test results

[misstarr]

I just received a call from my doc. office this morning to let me know that my TSH level is 6. I am 40 years of age with a large amount of stress, I just lost my husband June 22 to lung CA which had spread to his adrenal glands.  I have put on 20lbs in the past year but have blamed it on stress and the fact that I quit smoking, I am returning in one month to retest. Should I be concerned and what could be the out come or treatment?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The stress may have brought out hashimotos/hypothyroism.  Repeat testing is in order and I agree with dunegirl41's comments about testing antibodies and goals of synthroid type therapy.

[dunegirl41]

Hi
You will most likely be put on Synthroid to bring you tsh down to 1.0. When I was first diagnosed my tsh level was 14 and I was having all sorts of symptoms. Once you are on the synthroid you will start to feel better. They will probably run more blood tests to determine if it is Hashimtos(auto immune) or just hypothyroid. Keeping stress down is a big key to feeling better also. I know it is hard, but all that stress works against you long term. Hang in there.