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Testing TSH
Hi, I am trying to conceive after a miscarriage in January. My TSH was 7 so my doctor started me on 25mg synthroid. She said wait 6 weeks and retest. My question is, how quickly can I increase my dose, I am still feeling tired, should I retest every 3, 4 weeks or wait 6 weeks like instructed? I'm just keen to get pregnant and want to get my TSH down as fast as possible.
Best Answer
COMMUNITY LEADER
Just got my bloods TSH 6.4 , Free T3 3.8 , Free T4 12.4
doctors appointment tomorrow - they haven't budged on 25mg synthroid and I am 5 weeks pregnant. I hope she doubles it.
doctors appointment tomorrow - they haven't budged on 25mg synthroid and I am 5 weeks pregnant. I hope she doubles it.
Just to let you know since being on the Synthroid I finally got my bfp. I am 5 weeks preggers. Yay.
hello everyone, i'm heil, female, 20y/o diagnose w/ thyroid problem, i've been seeking and consulting doctors about my problem but they haven't seem to clarify my condition, they just let me do some series of test and gave me list of medications (synthroid 88) from my latest doctor but after a week of taking those pills, i suffered from severe rashes/hives on my back,neck,face specially on my forehead, after calling my doctor informing him of my allergic reaction, if it is coz i wasn't sure, he told me that the medicine he prescribe wont cause any side effects (the way he act seems like he doesnt even care, like my first doctor) so i stop taking those pills and after a few days/week my rashes/hives was gone, so i decided to cure my thyroid problem in a natural way.. but i wasnt sure if its hypo or hyperthyroidism. please help.. this are my result for thyroid - FT4,FT3
FT4 =result =19.3 pmol/L reference value = 12-22 pmol/L
FT3 =result =4.79pmol/L reference value = 3.1-6.8 pmol/L
please help me, im so stressed about this and seems like every doctor i asked for help would care only for the money and not about my health.. im so tired of looking for new doctors w/ the same advices & etc.
plus can u please give me advice on what foods to take & avoid, exercises, things to do, and natural cure for this. please please.. your help would be truly appreciated.
thank you so much in advance :)
FT4 =result =19.3 pmol/L reference value = 12-22 pmol/L
FT3 =result =4.79pmol/L reference value = 3.1-6.8 pmol/L
please help me, im so stressed about this and seems like every doctor i asked for help would care only for the money and not about my health.. im so tired of looking for new doctors w/ the same advices & etc.
plus can u please give me advice on what foods to take & avoid, exercises, things to do, and natural cure for this. please please.. your help would be truly appreciated.
thank you so much in advance :)
Personally, 25 mcg of Synthroid seems a little low to me for a TSH level like yours. And the fact that you still don't feel great is even more reason to think the dose may be a bit low. Now of course the others are totally right that the T3 and T4 levels are essential to know as well. My endo put my on 50 mcg to reduce the risk of m/c since I have thyroid antibodies. (TPO thyroid peroxidase) Perhaps your dr might let you increase a little if you just call and explain that your symptoms haven't improved much. P.S. I hate when endo's say things like a TSH of 7 is borderline! That is so wrong! The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists changed their range of normal for TSH 7 years ago to 0.3-3.0. So 7 is pretty high! Good that you're getting treated at all, though, as my endo said up to 10 was ok! WTF?!?!?
thanks Barb, I'll do that.
COMMUNITY LEADER
When you get the tests for the T4 and T3, please post the results, so members can comment more fully; along with the reference ranges; and are they Free or Total?
The frees are the important ones, because they tell how much hormone is immediately available for use.
Yes, the wait between tests is a hard one, particularly when you don't feel good, or in your case are anxious to move on; treating thyroid disorders requires a lot of patience, which is something most of us don't have. I know I wanted to feel better "right now", so the wait between tests seemed like forever; but testing sooner is a waste because you won't have gotten the full effect of the med yet.
The frees are the important ones, because they tell how much hormone is immediately available for use.
Yes, the wait between tests is a hard one, particularly when you don't feel good, or in your case are anxious to move on; treating thyroid disorders requires a lot of patience, which is something most of us don't have. I know I wanted to feel better "right now", so the wait between tests seemed like forever; but testing sooner is a waste because you won't have gotten the full effect of the med yet.
Thanks, urghh the 6 week wait in between testing is a pain.
Hi, the latest reserach shows that it is very important for TSH to be in range of 1 - 2 for healthy pregnancy.
However, while TSH is useful as a screening tool, it doesn't tell enough (it is not a thyroid hormone, it is a pituitary hormone) and you really need to be using FT3 and FT4 (that's the Frees, not the total) to adjust medication. Target FT3 and FT4 before getting pregnant should be in the upper 1/3 of the listed reference range. My endo likes my numbers to be close to the top of the range.
However, while TSH is useful as a screening tool, it doesn't tell enough (it is not a thyroid hormone, it is a pituitary hormone) and you really need to be using FT3 and FT4 (that's the Frees, not the total) to adjust medication. Target FT3 and FT4 before getting pregnant should be in the upper 1/3 of the listed reference range. My endo likes my numbers to be close to the top of the range.
Whoops I mean T4 not $. lol.
I've been on Synthroid 25mg since the 9th of June.
I've been on Synthroid 25mg since the 9th of June.
Thanks, I have test to do for T$ and T3. I think because my TSH was 7 she considered me borderline. so was a little reluctant to prescribe Synthroid.
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She needs to be testing your actual thyroid hormones, which are Free T3 and Free T4, with the Free T3 being the most important because that is the one the body actually uses. The Free T4 (also known as FT4), must be converted to Free T3 (FT3).
Any doctor who is dosing and/or adjusting your med, based only on TSH is not doing you any favors; and most likely will keep you feeling poorly. Insist on the FT3 and FT4, along with the TSH.
You might also want to look into antibody testing to make sure your hypothyroidism isn't caused by an autoimmune issue. You should also ask for a thyroid ultra sound to check for nodules.
I know all of that might sound rather "ominous", but it's really not; just things that need to be considered that a lot of doctors don't consider.
Any thyroid issue should be dealt with prior to getting pregnant.