Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

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Test numbers

sometimes_blondie
sometimes_blondie Posts: 241
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So my test numbers arrived, and I don't really understand them. My TSH was 8.3 and free T4 was .7. It looks like they aren't too abnormal. Right now I'm on 50mcg Levothyroxin. Will I be taking this forever? I just don't really understand it all. :huh:

Replies

  • tokataro
    tokataro Posts: 52 Member
    Will I be taking this forever?

    Yes, you probably will. Unfortunately, it's a treatment- not a cure. The same is true of all thyroid replacement meds, as far as I know. You can give your body what it should be pumping out itself, but you can't permanently fix that pump. Hopefully this will seem less depressing when your dosage gets sorted and your symptoms show improvement. I'm no doctor, but it sounds like you're in for a dosage increase. Or two. TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - it's your body's way of asking for more thyroid hormone. T4 is one of those hormones. So your TSH is high because your pituitary gland is "asking" your thyroid to put out more T4 (and maybe T3 also, but that wasn't tested).
  • Alice_H
    Alice_H Posts: 58 Member
    That TSH is entirely too high.

    TSH works inversely - the higher your TSH, the less your thyroid is actually doing. Your TSH should be between 0.3 and 3.0, according to the most recent AACE guidelines. (many patients feel best at the lower end of that - I do best when I'm close to a 1.0.)
  • sometimes_blondie
    sometimes_blondie Posts: 241
    Thank you! I have so many questions for my doc next time I go in!
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    i also feel my best when my thyroid is at 1. my last test in sept was 1.1 and i felt my best. in march i was 2.9 and felt terrible! You will most likely be on meds the rest of your life
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    8.3! Yikes, that's high. Methinks you need more meds.
  • Hi_Im_Jess
    Hi_Im_Jess Posts: 347 Member
    I don't understand whats going on.. I was diagnosed when my TSH level was 7.28 (November 2011) I've had my bloodwork checked every 3 months and it was going down.. Then I had it checked and now my level is 9.06!! How can it go up all of the sudden?!
  • sometimes_blondie
    sometimes_blondie Posts: 241
    I don't understand whats going on.. I was diagnosed when my TSH level was 7.28 (November 2011) I've had my bloodwork checked every 3 months and it was going down.. Then I had it checked and now my level is 9.06!! How can it go up all of the sudden?!

    Hmm...I'm not sure. Maybe you need a stronger dose? There is an excellent site that has been recommended to me, stopthethyroidmadness.com Lots of great info on there! What did your doctor say?

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