  If you do, then there will be other tests that should also be done.