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Thyroid  (Expert Forum)
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High TSH
Answered by
Mark Lupo, M.D. - Thyroid Nodules, Thyroid Cancer, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Thyroid Ultrasound
Thyroid & Endocrine Center of Florida Sarasota - FL
Questions in the Thyroid forum are answered by Dr. Mark Lupo. Topics covered include goiter, graves disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, thyroid cancers, thyroiditis, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
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MedHelp Member's Question

High TSH

by AK19, Dec 14, 2005 12:00AM
I had rai 8/2005 and now I am hypo.  My tsh went from 83 to 44 and ft4 is low.  I am experiencing alot of odd symptoms and wanted to know if this is normal or if something else is going on.  I am depressed, cry alot, still on innopran for the anxiety, overall feeling of flu like symptoms, want to go back to bed.  I also am dizzy sometimes and have to lay down.  I have a demanding job and I have a hard time leaving the house because I feel so poorly and don't want to be anywhere if I start to feel bad.  My endo thinks there might be something else going on, but I don't know what to do.  This has been going on for such a long time, I can't do this anymore.  Are all these symptoms from the tsh being so high?
Doctor's Answer

by Mark Lupo, M.D., Dec 14, 2005 12:00AM
I presume you are on thyroid hormone treatment - it may take a few months to get back normal - goal TSH around 1 -- if you are young and otherwise healthy - go to a full 0.7mcg/pound replacement (based on "lean body weight").  The high TSH is an indication of low thyroi function and doesn't itself typically cause symptoms.
Member Comments (9)

by HashiMan, Dec 14, 2005 12:00AM
To: AK19
Hello Ak19, I posted a question for the forum Dr. just above yours, so we both should see a response soon. I saw your symptom list and saw similars to mine. I forgot to mention dizziness in mine sepecially at first standing up from sitting or laying down.  My TSh was just below 10 when I got hypothyroid, so yours being as high as you noted would sure be responsible for those symptoms.  I hope a Dr. will get you treated soon because those emotions will improve more than you can imagine if they'll get you on some hormone.  Your TSh is way higher than it should be!! I also have the flu-like aching at times as well.

I hope the moderator on here didn't mind me posting to you before your Dr answer, if so maybe will tell me.

Best regards

by AK19, Dec 14, 2005 12:00AM
Forgot to mention, I am taking 100 mcg of Synthroid.

by NURSELPN, Dec 14, 2005 12:00AM
To: AK19
AK19,

I am a graves pt. also treated with I-131 last Feb.. I can identify with your high TSH. When mine crested it was 89.

I could bearly walk any distance due to absolutely no strength in my extremities.It felt like someone poured me out & left the shell & the more I moved the worse it was. I was very short of breath & actually felt like I couldn't take a deep breath. If I moved just right I would have muscle spasms in the wierdest places, my chest wall, under my arms, over my shoulder blade & up the back of my upper leg. Not all at once of course but almost every time I exerted that area of my body. I knew there was something terribly wrong. It was an effort to walk from one room to another in my home. I could not think straight at all, even to the point of expressing my self. My face swelled esp. on the right side & my graves eye disease started. I was so fatigued & weak I really don't know how your working feeling like that. It's no wonder you are depressed.

Emotions play a big part in this disease as I'm sure you know if you were hyper now hypo. I'm sorry that anyone else has to go through that. I'm somewhat improved but still far from normal & my family physican is still adjusting my Armour. I have been off work for over a year & I know work still isn't in my near future. It's unbeleivable that anyones thyroid can play such havioc with their body, mind, & life isn't it. I do have another endocrine problem that is affecting my recovery but this thyroid thing sure knocked me off my feet. Unless you've experienced this disease first hand it's very hard to contemplate it's ramifications on your health isn't it. The sad part is after awhile we just sound like another complaining patient when all we're trying to do is get through from day to day. God Bless & please be frank with your Dr. ... Tell him how sick you feel, what a hard time your having, that working & having to go out everyday & perform is affecting you. I know where your at & it's a nightmare.

by AK19, Dec 14, 2005 12:00AM
To: NURSELPN
Thank you for your response.  I easily forget that I'm not the only person going thru this.  I feel like I am bugging my new endo by calling and letting him know that I am having a hard time functioning.  The only reason I am still working is that I make more money than my husband and I have to work.  It's good to hear that someone else is/was having a hard time w/ all of this.  I am only 29 and am an athlete, or used to be.  How am I going to recover from all of this?  Do you feel realitively normal now that your dose is better?  I don't know if I can do this for another 6 months while the dose is corrected.  Graves disease has taken over my life and I need to know how to get it back!  Please let me know how you feel now and how you got thru this.

by NURSELPN, Dec 15, 2005 12:00AM
To: AK19
Knowing how you already feel I'm reluctant to tell you I still feel pretty lousy. I'm easily fatigued, very unmotivated, have difficulty concentrating, poor memory, forgetful, neuropathy in hands & feet w/intermittent joint pain & some depression. But some of those symptoms could also be attributed to my low B-12 level, who knows. Many of the symptoms are the same. I also have symptoms with my graves eye disease. My thyroid levels along with my tsh are still out of wack along w/ my B-12 level. My Armour was just recently increased again. I just have a hard time functioning & being a nurse I really cannot safely work right now physically or mentally.

I also was the main bread winner in the household & when I was so upset about not working my endo.told me "I could not take care of anyone right now but it was time for me to be taken care of." Being a patient was a difficult role for me to accept after being a nurse for 30yrs.. I am a 54yr. old female, Who did not quit working when I got sick but attributed all the different symptoms to other things & I have to admit I self diagnosed, as a nurse & a women does, & kept going because I felt I had to. I had been hypo since the early 80's & it never crossed my mind that it could be thyroid related. So I was in pretty bad shape by the time I went to the see the Dr.... I could no longer function at work & that was scarey. I actually think I have been very close to a thyroid storm more than once during this ordeal.

I had been very organized, worked full time, my housework was always done & I raised a family. I was fairly energetic my whole life. And now... I think... NOW WHAT is going to happen. I hope someday I'll be able to return to work but I'm still just trying to get through from day to day. I never want to be forced to work while being that sick again. Thank God my family physican has gone through this whole thing with me & is very understanding. From what I read not all physicans are like that. They dismiss many symptoms & complaints of patients. All I know that, as a medical provider, I had NO idea how devasting this disease could be.

Sorry for the long post but you probably can not compare my recovery with yours due to the B-12 problem. But I do understand what you are going through.

Take care of yourself! Your the only mom & wife your family's got. God Bless & Merry Christmas & a I wish you a Happy & Healtheir New Year!  Jean

by ancientmariner, Dec 15, 2005 12:00AM
To: AK19
I had RAI in October of 2002. When I went hypo, I was put on Synthroid, and for 2-1/2 years felt miserable, even though the doctor told me labs were "normal". He told me that none of the symptoms I had (extreme fatigue, huge weight gain, aching joints, etc.) could be related to thyroid, even though I had NEVER had any trouble with them before Graves. I KNEW the problems were caused by my thyroid, so I started to research. I found out about Armour thyroid, and persuaded my PCP to prescribe it. Then I found a naturopath who actually knew HOW to dose Armour, and for the first time in over 3 years, I'm beginning to have some energy, and feel like my old self again. I now take 3-1/2 grains (210 mg) of Armour every day, and am on adrenal support as well, due to testing that showed low cortisol levels all day. I truly believe that if I hadn't found out about Armour, I'd still be miserable.

by jessica28, Aug 09, 2007 04:03PM
I've been hypo (tsh levels varying from 7.01 in 2003 to 8.36 in March of 2007.)  I'm not comfortable with taking synthroid for the rest of my life - as my doctor told me I should.  My free T4 level is at 1.0.  I don't know if I have any symptoms to speak of - it feels like I've been tired for the past 5 years.  I'm trying to get pregnant and someone told me it's near impossible to conceive, let alone carry a baby to full term with tsh levels above 4.  I'm only 28 and would really like to get this thing figured out avoiding prescrip. drugs.  I need help - I've heard iodine, etc. Also - since I'm doing this without medical oversight, is it true I should get my levels checked every 6 - 10 weeks? As you all can see, I'm both confused and concerned.  thanks jess

by chrisanda, Aug 10, 2007 07:25PM
To: anyone
Has anyone had mouth dryness and /or throat tightness due to their hypothyroid?

I just got back on my Armour after being told that my levels were normal in feb.
Many doctors treat everyone the same, and sincemy levels were within the perameters,I was taken off.
Evidently, I still needed it. I am suffering from anxiety and the symptoms above.
Please help......
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