High TSH and no Thyroid...???

[Jaymar79]

Please help... I had my total thyroid (still have parathyroid) removed due to nodules that made it difficult to swallow.  I went on Synthroid after that and get my TSH level's checked yearly.  At my yearly check, my TSH was up to 5.89, so they left my Synthroid at 200mcg and rechecked me in December... my TSH was up to 11.96 then.  The doctor then changed my dosage to 250 but I contiune to feel extremely tired. I fall alseep as soon as I sit down at home or work.  I've noticed also that my despression and acid reflux has been much worse the past few months, I've been more irritable, notice hair loss when I comb my hair, and I can't remember simple things or concentrate on things anymore. I never thought it would be related to the TSH level being high until I did some research on High TSH levels without thyroid and found some info on parathyroid disease.  Any chance that may be my issue now?

[gimel]

Answered on the new thread you started.

[goolarra]

It is quite a high dose...high enough to suspect that you most likely do not convert well since you still have hypo symptoms at that dose.  However, we, of course, have to see FT3 and FT4 to confirm that.  

Getting tested is the first step.  When you have results, if you'd like, you can post them (include reference ranges as these vary lab to lab), and members will help you interpret them as being "in range" is often not enough to relieve symptoms.

[Zinawarriorfemale]

Just got my test results. Normal is.36 they said but mine is over 3,600! I take 150mcgs daily. I have NO thyroid at all. HELP

[Barb135]

What test did you have done? What medication are you taking? Can you be more specific, please?  Also be sure to post reference ranges for any labs...

[Operations1]

Hello,

I did blood test before 2-3 years and tsh was high so doctor did ultrasound for my thyroid/neck and he said that I don't have Hypothyroidism! He said maybe due to virus or so and asked me to re-test after some months.

However, I did the test again after years and got 7.8 tsh. What this means? Do I have Hypothyroidism or another issue? Note that not all symptoms are there..

Please help!

[Jaymar79]

Not recently.  I thought last year when I had my levels checked that the T3 & T4 were included to be checked also but that wasn't the case this time.  I'll push him to check all three and see where everyhting is at.  Also, I had my right thyroid removed on '04, the left in '07 and have been on 200 mcg of Synthroid since.  Didn't realize that was a high dose of it.

[goolarra]

Your pituitary, which produces TSH, has no idea whether you have a thyroid or not.  It puts out more TSH whenever your thyroid hormone levels are too low.  So, your high TSH is telling you that you are either undermedicated or improperly medicated.

Your doctor should be testing FREE T3 (FT3) and FREE T4 (FT4) every time he tests your TSH.  These are the actual thyroid hormones and much more important than TSH in treating a hypo patient.

The Synthroid you take contains only T4.  Before it can be used by your cells, that T4 has to be converted to T3.  Many people are slow converters and, therefore need to add meds with some T3 in them in order to feel well.  This is the most prevalent problem when someone is taking large doses (yours is large) of Synthroid and still feels hypo.

Has your doctor ever tested anything but TSH?