Taking Levo but TSH rises

[MariaStrawCinar]

So if you take Levothyroxine for over three months but your TSH actually goes up what does it mean?

You need T3 or anything else

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

MariaStrawCinar

You have Hashi's. Maybe you're swinging into a hypo episode?

Maybe you need an increase in your dose of Levo?

Maybe you ate something or drunk coffee before the test, that can affect TSH?

Maybe you took your test later in the day than previous tests?

Do you have results for TSH, FT4 and FT3?

You can't tell if you need T3 just be looking at the TSH result.

[MariaStrawCinar in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks- sorry shooting in the dark here- they did the test in hospital and scribbled on paper just TSH and T4 It’s just so high

I will increase Levo for now.

My FT3 is always top of the range on every test it seems and T4 at the bottom - not sure what that means..

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

TSH can rise in non-thyroidal illness. You're having a flare up of diverticulitis at the moment aren't you? That could be the cause. I would look at the whole picture, not just TSH.

[MariaStrawCinar in reply to SeasideSusie]

It’s my first experience of diverticulitis and severe infection being g treated with antibiotics in hospital hopefully I can go home tomorrow.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

If I were you I'd not change Levo dose on the strength of that TSH. We shouldn't do thyroid tests during acute illness, we should wait a few weeks after we've recovered for levels to settle.

[humanbean in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

When thyroid hormones - either or both T4 and T3 - are in short supply, it is common for the body to prioritise converting T4 into T3.

It's quite common for hypothyroid people (with a thyroid), before they've ever been treated, to have high in range T3 while T4 is low in range, and is often one of the first signs of trouble in hypothyroidism.

[nellie237 in reply to MariaStrawCinar]

Hi Maria,

I hope that you are able to go home tomorrow, and that you feel better soon. Did the medics in the hospital offer any advice, or just "make an appointment with your GP when you get home"?

[MariaStrawCinar]

Thanks humanbean -