HIGH TSH LEVEL

[avinash123]

My TSh was 98 about 8-9 months back and t3 was also lower than the limit. I was given ELTROXIN 75 mg. MY TSH reduced to 6 in 2 months time. However now it is increasing again even with medicine. It has increased from 6 to 10 in next two months. From 10 to 20 in further two months. Again in next two months it has gone to 22. What should I do.

[kosmickaz]

You're under medicated. That's obvious.

How are you feeling?

I presume your doctor knows about these blood results? What are your levels of thyroid hormone (and the reference ranges) - that would be helpful to assess more fully whats going on...FT4 & FT3 if they have done them...?

What is the plan from the Dr, regarding your results?

[Jackie]

Hi I would make sure exactly what your ( TSH) T4 and Free T3. Be sure to have the vital ranges. it is ;possible that you would be better with the Eltroxin and a little T3. It all depends on the bloods. Ideally T4 should be in top third of range and fT3, near the top of the range. For this reasons my Endo gives me some T3 and some armour.Originally by a private doc I was put up to 7 grains of armour ( no bloods) and very ill. My T4 not too bad , any way.

Low FT3 can relate to liver disease. it would be worth asking for the liver function tests, LFT`s, just to be sure

Best wishes,

Jackie.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

A couple of questions about your post:

Eltroxin is currently unavailable in the UK - so are you somewhere else?

Why did your doctor not increase your dose - either when your TSH was still at 6, or when it rose to 10, and certainly when it hit 20 and 22?

It is usual to start people at one dose and then slowly increase it until satisfactory results are achieved. Typically you might start at 50 mcg, be increased to 75 mcg after a couple of months, then (possibly) to 100 mcg after another couple of months - and maybe further in time. Starting you at the slightly higher 75 mcg might have been because your TSH was pretty high. But not increasing your dose is very odd.

If the story is as it appears, then you almost certainly need a dose increase. I'd suggest 100 mcg, then re-test in 6 to 8 weeks.

Rod

[shaws Administrator]

This is what I read if your TSH remains high although I think the comments above should be taken into account.

thyroid.about.com/b/2009/03...

[JeanneBCat]

that is unfortunately what happened to me 16 years ago, everything, all blood tests, went wacko because of the cancer and the high tsh was actually not an acurate read. get your thyroid checked out to look for tumors, and whatever blood tests register thyroid cancer, cant recall what it is called.

OR the rx is not working. strange thing the thyroid/liver combo, liver converts t4 to t3. my rx has not been working since november '13, i have NO t4 t3 in blood, half dead at this point, and new rx TYROSINT not working either. going to try pure t3 made by lab, take every 12 hours. GOOD LUCK XXX