TSH 21.75

[Jed1986]

I have recently had symptoms of lack of breath(slight goitre?)fatigue and brain fog,so I went to my doctors and at first I was told my symptoms are anxiety but they’d do blood tests for my piece of mind.so my results came back,my TSH levels are 21.75 and I have been told I have hypothyroidism

After some research I discovered the thyroid gland has alot to do with iodine intake

6 months ago I cut out milk altogether and started oat/soy alternatives

I don’t eat alot of fish maybe twice a month

Basically my iodine intake since cutting milk out of my diet has minimal/hardly any

My doctor has been non existent I’ve not had any face 2 face meetings and all this information has been delivered to me over the phone

Ive been told to take 50mg hormone pills and to get a blood test in 3 months to see where my levels are

If I don’t take these pills and concentrate on getting healthy amounts of iodine into my diet will my TSH levels return to normal

Or am I just being hopeful thinking it’s the iodine because of the lack of milk

Also my breathing feels restricted if this is a goiter or an inflammatory gland pressing on my wind pipe will this eventually reduce ?

My voice also seems a little different

But I cant see anything visually around my neck

[greygoose]

You don't just get iodine from milk and fish. You also get it from some fruit, veggies and eggs. And our daily need for iodine is very low. But, if you're worried, get a non-loading iodine urine test. Don't just take iodine supplements. If the test says you're deficient, you need to take it under the supervision of an experienced medical person. There are protocols to put in place, and excess iodine is not a good thing to have because it is antithyroid - among other things.

Iodine is just one of the ingredients of thyroid hormone. But, if your thyroid is failing for some reason, there is not point in increasing your iodine because the thyroid won't be able to use it. So, no, it wouldn't bring your TSH down - nor, more importantly, increase your levels of thyroid hormone.

Your TSH is very high, so I doubt low iodine is the cause of your hypothyroidism. But, was TSH all the doctor tested? Ideally, you also need to know your levels of:

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies.

If your thyroid is swollen - and it sounds as if it is - you could very well have autoimmune thyroiditis - aka Hashi's. If so, the last thing you want to take is iodine.

[Jed1986 in reply to greygoose]

Here are my blood test results my t4 seems to be in a normal range

Blood test

[greygoose in reply to Jed1986]

Your FT4 is in the so-called 'normal' range, but much, much too low. Which is why your TSH is high. You are hypo.

Your B12 and folate are also much, much too low, even though they are in-range. The ranges, actually, don't count for very much! With that level of B12, you need to be tested for Pernicious Anemia.

Your CRP - an inflammation marker - is waaaaaaaaaay too high, indicating that something is very wrong.

Ferritin looks ok, but it's only that level because of your high inflammation. Get rid of the inflammation and your ferritin would also be too low.

Your ignorant doctor needs to start you on levo straight away. No messing about with waiting three months and retesting, because you've obviously been hypo for some time, judging by those results.

[Jed1986 in reply to greygoose]

So I managed to get further test through my doctor, seems I have hashimotos

I’ve been taking 50mg levo for 16 days and my tsh is in normal range which is good I’m guessing although I seem to be experiencing a constant hum in my right ear

Here are my latest blood results the top 4 are the latest 26th August below that are my old results

Bloods

[tattybogle in reply to Jed1986]

Bit hard to read. but;

4th Aug

TSH 21.75 [0.3 -4.8] was on previous picture but ? not shown on this list.

fT4 8.5 [7.7 -20.6]

25th Aug

TPOab > 969 [<9]

TSH 4.4 [0.3 -4.8]

fT3 4.5 [4.2 -6.9]

[greygoose in reply to Jed1986]

Your TSH is only just in the 'normal' range, yes, but far too high still. Should come down to about 1 or under.

And, your FT4/3 are right at the bottom of the range when they should be in the top third of the range for most hypos to feel well - or even higher. So, 50 mcg - which is only a starter dose - is not going to be enough for you, and you should have an increase of 25 mcg six weeks after starting the 50.

Yes, you do have Hashi's.

And your B12 and folate are also much too low, and that will be causing symptoms, too. In fact, your B12 is so low that you ought to be tested for Pernicius Anemia. As you have Hashi's, there is a good chance you could have PA because that is also autoimmune. Don't take any supplements until you have been tested for PA because it will skew the results.

[Jazzw]

Ah, nothing like being gaslighted by your GP, is there? Marvellous. “You’ve got anxiety, you silly thing. But just to prove it, I’ll do some blood tests…”

Don’t suppose anyone apologised for making you feel like a time waster, did they?

Anyway…

With a TSH of 21.75 it almost certainly isn’t going to be an iodine deficiency causing the problem. It’s going to be a thyroid hormone deficiency, and it sounds like it’ll have been brewing for a while.

What made you cut out milk? Were you already struggling and figured maybe you had a milk intolerance issue? Untreated hypothyroidism has 300+ symptoms, including digestive disorders. And brain fog and fatigue. Oh, and anxiety, of course…

Don’t think of levothyroxine as a drug—it’s hormone replacement (and a hormone that you need for every cell in your body to function well). Taking iodine will likely make hypothyroidism worse, despite what you may have read.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

You should have a blood test earlier than in 3 months time.

50mcg is a stater dose likely you will need further dose increases to get right level. This is usually after 6-8 weeks after any dose change. Leaving you another months is just prolonging it unnecessarily.

Many report swollen neck feeling you describe and that is resolved once adequately medicated.

[Jed1986]

Thanks guys I really appreciate the reply’s 🙏 it’s almost like I don’t trust what the doctors told me because of the flippancy the news was delivered

He asked me 3 questions

1) do you smoke “no”

2) do you drink “no”

3) have you got hashimoto in the family “no”

Oh well you have hypothyroidism

Take these pills for the rest of your life and il see you in six months

All delivered over the phone by a doctor I’ve never met

Quick question Has any experienced spasm(twitching) around the right eye ?

[Debimmm in reply to Jed1986]

Yes, all the time. I was told by the optician after physical examination that he would refer me to GP a for investigation and thyroid blood tests, I replied oh I am already hypo. Then he replied “well you need a med review because the twitch is caused by an issue with the muscles holding your eyes in place, they have drooped, this is a sign of insufficient thyroid hormone to drive your metabolism.” PS: Anxiety was my first symptom too, they tried to give me SSRI antidepressants which I refused ( after saying but I have a sunny disposition and feel fine) then CHANGED DOCTORS.

[JAmanda in reply to Jed1986]

Yes my eye twitch only resolved when on much higher meds. You’re only on 50 still? Your t4 is right at the bottom of the range. I’d get private tests done to get the full picture on t4 and T3 then keep raising dose till your symptoms have alleviated and you are not over range on those measures. Your tsh will likely go right down to 1 or below before you start feeling better. Remind Doc the aim of meds is to alleviate symptoms not reach a specific number in a range.

[TSH110 in reply to Jed1986]

I got the eye twitch thing it’s a known symptom of hypothyroidism, it resolves once you are optimally medicated.

[Jed1986]

Also side note

At the time of my blood test I was currently on antibiotics because i had tonsillitis and ovulitis

Would that of interferes with my TSH at all ?

[greygoose in reply to Jed1986]

Not to that extent, no.

[rosetrees in reply to Jed1986]

That would explain why your CRP level was so high.