Hypothyroidism blood test results tsh levels

[Julieanne73]

Hi. I just had my usual thyroid blood test results back. Everything normal except the tsh levels which is 5.17. I'm in 100mcg of levothyroxine. Doc wants to speak to me to discuss it. Anybody else's been this high and dud you have to increase or decrease your meds??

[Hidden]

Hi julieanne,

Well it looks like you need a dose increase to bring that TSH back down as its too high. Ideally it should be around 1 which is where most people feel well.

Your doctor may want to increase your Levo.

[Julieanne73 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Yes I have had sleeping issues and some fatigue. So will see doc tomorrow and get sorted so I can feel better 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Julieanne73]

Great. Should make a huge difference quite quickly.x

[Julieanne73 in reply to Hidden]

I've been having such dry eyes too and using eye drops frequently. Roll on when it's sorted. Good job I'm not afraid of needles, having these blood tests lol X

[Jefner]

Mine came back at 15.10 on my test results 12 dys ago. I was alternating between 75/100mcg. I upped dose to 125mcg straight away but not seeing any relief in symptoms yet

[Mangodog]

Yes had my meds increased when it has been hovering at that level or higher. 5.17 is not that high to be honest (I have been up to 38 before) but high enough for you to notice symptoms which is the main thing. Focus on that rather than the actual numbers. Regarding your dry eyes, is this a symptom that only occurs when your TSH levels are higher than normal or is it something that can occur with "within normal range" of your TSH?

[Jefner in reply to Mangodog]

How long did it take for you to notice a difference in your symptoms after increasing?

[Mangodog in reply to Jefner]

Takes a fair few weeks for improvement of symptoms as the thyroxine needs to build up in your system before it effects your TSH, T4 and subsequently T3. That's why blood tests are usually 3months after from the start of an increased dose to allow for the adjustment to take place and stabilise.

[Jefner in reply to Mangodog]

Most say on here about 5-6 weeks

[Julieanne73 in reply to Mangodog]

My left eye is on,y really dry when my thyroid is not in normal range. Otherwise it becomes dry on and off frequently

[Julieanne73]

Ah, so I won't notice any difference from the increase straight away. 😞

[Mangodog in reply to Julieanne73]

No not at all. Within about a month you will see a gradual improvement and slowly improvements will continue to be made around the two month mark, after that further improvements are unlikely. It's all slow and gradual unlike say antibiotics where three/four days most people tend to feel much better. This however all assumes that the dosage is correct and with my experience of thyroxine finding the correct dosage can be hit or miss. After a year of three month changes of dosage I am still being experimented upon, either too much or too little.

[Julieanne73]

Ah ok. Thanks for the info. Now I know not to expect sudden improvement. Totally agree it's hit or miss with our meds. A yo yo springs to mind 😑

[Julieanne73]

I had my opticians appointment earlier this year and she just said its dry and I must out eye drops in the eye ALL the time not only when it feels dry. My bad 🙄. No haven't heard of sorjens 😳

[Julieanne73]

My doctor asked me to repeat blood test in 4 weeks. So I'm having 100mg one day and 125mcg the next day and so on because of my dry eye and energy levels down.

[Mangodog]

Yes was wondering that as Sjorgens and thyroid can go hand in hand as they are both auto immune. definitely speak to the doctor about it and see if you can get eye drops on prescription as well.