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I got my test results back from the doctor and was told that my TSH level is 175 and my T4 free was .4.
Instead of starting me off at a low dose of synthroid at 25 or 50 my doctor said I was going to be started off at 125.
Anyone else start out at a high dose? He said he may have to go up more but didn't want to start out too high.
Were my levels bad?
0 likes, 18 replies
patricia22367 Kellyr78
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Do they use a different method to measure because 175 does sound high, I think mine was at around 5 when I was diagnosed.
patricia22367
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Kellyr78 patricia22367
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patricia22367 Kellyr78
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You could ask for a lower starting dose, if you feel uncomfortable, see what they say? Or just take it and see how you feel.
chris1303 Kellyr78
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Kellyr78 chris1303
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natalie32716 Kellyr78
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sweetmelissa Kellyr78
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Kellyr78 sweetmelissa
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jennifer16462 Kellyr78
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I was started at a high dose
I was diagnosed about 9 months ago with tsh 20.00. My gp started me on 100 thyroxine. I had 2 months of severe side effects. I discussed on another forum where everyone jumped on my case saying the doc was wrong to start so high. Then a lady explained that a family member of hers who was a medical professional attended a seminar where they were told to start their patients on a higher dose instead of spending months and months increasing the dosage until they hit upon the right dosage. I think this is right for people whose thyroid levels are way off. A lady who disagreed said when I asked her it had taken 5 months to get to 100 thyroxine.
I agree if someone is having severe side effects to start at a lover dose. I was recently increased to 125 but for the first week I halved my 25 tablet so it wasn't such a shock to my system. It is still causing some side effects though such as extreme tiredness, random shooting pains around my body and tender lymph nodes
Kellyr78 jennifer16462
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I have been on this dose for two weeks now and have not had any bad side effects. If it would take 5 months to get to a dose that would make me feel better, I don't think I could handle that!
shellyC19 Kellyr78
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My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA. I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease since 1987.
TSH -thyroid stimulating hormone should be between 0.45 to 4.50 and when the number is on the high side it means you are HYPO or under active and the low end means Hyper or over active.
Hypothyroid comes from a few things, some have a family history of it, some get it from pregnancy and or stress or abuse on the body. Others from birth or congential and some from a lack of iodine.
It tends to show up during the ages of 20 to 45 and can come out later during menopause.
Hypo symptoms are: feeling cold, weight gain, hair loss, muscle aches, dry skin and scalp, brittle nails, depressed feelings, sleepy, brain foggy, low energy, headaches, low temp and pulse, no periods or infrequent ones. These are common ones there are many more.
Most people start at 25mcg and then go up after more blood is drawn. It can make you feel weird if you start at a high dose since it can make your heart race. You can take 1/2 of it and stay on that for a few weeks and then add the other half. It all depends how you feel. If you feel bad take 1/2 for a while.
You will need blood again in about 2 to 3 months. Levo can take about 6 to 12 weeks to make a full and proper level.
If you have any heart racing or fast beat call your doctor. It is a powerful medication and can bother the heart when you start at a high dose.
Any questions just ask,
Shelly
Kellyr78 shellyC19
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I am having blood drawn again next month, so I guess we will see where my levels will be then.
shellyC19 Kellyr78
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Sounds like your doctor is very wise to recheck your blood in a month. Keep getting better, and give us an update next month on your blood outcome.
Stay well,
Shelly
shellyC19 Kellyr78
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Also Free T4 should be 12-22 in USA so your level is very low and if you are in the UK Free T4 should be 0.82 to 1.77. So you are way low either way. Synthroid is T4 and will convert into T3 the useable hormone for the body.
So your doctor went in at the high dose since you are very low. However you can always take 1/2 of it and get used to it for a few weeks.
Shelly
Kellyr78 shellyC19
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It's so hard finding information out there on the internet! I appreciate the replies.
shellyC19 Kellyr78
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Keep us updated on how you are doing ood or bad. Keep getting better!
Any questions, just ask,
Shelly
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