How to keep my TSH levels normal

[Dilara86]

Hello :) I am 28 years old female. 5 years ago I started with the TSH tests. Except TSH the other hormones are normal / F3, F4.../. My TSH always has been a bit high - 3,80, 5.20, 4,60... 3 months ago I started elthyrox - 0,25 ml. My TSH now is 1.70, but soon I found cisto in my right breast. Is it connected with my new hormone condition? :( I stopped the pills since yesterday... How can I keep the normal level of TSH without to get those pills every day?
P.S. We are planing baby this year.
Thank You in advance!

[Dilara86]

Thank you for your answers :)

[flyingfool]

With thyroid medication you are only supplementing the hormone that your thyroid gland no longer produces enough of.  So you are simply adding back in exactly what your body was producing.  So in that way it is not like other medications where it is a foreign chemical that is not natural to your body.  What you are taking is exactly the same chemical that your gland was producing.

Without proper levels of thyroid you will always feel terrible and your baby needs for mommy to have the proper levels as Barb pointed out above.

[Barb135]

Many doctors have come to think that TSH over 2.0 is too high and others are beginning to see that TSH is not the only test they need to go by, which is a good thing.  The actual thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4 are much more important than TSH, so even if your mother's TSH was 2.70, maybe her FT3 and FT4 were too low, so put her on medication to increase those levels.  I would consider that a good doctor.  

You do not become addicted to thyroid hormones. It's not like narcotics or other addictive medications.  You either need them or you don't and in your case, it would certainly appear that you do.

How does your doctor know you do not have Hashimoto's?  Has he done thyroid antibody tests to determine that?  The same goes for your mother.  

Again, you're only referring to her TSH, though, not her actual thyroid hormone levels, so there's not a lot I can say in her case.

With Hashimoto's, it's very common for dosages to have to be increased, as time goes on, which sounds like what is happening with your mother.  I'd certainly question that she doesn't have Hashimoto's.

[Dilara86]

Barb135, Thank You so much for Your answer. :* The information is very helpful to me! Thank You! My doctor said I dont have Hashimoto, but You are right that for the pregnancy i need to check my hormones often. i will do my best. I just want to believe that pills will not addicte my body and make it produce less hormones by itself... My mom had TSH 2.70 when the doctor gave her 0.50 eltyrox I dont know why... Since she started - 9 yers already her TSH is getting only worse. Her all other hormones are good too. She does not have Hashimoto as well.

[Barb135]

TSH is not the most important issue when it comes to thyroid testing and simply keeping TSH "normal" does not guarantee that you will maintain adequate thyroid hormone levels.  Free T3 and Free T4 are much more important and just having them in the "normal" range may not be good enough.

Taking the thyroid replacement hormone would not have caused, nor would it be related to, the cyst in your breast.  You need to have that checked out by your doctor.

In order to get pregnant and carry a full term, healthy baby, you must have adequate thyroid hormones.  Thyroid hormones are necessary for the proper growth and development of a fetus, which is dependent on your hormones until its own thyroid begins working in about the second trimester of the pregnancy.  You will need to have your thyroid hormones tested monthly throughout the pregnancy to insure adequate amounts for both yourself and your baby.  

Thyroid hormone levels, often, must be higher when one is pregnant, so be sure yours are adequate prior to becoming pregnant.  Do not rely on TSH to determine if your levels are good enough.  Make sure you're testing Free T3 and Free T4 on a monthly basis once you become pregnant.  Free T4 should be approximately mid range and Free T3 should be in the upper half to upper third of its range.

Do you know if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease in which the body sees the thyroid a foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it.  Eventually, the thyroid makes no hormones on its own.  

You will need the pills to keep your hormone levels stable and adequate.  If you have Hashimoto's, you will most likely need to increase your dosage periodically.