Underactive thyroid... How long for TSH to return to normal levels?

[LaLaBingBong]

I wonder if anyone can help...

4 weeks ago I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, with a TSH reading of 22. I am waiting for the levels to return to normal, before we TTC. I am VERY impatient, and was wondering how long it might be before the medication (Levothyroxine) brings my levels back within normal range.

Thanks

its quite difficult to give an exact time, they might get the dose right straight away, or you might have to increase/decrease the amount you take before they get it right. if its straight away i would imagine its within about 12 weeks

Thanks nancy75,

I hope the dose is right and it's within 12 weeks! That would be brilliant! Do you know if a TSH of 22 is high?

Hi LLBB,

I had TSH of about 22 and it took 6 months to get it to normal level - between 0.5 and 3 - started on 25mcg thyroxine, 2 mths later 50mcg, 2 months later, 75mcg, then finally 100mcg which I have been on ever since (apart from being preggy when I went up to 125mcg) Sorry if this sounds a long time but you might not need such a high dose (although 100mcg is pretty normal dose for most with underactive). Good news, I started to feel a lot better before level was back to normal.

tbh i'm no expert, i have had the joy of overactive thyroid, then had thyroid removed so went underactive, which is how i know the drug levels are trial and error.
are you being treated by your gp or a specialist? if your gp is treating you i would recomend asking for a referal to an endocrinologist (sp?) mine is much more knowlegable than my gp, and did get my levels pretty much right first time.

Hi wiggletastic, nancy75, I am just seeing my GP. Wiggle, She started me on 100 mcg, so maybe it will be a bit quicker (although I am actually wondering if this is too much as can feel a bit like I'm on speed occasionally!) I didn't actually have any syptoms from it. It was only diagnosed after tests to see why I was having miscarriages.

lalabingbong, like i said i would really recomend an endocrinologist as they do have a much better understanding of the condition. ask your gp to refer you or if you are near london i would highly recomend mine ( ihave seen a couple and this one is the nicest!)

Does sound like you might be on too much. I think its a bit unusual to start on 100mcg. Agree with nancy75, ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist. Could take a while for an appointment on NHS or if you are flush, you could go private. Being on too much could make you overactive which is worse for your health. A gradual increase in dose with careful monitoring seems to be the norm as it can take at least 2 months for it to kick in. Good luck and hope you are better and preggy soon!!

If it seems to be taking too long to sort it out, ask them to check your T4 levels as well as T3 and TSH. This will give an indication if your body is rejecting the artificial hormones.

i also had an over-active thyroid but was unable to take any of the medication because it severely upset my stomach. surgery was an option i wasn't interested in because what if i couldn't take the hormone replacement meds either. so i managed it through diet, exercise and medicinal marijuana under the observance of an endocrinologist. once i began that regime, my levels came back to 'normal' quickly. i would recommend seeing an endocrinologist as they are specialists. your doctor is likely just prescribing you medication because that is what you do. a specialist will get into the crux of your hypo-thyroid. good luck.

i agree with previous posters: it might be a good idea to ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, esp. as once you are pregnant you'd really want to be seen by one regularly (once a month).

starting dose sounds a little on the high side, esp if you are feeling like you are on speed... what you'd want to watch out for is that you don't develop diarrhoea, palpitations, and cramps or weakness in muscles. these are definite signs that your dose is too high.

when i was first diagnosed my TSH was like yours, also aournd 20 (unlike you, i was feeling like a zombie) and my gp put me on 50mcg. here i found some info that a dose between 50-100 mcg is fine for patients in low risk groups (i.e. younger patients, without heart problems).

hope you get things sorted soon. it takes about 6 weeks for any change in thyroxin dose to settle, so it may be good for you that you started at 100mcg!

i agree - please ask for an immediate referral to an endocrinologist. and i woudl allow a quite few montsh for your levels to return to normal. if you accept it will take 6 monsth you will be happy if its sooner. if you're hoping for 12 weeks you might be disappointed.

I'm not an expert, just a person with thyroid disease. but your dose seems quite high, especially as you didnt have any symptoms ( i think its called sub clinical). and didnt you get tested for antithyroid antibodies and free T4 as well?

oh you need an expert here i think

it took over a year to get my DHs levels within normal range but then his started at 123!!! (yes 123) needless to say he wasn't feeling well at all, couls barely function, his GP asked him how he managed to get out of bed in the morning! he was started on 150 of Levothyroxine which was dropped to 100 after about 6 months it was increased after his next test to 125, it was dropped again to 100 after that which is where it was left, they've tried to drop it since (3 years since diagnosis) but levels always seems to rise so he's been left on 100 which seem to be what he needs as his TSH is staying around 3-4.
Best of luck

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all your help. Sorry I haven't been on again sooner - hectic.

I had another blood test last week, 4 and a half weeks after starting Levothyroxine, and my levels are normal again! I cannot believe it - mad! But the Dr has given the all clear to TTC so I am very pleased as was prepared to have to wait months and months. Yippeee!