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TSH Why are there so many different ranges for blood test results?
I was dx'd in 2014 with hypothyroidism when my TSH was 5-6 uIU/mL. It was within normal range for many lab test ranges, but I was very sick. My endocrinologist wanted it between 1 and 2 uIU/m, and with levothyroxine we got mine into that range and I got well and have stayed there for the last 10 years. I also had a thyroid nodule, but it has now decreased in size.
Unfortunately, I have a new endo and she wants it between 6 and 7 uIU/mL, so we cut the dosage in half . I am at 5.07 again and am very sick again. My blood pressure is getting red flagged as too high and I have always had lower bp, but not low enough to be red flagged.
She wrote to me: "Most of the symptoms you describe are ones a person gets when they receive too much Levothyroxine (shaky, anxiety, headache, more anxiety, heart skips/palpitations). Thus, they are likely due to another cause. For your other symptoms, brain fog, daytime sleepiness, forgetful, worsening muscle aches, generally one needs a far higher TSH to get these symptoms, thus tricky to say they are from your current TSH."
Start taking 37.5 every other day!
What should I do? Listen to her and go to a higher TSH, or find a new endo? (I am going to see my PCP about my heart just to be safe about the symptoms.)
Thank you,
Faithforhealing
Unfortunately, I have a new endo and she wants it between 6 and 7 uIU/mL, so we cut the dosage in half . I am at 5.07 again and am very sick again. My blood pressure is getting red flagged as too high and I have always had lower bp, but not low enough to be red flagged.
She wrote to me: "Most of the symptoms you describe are ones a person gets when they receive too much Levothyroxine (shaky, anxiety, headache, more anxiety, heart skips/palpitations). Thus, they are likely due to another cause. For your other symptoms, brain fog, daytime sleepiness, forgetful, worsening muscle aches, generally one needs a far higher TSH to get these symptoms, thus tricky to say they are from your current TSH."
Start taking 37.5 every other day!
What should I do? Listen to her and go to a higher TSH, or find a new endo? (I am going to see my PCP about my heart just to be safe about the symptoms.)
Thank you,
Faithforhealing
Sorry, that link should have been:
https://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Patients-Guide-to-the-Diagnosis-and-Treatment-of-Hypothyroidism-V5.pdf
https://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Patients-Guide-to-the-Diagnosis-and-Treatment-of-Hypothyroidism-V5.pdf
Quickly find a good thyroid doctor. The one you have is totally wrong. A hypothyroid patient should be medicated as needed to relieve hypo symptoms, not just to get TSH to a level the doctor likes. Symptomatic relief is associated with FT3 and FT4, not TSH. Symptom relief usually requires FT3 to be at, or slightly above ,mid-range, and FT4 to be around mid-range. Along with that you need Vitamin D to be at least 50, B12 in the upper third of its range, and ferritin to be at least 100. If you want to confirm what I have said, have a look at a paper I co-authored, at this link.
ttps://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Patients-Guide-to-the-Diagnosis-and-Treatment-of-Hypothyroidism-V5.pdf
Good thyroid doctors are hard to locate. If you want help with that, please give us your location.
ttps://thyroiduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-Patients-Guide-to-the-Diagnosis-and-Treatment-of-Hypothyroidism-V5.pdf
Good thyroid doctors are hard to locate. If you want help with that, please give us your location.
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