high TSh level at 52.5

Question

i got my mother TSH test reports which show the TSH level at 52.5, kindly suggest me how to bring it at normal level and when it is high, is it recommended to take thyorexine dosage and in what quantity?

goolarra · Accepted Answer

I just sent you a PM before I read your latest comment.

We never know how much is enough to bring our levels back into range.  It's different for all of us, so the only thing to do is to increase slowly until labs are back in range and symptoms go away.  If you increase too quickly, you can become hyper (overmedicated), and that is no fun.  The older we get, the more important going slowly can be.

FT3 and FT4 tests (they're two separate tests that Sally referred to as FT3/FT4, and they're the same as the FREE T3 and FREE T4 I referred to above) test the actual thyroid hormones.  TSH is a pituitary hormone, and it can be influenced by many factors other than thyroid hormone leves.  So, it is very important to see what FT3 and FT4 are doing and base meds dose changes on those and on symptoms relief.

hassan45 · Answer

yes Sally, she was taking half pill of thyroxine, a full pill contains 5 mg, so she was taking .25 mg per day, she has not lost her weight as she initially did when she was diagnose this problem, but currently she is feeling swelling on her face..is one pill enough to bring the tsh level back to normal or should she increase the dose, and please do let me know what does FT3/FT4 test belong to?
Regards

Super_sally888 · Answer

She should defintiely be continuing her thyroxin, but she may need an increase in meds as I am assuming her TSH was high even before she discontinued her meds as only 1 week is not enough to have a big impact on her levels (I suspect that  her symptom is due to her being hypothryoid (as shown by the high TSH), and she needs an increase in meds rather than stopping it.  

Do you know what dose she was taking?    

When you get back she should get her TSH and the FT3/FT4 tested and have her meds further adjusted to normalise her results.

hassan45 · Answer

She is 58 years old, she was under treatment and was taking thyroxin dosage, (very low potency), but one week ago she wasn’t feeling well and she felt swelling on her face, i discontinued her thyroxin and  got her TSH test which is showing 58.2.  currently I am out of home that’s why I can’t arrange her visit for doctor, please advise me for the time being, should I make her continue taking thyroxin as she was previously taking?? If I am not wrong taking thyroxin pills bring TSH level down to normal range.

Jotojo · Answer

That is a very high TSH level.

goolarra · Answer

Now that you know your mother's TSH is high, you should request that her doctor also test FREE T3 and FREE T4 (which are different from total T3 and total T4).  T3 and T4 are the actual thyroid hormones and much more important in diagnosing and treating thyroid dysfunction than TSH (a pituitary hormone).

Thyroid replacement hormones, like thyroxine, are the treatment for hypothyroidism, but initial dosage depends on many factors.  How old is your mother?  Has she been hypo for quite a while (looking back to onset of symptoms)?  Does she have other health considerations, especially heart arrhythmias?  Her doctor will determine her dose taking all those questions into account.  

How does she feel?  Does she have a lot of hypo symptoms?