Underactive thyroid can someone explain tsh level to me

[lostittoday]

Hi
I have been diagnosed as having a underactive thyroid.

Can anybody explain what a normal tsh level is and what would be classed as underactive.

if your thyroid is underactive then your TSH will be high but your T3 and T4 will be low.

If you have an overactive thyroid then your TSH will be low (and usually undetectable) but your T3 and T4 will be high.

I've got an underactive thyroid. When I was first diagnosed my tsh was in the 70's, so very low. According to my GP it should be less than 5 if it's functioning normally. Personally, I find I feel best when my tsh is under 2.

Have you been given medication?

Hi Olihan

Yes I have been put on thyroxine a low dose to start.

I have been on it for 6 weeks and I am due back at my doctors tomorrow for the results of a latest blood test to check my thyroid function again.

I wasn't very well informed last time and didn't realise I should have asked what my level was.

I will be asking this time though so wanted to gain some knowledge on it.

I started on 100mg, but it was gradually increased to 150mg which suits me and keeps my tsh at around 1.8.

I have been started on 50mg.

Don't know if I feel that much better still get tired alot.

I am ttc and I am concerned it will affect my chances I have heard that it can.

If your thyroid is very underactive it can affect your fertility. Having said that, I think it returns to normal once your thyroid levels are within normal limits. Definitely ask what your levels were and are. When I was pg with ds2 my consultant (who was an endocrine specialist) said that most GP's are happy when it's below 5 but he likes it to be under 2, especially in pg.

Just to warn you, when you do get pg you'll have to have bloods done regularly as your thyroxine dose has to be increased to provide enough for the baby. I was on 200mg while I was pg.

Thanks Olihan

You have been a great help feel as though I have more knowledge now, so at least I will know what I am talking about tomorrow.

am I right in thinking that a symptom of underactive thyroid is loss of the outer part of eyebrows?

No problem, glad to have been of service!

Hi
ggirl

I have heard it can cause hair loss whether it be the eyebrows, eyelashes, or your hair.

I think this is probably one of the less common symptoms though.

Its probably more common on the head.

I had a small bald patch on my head before I was diagnosed my doctor put it down to a fungal infection but I now realise it could have been my thyroid.
It has since grown back.

Don't know ggirl, but general hair loss is a symptom, along with very dry skin, feeling tired, run down and depressed, intolerance to the cold, weight gain and constipation. They're the most common ones, anyway.

ah thanks

have really stupid eyebrows now and was trying to find a cause.
Haven't got dry skin though.
Not depressed ,just lethargic.
Not constipated.
Haven't gained weight,well only because of xmas .
Have lots of tingling going on which is going to be investigated when I get my appt through.Thanks

ggirl - losing the outer part of the eyebrows is one of the classic symptoms of an underactive thyroid. This happened to me but they have grown back in now I am on thyroxine. You should definitely mention this to your doc as this oftens points them to the thyroid. The tingling could also be down to it too - I used to get numb hands and fingers when I was sleeping and that has stopped with the meds too. I think you don't need to have all the symptoms and everyone seems to have a different catalogue of complaints with thyroid probs. (Just be glad you've not got the weight gain!)

Lostittoday - iirc the normal range for TSH used to go up to 4.5, but that was found to be too broad a range and now the normal range is supposed to go up to about 2.5 (depends on your doc). My doctor wanted my TSH to be around the 1.x mark during pregnancy.

HTH

hi there
yes loss outer third of eyebrows classic symptom of underactive thyroid but not everyone gets it
here is a useful leaflet hope it helps

www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068762/

(can anyone tell me how to make it appear in a link "here" as some people do)

50mg low starting dose you will almost definitely need it to be increased but they are being cautious. they will monitor your tsh and t4 to decide how much to increase - any chnage in thyroxine dose doesn't show up in blood tests for 6 weeks

numb hands - which fingers? - could be carpal tunnel which is associated

good luck!
x

ooohh duh just seen on right how to insert a link am new to this

luvaduck-thanks for the link,couldn't see eyebrows mentioned.
numbness is on little and ring finger ,and feels like carpal tunnel which I had when I was pregnant.
However I had whole right sided tingling ,quite mild but nonetheless was admitted to hospital with a query transient ischaemic attack.I am now waiting to see the consultant ,who happens to also be an endocrine specialist,so will ask him about my thyroid levels.