TSH confusion

[chrystal161]

Hi everyone I'm really concerned about my partners medical issues to cut along story short his  suffered with hypothyroidism now since 2012 which occurred through radio therapy his struggled with past doses of levothyoxine starting from 100 mcg to 125 mcg back to 100 mcg ,due to continued sickness and stomach problems his 100 mcg dose was changed from am to pm in September 2013, ever since then his had atrail fibrillation and now vocal cord paralysis and pulmonary congestion,his weight has decreased from 70kg to 59kg since the change. His dose again was changed recently from pm to am still the same dose of levothyoxine 100mcg after looking at his blood test results I noticed his TSH levels are 12·75 and T4 levels 15, I brought this matter up with the nurse on the ward as he was kept in hospital due to atrail fibrillation ( 150 - 160 bpm ) I was told that his range was normal .after visiting my doctor today I again brought up this matter as his been scheduled for cardioversion on the 26th of March I asked the doctor what the range was for TSH and I was told 5 so I said well my partners is 12·75 she said to mention it to his consultants as she don't no what to say ? My worry is this heart problem and the upcoming surgery if the thyroid is causing this problem they are not addressing the underlying cause just treating the symptoms , I don't no what to do I can't get proper answers about his TSH and doctors just don't give any information one way or another , does anyone no about TSH levels and how I can rectify this problem his been through so much and his the most bravest person I no , I have been trying to build his weight back up to see if this will correct the problem and because his peg fed I'm able to monitor his intake problem is even with the correct calories his weight has only gone up by 1 KG and that's after weeks and weeks of having 2,400 calories per day , doctors won't listen and I'm fed up of trying to get them to listen, I no my partner better then anyone and I'm with him 24 hours a day I monitor everything  to see if treatment is working or not , but mostly because of his previous history of throat cancer as I don't want that coming back. What should I do is there away to reduce high TSH levels naturally thank you to anyone who can help, oh and the only other blood test to come back elevated was his CRP levels at 124mg/l

[Barb135]

Thanks goolarra.  

[goolarra]

There's a lot more info in another thread (from another original poster) that I've asked chrystal161 to copy into this thread.    

[Barb135]

What other issues does your partner have, besides hypothyroidism and the Atrial Fibrillation?  It's relatively uncommon to lose weight, when hypo and I see he's on a feeding tube.

[goolarra]

Reference range for TSH is 0.3-3.0.  That's what was recommended by AACE over 10 years ago.  As you can see, labs and doctors have been slow to change.  Your partner's TSH is elevated, indicating hypo; it is NOT "normal".

What's the reference range on the FT4?  Ranges vary lab to lab and have to come from his own lab report.  Since you're in U.K., I doubt they tested FT3???

Improperly adjusted thyroid meds can wreak havoc with cardiac arrhythmias.  I have a congenital arrhythmia that was totally under control without meds until I started on thyroid meds.  I'd had 3-4 episodes of arrhythmia a year before meds, which escalated to 20-30 a DAY once I started meds.  It's just my opinion, and I'm not a doctor, but I would certainly want to make sure thyroid levels are good before considering any procedure to correct an arrhythmia, especially if the arrhythmia started or worsened around the start of thyroid meds.