High TSH and raised blood pressure

[Sheila46]

Over the last few months my blood pressure has become increasingly high ( I’m not overweight and lead an active life). I have just had my annual hypothyroid results back and my TSH has risen to 6.4 (I am on 75mcg Levo).

For the last 7 years of being hypo I have remained pretty stable with the odd increase and then back again to 75mcg but never this high except when first diagnosed with a TSH of 60). I am concerned that possibly going on meditation for blood pressure whilst my thyroid is under treated may not be the best move as one maybe impacting on the other. My GP want to retest my thyroid in 3 months but I would prefer to have an increase to 88mcg now and then do the retest. I have a blood pressure monitor at home so can see how thing go.

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sheila46

TSH has risen to 6.4 (I am on 75mcg Levo).

My GP want to retest my thyroid in 3 months but I would prefer to have an increase to 88mcg now

What is your doctor's reason for not increasing immediately on the evidence of that result?

When on Levo only, the aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well. You need an increase in your Levo immediately, not wait 3 months for a retest.

If you are in the UK you can use the following information from NHS Leeds Teaching Hospital to support your request

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Thyroxine Replacement Therapy in Primary Hypothyroidism

TSH Level .......... This Indicates

0.2 - 2.0 miu/L .......... Sufficient Replacement

> 2.0 miu/L .......... Likely under Replacement

and look for SlowDragon's reply in this thread which gives further evidence and links

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Sheila46 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the quick response Susie and link. I don’t know why he wants to wait 3 months. I had changed surgeries and this is the first annual review with the new doctors (my old doctors always increased first and then retested after 3 months). I have made an appointment for next week and will insist in as far as I can that the increase is now.

[MaisieGray in reply to Sheila46]

Pre-diagnosis it perhaps makes sense to wait and retest, in case it's a glitch; but 7 years into being hypo, the proof is already there that your thyroid is dysfunctional - so he's wrongly applying a protocol for a different situation.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you perhaps recently had change in brand of Levothyroxine?

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients

Or any other new medication or other changes that may have changed levels?

Menopause often changes things

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised or if under medicated, as these results suggest you are

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

[Marz]

How is your blood pressure now ?

[Sheila46]

I check it at home and it’s sometimes a little high but not dangerously so. It was fine in hospital once the infection was treated.

[Marz in reply to Sheila46]

I have read that it is fine for older people to have higher levels - gets oxygen to the brain !

[Sheila46]

Need all the help I can get!