Does Lyme Disease cuase TSH to go high?

[Yo311245]

My recent blood work showed a slightly elevated TSH (4.97). 2 weeks ago I had a dear tick bite.
Does anyone know if dear tick bite (lyme disease) cause TSH to elevate? I have to wait another month
to check the blood again to confirm if I have lyme disease.

Thanks a lot

Yo

[Nyxie63]

There are a couple of tests that can be done for babs and bart.  They can run PCRs, FISH, titres, etc.  It really depends on what the doc orders and what the particular lab they're run through offers.

Unfortunately, like the lyme tests, there isn't a single one that's 100% conclusive - or even close.  That's why these are all clinical diagnoses (diagnosed by symptoms).

If you can afford it, Igenex is really the best lab for lyme and co-infection testing.  They don't take insurance tho (except for medicaid).  It runs a little under $200 to get the IgG and IgM Western Blots done.  Co-infection testing is a lot more.  It ran me about $500 total for both WBs and babs and bart testing.  And you need a dr to order the blood testing and recieve the results.  Might be something to think about.

Good luck and wishing you negative results all the way around!  And no further symptoms! :)

[Yo311245]

Just made an appointment for today with my family doctor. I will definitely request one month antibiotics treatment. Are there any test for babesia and bartonella?
Thanks again for your invaluable help.

Yo311245

[Nyxie63]

Here are some good links on pediatric lyme.  Hope they help.  

http://www.columbia-lyme.org/flatp/lymeoverview.html

http://www.lymesite.com/children.htm <--- this site has waaay too much information, i.e. lotsa links. Still, definitely worth going through.

http://www.canlyme.com/pediatric.html <--- excellent children's symptoms list

If these sound like your son, please get him to a lyme-literate doc.  There's an excellent doctor near Lancaster PA who treats children.  She has a waiting list, but is definitely worth it.  I have her # and can PM you if you're interested.

[Nyxie63]

1 week of antibiotics isn't enough.  Period.

4 weeks of antibiotic treatment is standard.... and that's if you've just gotten bitten. And then there's the problem of co-infections such as babesia and bartonella.  Both have to be treated with different antibiotics than lyme.  In spite of what most GPs say, babs and bart are NOT rare.  Just the opposite.  It's rare to find someone with JUST lyme.

I assume your doc's running an ELISA test.  Since you were just bitten, if you have lyme, it should be positive.  If it isn't, ask for a Western Blot, just to make sure.  Better safe than sorry.

Fatigue is a huge part of lyme and co-infections.  If the fatigue continues, I'd suggest seeing a lyme-literate doctor.

Here are some links - please read them.

http://www.ilads.org/guidelines.html - These are treatment guidelines.  It might be a good idea to print them out and show them to your doc.

http://www.truthaboutlymedisease.com/ - this is a good intro to lyme

http://www.cassia.org/essay.htm  - Excellent essay, although long.  When to suspect Lyme Disease.

http://www.lyme.org/otherdis/ld_symptoms.html  - Fairly comprehensive list of lyme symptoms.

I hope this helps.

[worriedinmd]

I had a deer tick in my ankle once (three+ years before I knew of any thyroid problems). The doctor immediately put me on a 10-day regimen of antibiotics.

My oldest son was dx with Lyme's years ago. Since then, he needs stronger & longer antibiotics any time he gets a bacterial infection.

[Yo311245]

Nyxie63,
Thanks a lot. My family doctor told me that I have to wait for 6 weeks to get a lyme screen test as IgG and IgA won't develop until 6 weeks later. So I am still waiting. He gave me 1 week antibiotics. Not sure that is enough. I felt tired, I guess that is consistent with elevated TSH.

Thanks again for the explanation and hope you recover completely.

Yo311245

[Nyxie63]

Lyme affects every part of your body, including the endocrine system.  Many people become hypothyroid once they develop lyme.  I'm trying to find out myself if anyone's hypoT improves once they've started to get better.

Btw, I was dx'd with lyme almost 3 months ago.  Being treated for babesia and bartonella too.  

What kind of test are you having done?  What kind of doc are you seeing?

Hope you find some answers soon. :)