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Having some symptoms, 5.2 tsh level, what now?

Posted , 7 users are following.

peterkh87
peterkh87

hello beautiful people,

about a month ago, i was sick and had fever (38.2) and felt realy tired.

The next day i woke up fine, no fever but still tired and had muscle pain. Seven days later these symptoms got worse and i didnt have any motivation and no energy! 

So i went to the Doctor and the blood tests show that my TSH level was 4.5 which is alittle above the normal(he told me that 4.2 is the high end). He told me to come again to retest.

I came back two weeks later, the TSH level rised to 5.2. during all that time i had sypmtoms: lack of energy, sleepy, brain fog. some days i felt fine, but then again back to bieng tired and sleepy for no reason!

He prescribed Euthyrox 50mcg to take for six days in a week, and then come back to retest 40 days.

Im really terrified from the idea - taking pills for the rest of my life!

Is there any chance i could do something else beside taking those pills? do i need to check again with a doctor that is specialized in endocrinology?!

Im 28 years old male, 1.87cm, i weigh 89 kilos (196.2 pound).

any advices are appreciatied, and excuse my english.

Thank you!

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Tutu123
    Tutu123 peterkh87

    Posted

    Hi there,

    Firstly they need to find out the reason why your Tsh is raised. This could be caused by infection/illness and may just be temporary, so your doctor is right to monitor you regularly. I would ask to be referred to an endocrinologist (thyroid specialist).

    There may be other causes of a raised Tsh, such as hashimotos disease. This is tested through a blood test looking at thyroid antibodies - have they tested this? I would say it's probably unlikely as your Tsh is only borderline (as mine was at point of diagnosis).

    My doctor recently told me to eat iodine rich foods and/or take iodine supplements, as this helps maintain normal thyroid function.

    Keep them monitoring you regularly and see a specialist as they don't often treat people if the Tsh is only borderline. They over treated me and I didn't need it and it caused damage to my thyroid, so be careful with it

    • peterkh87
      peterkh87 Tutu123

      Posted

      hi caz and everyone,

      Thats why i dont want to take meds, i dont want to over treat something that i might not have, i want to be 100% sure that i have thyroid problem. its weird because these symptoms just come and go for example i felt good for a couple of days and then the third day i felt like crap.

      I decided to get an appointment for endocrinologist before taking any actions, maybe a few more test will clear things out.

      Thank you all!

    • Tutu123
      Tutu123 peterkh87

      Posted

      That's a good idea Peter. Once you start taking artificial hormones for prolonged periods of time, it will often suppress your own thyroids production of hormones (especially if you are taking too much). Then the thyroid can become dormant eventually.
    • barbara98940
      barbara98940 Tutu123

      Posted

      Ive justvread (think it was a patient plus article) that too much iodine can cause hypothyroidism??? Is this right. I know too little iodine can cause hypothyroidism but too much??
    • Tutu123
      Tutu123 barbara98940

      Posted

      Hi Barbara yes I heard to little iodine can cause it (this is what the doctor who diagnosed me thought was causing my hypothyroidism, but I don't know how true that was). Ive not heard of too much iodine causing problems though. Im seeing the specialist next week so I'll ask him about it and let you know!
    • barbara98940
      barbara98940 Tutu123

      Posted

      Thank you. I'll be interested to know what your specialist says.
  • jean65890
    jean65890 peterkh87

    Posted

    Hi Peter it might be worth your while to see a specialist in this field I did but only because my thyroid has nodules on discovered from a scan on my neck. My levels were so much higher 11.2 origionally so I was given levothyroxine at 50mg I am now increased to 125mg daily and feel so much better the specialist was very informative and made me feel better about having to take medication for the rest of my life a small price it it makes you feel better. I have been having my bloods checked for the last two years and now my thyroid is 2.5 whichI am told his brilliant so I am now to go to yearly blood tests. I discovered I was also low in Vitamin D which is I am told because of my under active thyroid so it might be worth checking out your levels of vitamin D I am on vitamins daily at the moment for that too. I hope you start to feel better soon I felt terrible for a good few months tired sleeping through the day aches in my joints apparentley alll symtoms are  connected to underacitve thyroid its amazing what your thyroid does and how your body can be effected if there is something wrong with it ask your doctor to print of a list for you and give you an information sheet its worth reading take care.
  • bianca561
    bianca561 peterkh87

    Posted

    Hi Peter,

    I completely understand your fear! I was just diagnosed 2 months ago with hypo. I started the meds which Gave me terrible side effects. Testing for Thyroid problems is accurate. So you probably do need to take this medication. Just listen to your body when you start the meds. If your body feels better, the meds are working. If you're body aches and something feels off, change the meds!

    Watch the caffeine intake, I found this threw me off as well.

    • Tutu123
      Tutu123 bianca561

      Posted

      Hi bianca, if you drink coffee you should leave four hours between taking your meds and drinking coffee as it can affect the absorption of thyroxine. You should be fine to drink tea though at any time. I find I am very sensitive to caffeine too
    • bianca561
      bianca561 Tutu123

      Posted

      HI Caz! Thank you for me that bit. I adore coffee but because I found that the side effects were too much, I completely cut it out of my diet. I go back to the doctor on Monday. I can only hope he listens to me and changes my meds from Synthroid to Armour. Synthroid really messed me up!
    • Tutu123
      Tutu123 bianca561

      Posted

      Hi bianca, Yes I love tea and coffee too but find it sends my heart into a spin if I have more than one cup a day. Yes levothyroxine as it's called in the UK messed me up too. They are currently in the process of taking me off the high doses I was originally prescribed (from 150, now down to 50mg). I've heard good things about armour for those who don't do well on levothyroxine
    • bianca561
      bianca561 Tutu123

      Posted

      Hi Caz, I'll definitely let you know what happens on Monday. I had to take myself off the meds because the effects were extreme. I notified my doctor that I did so.

      I will let you know how it goes.

  • barbara98940
    barbara98940 peterkh87

    Posted

    To find out whether your immune system is attacking your thyroid and giving you hypothyroidism you need to have two tests. TGab and TPOA.

    People with hypothyroidism can have problems getting the nutrients from the food they eat. So, another thought is: are your vitamins and minerals all in range? Have you had the following checked (all done via a blood test): iron, % iron saturation (I've noticed this falls to below 20% when my thyroid levels are low), Ferritin (very important, needs to be 70+ for our bodies to be able to absorb thyroid hormones), vitamin B12, and vitamin D are the essential ones. Also check the following if you can: magnesium, potassium, seleniun, calcium (Shelley have I missed any?)

    If you are low in iron, Ferritin, vitamin B12, or vitamin D you will feel pretty poorly. Aches and pains, fatigue and anxiety can all be due to low vitamins and minerals.

    • barbara98940
      barbara98940

      Posted

      Also, are you aware that to work correctly thyroid meds need to be taken on an empty stomach and leave a hour before eating? Iron and calcium supplements can both affect the absorption of thyroid meds and need to be taken at least 4 hours after taking thyroid meds.
  • shellyC19
    shellyC19 peterkh87

    Posted

    Hello Peter:

    My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA.  I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease since 1987.

    Thyroid problems can come from a myriad of factors.  Some reasons are, Epstein-Barr virus which they can draw a titer for.  A family history of the disease, Stress, other medical conditions like Diabetes and Cancer, Lupus and more. Any bad Flu or infections can cause stress on the gland. Adrenal problems can cause thyroid problems too.

    It hots most people in the ages of 20-45.  More women than men.  TSH is an indicator and since your level is 5.2 that indicates Hypothyroid.

    You have a lot of the symptoms, and the treatment is to take the Euthyrox, since not taking it will create more damage to the thyroid and it will make a goiter after time.

    Some blood work besides the TSH is needed.  You need a blood cortisol level, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, ferritin and iron, T4 & T3  and ESR test.  TPOA, & TGab also for antibodies test.

    You can see a naturopath some people do this and most of us see an Endocrinologist who knows the thyroid. Eat good food and avoid Gluten which is a known attacker of the thyroid gland.

    Replacement hormone really helps to control the thyroid gland just like a Diabetic need insulin.

    Keep us posted on how you do.

    Shelly

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