high tsh

[bingobingo]

Why is tsh 14.1 even taking 175mg thyroxine?

[Lalatoot]

Bingo. We would need clarification. 5 days ago you wrote about being on 112 MCG levothyroxine. Usually we increase levo by 12.5mcg or 25mcg every 6 to 8 weeks.

It takes that time for hormone levels to adjust.

To be able to advise you would need to tell us TSH, ft4 and FT3 levels.

[bingobingo in reply to Lalatoot]

My health plan only tests tsh

[Lalatoot in reply to bingobingo]

Unfortunately TSH doesn't tell you what your thyroid hormone levels are. Many on here resort to private blood tests to get more tests done as Drs seem to think that TSH is all you need to know

Another consideration is how you take your levo. Do you take it with a glass of water 1 hour away from food and 2 hours away from other medication. This is to help it be fully absorbed .

You may also wish to look at vitamin b12, folate , ferritin and vit d levels. These need to be at good levels for thyroid hormones to work efficiently.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you increased dose levothyroxine from 100mcg to 112mcg blood test should be minimum of 6-8 weeks later

TSH is extremely slow to change after any dose increase

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Are you in U.K.?

[bingobingo in reply to SlowDragon]

No California, USA

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to bingobingo]

Testing in USA

stopthethyroidmadness.com/r...

[Batty1]

Bingo you can order your own lab test in the US through the link below I have used them 3xs without any problems and you can select which lab company that is closest to you or cheapest or both … its pretty self explanatory .

walkinlab.com

[bingobingo in reply to Batty1]

Don't you have to have an order from the Doctor?

[Batty1 in reply to bingobingo]

Nope, go to link I sent you and it will take you to the site which will provide a search button that you can then type in the labs you want to pay for (Thyroid Panel) it usually will give you several options so make sure to read them and make sure you select which Lab you want to go to (Labcorp or Quest) this could be different for your area ….

1. Create account

2. Pick the lab

3. Pick the test or panel

4. Pay

5. Print out lab order

6. Schedule appointment online with the lab you picked.

7. Go get tested

8. Results get sent to your account within 2 days and walk-in labs will email you when test are ready.

Its seriously painless although it is a little alien at first but they have excellent customer service to help you if you need it.

[humanbean]

Why is tsh 14.1 even taking 175mg thyroxine?

I'm not sure that I understand your question. The higher the TSH is the more hypothyroid the patient is, and a TSH of 14.1 shows overt hypothyroidism. A dose of 175mcg Levo for someone diagnosed with overt hypothyroidism wouldn't be unusual.

If the patient is hyperthyroid TSH would be very low, often under 0.05.