What was everyones TSH level?

mommy2girls · 01-12-2008, 02:28 PM

Hi Ladies im just wondering what everyones TSH Level was before medicine and now after the medicine.. also do they do labs every 6 months or so like i heard to check levels and see if the medication is working? My level right now is 6.75 and i haven't seen my primary care yet to be put on meds but i will be going in on Tuesday.. im just wondering what i should expect. Also i think i am going to ask for the generic of Synthroid thats available at walmart for $4 is anyone else on that? It starts with a L

Also how long does it take to see a difference in levels and how you're feeling? Thanks for any responses.

~Sarah~ · 01-18-2008, 11:50 AM

I haven't gotten my meds yet, but mine was at 5.98 a week or two ago. Waiting for the T3 and T4 results today----you should have those done as well, plus the thyroid antibody test to find out why your thyroid is acting unusual (Grave's disease, Hashimoto's, etc). I've heard that it usually only takes a few weeks to start feeling better!

Also, I've heard that if at all possible you should always take the brand-name meds and not the generic for thyroid meds, because the levels of hormones are not as uniform and regulated as they are with the brand-name ones. And if you have insurance, it should only be $10 as opposed to $4, so NBD, right?

Hope that helps!

Renee3600 · 01-18-2008, 03:11 PM

My TSH was 26 when I got diagnosed. I started at 50mcg of the generic synthroid at Walmart called Levothyroxine. They tested me every 6 weeks and increased my dosage until it was within range and the last time I had it tested was in october of last year and it was 1.5 at the 100mcg dose.
I've never heard that the generic brands don't have as uniform or regulated hormones as brand name ones. I've heard that the natural versions of throid hormones (like pig thryoid meds that are available) aren't as consistent.

puppy lovin cyster · 01-19-2008, 01:46 AM

mine was around 180.00 when I was diagnosed... I take the name brand Synthroid just to be safe. My levels are around 2.0 now. Ive had it for 4 years. I cant say that I have ever truly felt better or like my old self again. But I did lose the 20 lbs I gained about 9 months later with the help of Weight Watchers. That was before I was diagnosed with PCOS, which was only about 6 months ago.

paula0471 · 01-21-2008, 05:34 AM

I haven't read everyone's replies.. But some doctors including mine doesn't like to give the generic because of varing levels.

My TSH was 5.84.. Tested 7 weeks later it was 1.68.. I'm suppose to have it tested Yearly now.. When I get my BFP.. I will be tested monthly.

I'm on 50mcg of Synthyroid and it took me about 4 weeks or so to feel a difference.

Good Luck!

Victoria070505 · 01-25-2008, 01:29 PM

Well I was dxed 3 days ago. MT TSH was 4.7 but that test was done in AUgust 07 by my regular doctor. I gave those test results to my endo on the 31st and she decided to test my antibodies and I was DXed with Hashimotos. My Thyroglobin antibodies where 23 less than 20 is normal and my thyroid peroxidase was 397 andything less than 35 is normal so I was way off on that one. I am on 25mch of Synthroid. My docotr refused to put me on the generic brand because of it not being dependable and so my insurance refuses to pay for it. So wonderful. I guess I need to call and talk to a supervisor at my insurance company. They insist you try the generic before they will pay for the brand name.

mommavia · 01-28-2008, 08:13 PM

The biggest thing about brand name vs generics is that generics are not made to the same standards as brand names. If you start with one, you should stick to it. And if a change is necessary (drug is no longer part of your insruance's formulary) know that there will be a period of adjustment. While many people do perfectly fine on generics, I would stick to Synthroid...you know it's made exactly the same way every single time and that the dose will not vary.

After starting meds you will probably be tested after about 6 weeks to see if that level is right for you. If so, you'll probably go 6-9 months before needing more labs drawn. If not, you'll start a new dose and re-draw labs in another 6 weeks. It takes about 6 weeks for the meds to become regulated in your system. Some docs will test a 4 weeks, but my docs always stick to 6.

My TSH was well over 100 when I was dxed several years ago and now it is kept less than 0.01 (I had thyroid cancer that was discovered 3 years after hypo dx). Needless to say I felt much better just a week after starting Synthroid!!

Good luck,
Cynthia

Somewhat Damaged · 02-16-2008, 02:29 AM

My tsh was only 2.28 (not a typo) when I started Armour. At my last test it was .48, and just that small change has improved many of my symptoms and basically rid me of depression (which was ongoing for about 7 years). My hair is a lot thicker now than it was last year this time, and I have eyebrows again!

It's not always about the labs.... if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism keep looking for a doctor that will listen and help

elocinintherain · 02-16-2008, 02:55 AM

I was recently diagnosed. My tsh was about 4.7, and I am now on 50mcg of Synthroid. I'm going in in 6 weeks to get retested.

silverhawk · 02-16-2008, 04:47 PM

mine got up to 4.9 before they finally decided I was borderline and I was put on 25 mcg.

7 weeks later I was at 2.0. Don't know what it is now.

jjkrhbb · 02-25-2008, 01:07 PM

In 2003 I was tested for TSH and it came back 3.75. Is that a high level? Should I be tested again? I have several problems going on now with my body. Not only was I diagnosed with PCOS, I am concerned with some symptoms I have. I have extreme cold intolerance. Let's put it this way, my hands and feet are like ice even with gloves on all day and socks and shoes. My nose is always an ice cube. I do exercise at least 30 minutes per day and weight training as well. I have lost 42 pounds in two years but I will tell you it is very hard to do. I still have a belly that looks like I am pregnant and I am not. My doc put me on Nuva ring for a return of a lining shed every month. I normally have a period once or twice a year. I do have a ton of hair, more than hubby, and acne that is driving me crazy. I have seen that some of you have lower TSH than I did at the time I was tested. How did you get treated? Sorry so long and so many questions. Just worried here.

Turtlegirl68 · 02-25-2008, 01:13 PM

Was it an endo that tested your TSH or your primary care doc? Those do sound like thyroid symptoms but could be other things as well. Depending on rather or not you have insurance and if you do how they work as far as specialists go...like if you need a referral, you should seek an endocrinologist to be sure.

jjkrhbb · 02-25-2008, 02:08 PM

that gave me the TSH test. I do have insurance and to put a long story short, some things covered some not. But I think I will get re-tested and get this under control. I am seeing a derm in about two weeks for my acne. Will try to get into new GYN soon too. Thank you for your reply.

Somewhat Damaged · 02-26-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjkrhbb

In 2003 I was tested for TSH and it came back 3.75. Is that a high level? Should I be tested again? I have several problems going on now with my body. Not only was I diagnosed with PCOS, I am concerned with some symptoms I have. I have extreme cold intolerance. Let's put it this way, my hands and feet are like ice even with gloves on all day and socks and shoes. My nose is always an ice cube. I do exercise at least 30 minutes per day and weight training as well. I have lost 42 pounds in two years but I will tell you it is very hard to do. I still have a belly that looks like I am pregnant and I am not. My doc put me on Nuva ring for a return of a lining shed every month. I normally have a period once or twice a year. I do have a ton of hair, more than hubby, and acne that is driving me crazy. I have seen that some of you have lower TSH than I did at the time I was tested. How did you get treated? Sorry so long and so many questions. Just worried here.

I had to seek out a doctor that would treat by symptoms rather than lab results. I found my doc here: http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/

jjkrhbb · 02-27-2008, 11:41 AM

to: Somewhat Damaged
Thank you for that link. They are several doctors listed in my area. I will definitely be checking on them.

Update for everyone: Went to get bloodwork yesterday afternoon. My original GYN up and left the practice I go to without warning. So they referred all of her patients to another lady in the practice. She was concerned enough to order more testing. Will see if she does anything with the results. I should have results by Friday or Monday.

I know this is going to sound crazy, but I kind of hope that there is something amiss in my bloodwork that would help to explain all these symptoms. At least then we could work on fixing it. You know?!