Extremely high TSH Level, still don't feel any better?

[Rachelhgh94]

Hello, I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a month ago. I have three young children and my youngest is 1, I currently still EBF him. I feel like I'm going to pass out constantly. I never actually do but I get the tingling feeling in my hands and feet. I can't focus, I get anxious bc I do not like how it feels. It affects my work and going to grocery store, or even driving. I get overwhelmed and feel strange. My TSH level was 137, I started medication of 50mcg. Went back for more blood work and came back with level of 21. Now my dosage is 75mcg. My other blood work was normal and I've never had anything like this before. I've dealt with the symptoms for so long bc I thought it was just having 3 kids is stressful enough. But I cannot get over this feeling and could it be something else? I want this to go away so I can get back to my normal self. By the way I'm  5"2 and 130lbs, 30 years old. I just lost 2 lbs starting this medicine. And I don't want to lose anymore weight. Does anyone else have this problem? What else can I do to fix it?

[gimel]

Lab results and associated reference ranges vary from lab to lab, so in order to assess your T4 and T3 results we need to know their ranges shown on the lab report.  

[Rachelhgh94]

T4,Free(Direct) 01 0.36 Low ng/dL 0.82-1.77
Thyroxine (T4) 01 2.6 Low ug/dL 4.5-12.0

[gimel]

Rachel, those results are only for Total T4 and Free T4.  Total T4 is representative of all the T4 in your blood.  Most of that is bound to protein and thus rendered inactive.   Only the free portion (thus called Free T4), is active.    FT4 is the more   important to know.  You also need to know Free T3, which is the biologically active thyroid hormone that basically determines your metabolism.  

Your FT4 is way too low.  I expect that your FT3 is also very low.  Together they would cause the symptoms you are suffering with.    A good thyroid doctor will diagnose and treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by evaluating for symptoms typical of hypothyroidism, and testing for both FT4 and FT3.  Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin are also important for you to know.  

You can confirm what I have said here by reading the following link, which is  to a paper that I co-authored.  

https://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Patients-Guide-Final-V5.pdf

Based on your experience to date, I am not too optimistic about your doctor adequately diagnosing and treating you.  I suggest that you give the doctor a copy of the paper and ask for the additional tests, and get agreement to be treated clinically, as described.  If the doctor disagrees, then you will need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.   That may not be easy, depending on your location, but if needed, we may be able to help with that.

[gimel]

Your situation is not unusual and we can provide lots of good info and insight into your problem, but first a couple of questions.  What did the doctor say was the cause for your hypothyroidism?  Were you tested beyond TSH, for the active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3?  Have you tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?  If so, please post all those results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.  

[Rachelhgh94]

Thank you for your assistance. The doctor did not pin point the cause of the hypothyroidism. And my levels for T4 were 0.36. My T3 was 2.6. I was not tested for vitamin D, B12 or ferritin. The doctor said my other blood work looked great. Even though sometimes i may think I am anemic. But again, the doctor said all my lab results were perfectly fine except for the TSH level