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Hi. I am trying to conceive since a year.
Recently got my tests done. I have hypothyroidism with tsh 6.198. Doctor prescribed me eltroxin 50mg daily an hour before breakfast. I have low vitamin D that is 6.4 and am taking meds for that too. How serious is my problem? I really want to get pregnant. I'm 33 and this will be the first pregnancy. How soon can I expect my thyroid and vitamin D to fall in the normal range. Thanks.
Went to the endocrinologist.. he said my tsh is perfect.. this is the best level at which one can get pregnant.. he referred me back to my gynaecologist... i am still on thyroid meds and will be going to him after 7 weeks after gettinf tsh tested again..
My concern: anti thyroglobulin was 135. I pointed it out to him that this is quite high.. he said this is what triggered tsh.. and his main concern is tsh.. he did not ask me to get any other tests done except tsh after 7 weeks...
im confused. He is one of the best doctors in my town.. should i just trust his treatment?
My concern: anti thyroglobulin was 135. I pointed it out to him that this is quite high.. he said this is what triggered tsh.. and his main concern is tsh.. he did not ask me to get any other tests done except tsh after 7 weeks...
im confused. He is one of the best doctors in my town.. should i just trust his treatment?
https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/574861_4
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The antibodies of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis show up as TPO ab and/or TG ab. The antibodies are produced by your autoimmune system reportedly because of erroneous identification of the thyroid gland as foreign to the body. So the autoimmune system produces the antibodies to attack and eventually destroy the gland. As this proceeds, the gland's output of thyroid hormone is diminished and the TSH rises in an attempt to stimulate more output of thyroid hormone.
When I did some reading about the antibodies' effect I found this link.
https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/574861_4
What I got from the link is that you should be getting thyroxine treatment, as you already have started, with followup every 4 weeks to test your TSH, and thyroid hormone levels (Free T4 and Free T3). What you want is to get your FT4 and FT3 levels up to the middle of the range. Along with that you should get the doctor to order the other tests and then supplement as needed to optimize.
When I did some reading about the antibodies' effect I found this link.
https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/574861_4
What I got from the link is that you should be getting thyroxine treatment, as you already have started, with followup every 4 weeks to test your TSH, and thyroid hormone levels (Free T4 and Free T3). What you want is to get your FT4 and FT3 levels up to the middle of the range. Along with that you should get the doctor to order the other tests and then supplement as needed to optimize.
The doctor asked me to get these tests done and then go to him with reports.
I think the doctor will prescribe the tests u have mentioned...
Can you pls tell me what does having antibodies mean? Is it a severe condition?
I think the doctor will prescribe the tests u have mentioned...
Can you pls tell me what does having antibodies mean? Is it a severe condition?
Do you get the tests done on your own, and then see the doctor about the results? If so, can you get the Free T4, Free T3, Vitamin D, cortisol, B12 and ferritin done? You no longer need to test for antibodies. You know you have them so further testing is not needed. TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone, so it does not reveal all you need to know.
I got tests done again as prescribed by the doctor after 7 weeks. Now serum tsh is 2.559 thats within range.
Serum anti thyroglobulin is 135 thats way above the normal of 40. Anti thyroid peroxidase is 17.4 thats also in the normal range as it should be less than 35.
Why such a high anti thyroglobulin? :( i will be visiting the doctor soon.
Serum anti thyroglobulin is 135 thats way above the normal of 40. Anti thyroid peroxidase is 17.4 thats also in the normal range as it should be less than 35.
Why such a high anti thyroglobulin? :( i will be visiting the doctor soon.
Hair loss is another common symptom of low thyroid hormones and low ferritin.
Why are you taking the calcite? I assume the Surbex Z is for Vitamin B complex. That may not be adequate to optimize your B12, so you need to test to confirm. When you test for Free T4, Free T3, cortisol, ferritin and B12 you will know more about what supplements are really needed.
Since you are anxious to conceive, can you get those tests done now? Also, do you think your doctor is going to be willing to treat clinically (for symptoms) rather than just based on TSH levels? If not, then you will need to find another doctor that will do so.
Why are you taking the calcite? I assume the Surbex Z is for Vitamin B complex. That may not be adequate to optimize your B12, so you need to test to confirm. When you test for Free T4, Free T3, cortisol, ferritin and B12 you will know more about what supplements are really needed.
Since you are anxious to conceive, can you get those tests done now? Also, do you think your doctor is going to be willing to treat clinically (for symptoms) rather than just based on TSH levels? If not, then you will need to find another doctor that will do so.
I am taking calcite, surbex Z, and biotin for hair loss. Plus as mentioned earlier vitamin D supplements also...
Yes, you still need to test for Free T4. Free T3, cortisol, ferritin and B12, regardless of the results from the antibodies tests.
If the antibodies test comes out fine, will i still need to test for FT3 anf FT4.
I have become over sensitive and very have emotional. I have an itchy throat mostly at night. Very lethargic and feel lazy the whole day.
Need you to answer the prior post.
"Also, please tell us about any symptoms you have. Do you think you can get a doctor to treat clinically, by adjusting your Free T4 and Free T3 levels as needed ot relieve symptoms, rather than just based on TSH?"
"Also, please tell us about any symptoms you have. Do you think you can get a doctor to treat clinically, by adjusting your Free T4 and Free T3 levels as needed ot relieve symptoms, rather than just based on TSH?"
Getting these tests done is no an issue and can easily be done in Pakistan. I will revert after getting the antibodies test in 5 weeks time...
Sorry, but I have no clue about the ability to get the recommended tests done. Do you think you can get those tests done?
Also, please tell us about any symptoms you have. Do you think you can get a doctor to treat clinically, by adjusting your Free T4 and Free T3 levels as needed ot relieve symptoms, rather than just based on TSH?
Also, please tell us about any symptoms you have. Do you think you can get a doctor to treat clinically, by adjusting your Free T4 and Free T3 levels as needed ot relieve symptoms, rather than just based on TSH?
The build-up of Vitamin D depends on the form and the dosage. For example, "Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), the active form of vitamin D, has a half-life of about 15 hours, while calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) has a half-life of about 15 days." That means the Calcitriol D3 would take about 5-6 weeks to reach essentially full effect of the dosage.
TSH, on the other hand, will respond fairly quickly to thyroid med; however, that is not what you really need to be concerned about. As mentioned, TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that it has only a weak correlation with the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3. It is not a matter of getting your TSH down. The important thing is to get your Free T4 and Free T3 levels optimal. For many people that means getting both above mid-range.
Taking the 50 mcg of Eltroxin is unlikely to raise your FT4 and FT3 levels much, if at all. The reason is that the thyroid med will reduce your TSH levels. The lower TSH provides less stimulation to the thyroid gland to produce hormone. Since serum FT4 and FT3 levels are the sum of both natural thyroid and thyroid med, only when TSH is suppressed enough to no longer stimulate natural thyroid hormone production will serum thyroid levels reflect further increases in thyroid medication. This mean that you will need to go through a number of rounds of re-testing and dose increases. With your doctor waiting 7 weeks for re-test you can se that getting your FT4 and FT3 to adequate levels may take some time. In addition your doctor didn't even test FT4 and FT3 yet, so I worry that he is focused only on TSH, which is wrong.
In addition to testing for Free T4 and Free T3, along with TSH and antibodies, the doctor should test for cortisol. You were tested for Vitamin D, which was extremely low. You also need to test for ferritin and B12. Since you mentioned Eltroxin, I wondered where you are located. That may create some issues with getting the testing done.
TSH, on the other hand, will respond fairly quickly to thyroid med; however, that is not what you really need to be concerned about. As mentioned, TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that it has only a weak correlation with the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3. It is not a matter of getting your TSH down. The important thing is to get your Free T4 and Free T3 levels optimal. For many people that means getting both above mid-range.
Taking the 50 mcg of Eltroxin is unlikely to raise your FT4 and FT3 levels much, if at all. The reason is that the thyroid med will reduce your TSH levels. The lower TSH provides less stimulation to the thyroid gland to produce hormone. Since serum FT4 and FT3 levels are the sum of both natural thyroid and thyroid med, only when TSH is suppressed enough to no longer stimulate natural thyroid hormone production will serum thyroid levels reflect further increases in thyroid medication. This mean that you will need to go through a number of rounds of re-testing and dose increases. With your doctor waiting 7 weeks for re-test you can se that getting your FT4 and FT3 to adequate levels may take some time. In addition your doctor didn't even test FT4 and FT3 yet, so I worry that he is focused only on TSH, which is wrong.
In addition to testing for Free T4 and Free T3, along with TSH and antibodies, the doctor should test for cortisol. You were tested for Vitamin D, which was extremely low. You also need to test for ferritin and B12. Since you mentioned Eltroxin, I wondered where you are located. That may create some issues with getting the testing done.
There is a lot to discuss. Getting to where you want to be is not just a matter of getting your TSH and Vitamin D within range. It is important to note that TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that, at best, it is only an indicator of thyroid status. Far more important indicators are the actual biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3 (not the same as Total T4 and Total T3). So, yes, your TSH is above range, but were you tested for the antibodies associated with the main cause for high TSH and primary hypothyroidism, which is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? Those tests are Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies and Thyroglobulin antibodies (TPO ab and TG ab)? If not tested you need to be.
So the first thing we need to know is what, if any, symptoms do you have? Also you need to be tested for Free T4 and Free T3 every time you go in for tests. Were those tests done? For conception and the health of you and the fetus, those levels need to be optimal, not TSH.
So, if you will respond to the 3 questions above, we can continue the discussion.
So the first thing we need to know is what, if any, symptoms do you have? Also you need to be tested for Free T4 and Free T3 every time you go in for tests. Were those tests done? For conception and the health of you and the fetus, those levels need to be optimal, not TSH.
So, if you will respond to the 3 questions above, we can continue the discussion.
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Hi, thanks for the quick response. The endocrinologist prescribed the above meds for 7 weeks and said i have to get tsh and thyroid antibodies tested after 7 weeks and then visit him again.
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