posted
Yikes...my Endocrinologist called me on Friday and said my TSH was 15...that's really hight right?...she doesn't acknowledge Lyme as anything to do w/my thyroid condition so it's hard to figure what suddenly caused this...
My last labs from 4 months ago had my TSH @ 2...I've been on Levoxyl for a year and been fine with it. (Only different things I've done was had knee drained of fluid, started Hulda Clark Parasite treatment, started Teasel drops, and decreased Lexapro)...of course all of which Endo says doesn't matter?
She seemed pretty concerned and was shocked that I felt Ok...plan is to repeat labs this week and then to see her soon to maybe increase Levoxyl and get another U/S.
She is saying sometimes with Hashimoto's that it is managable for a while and then just goes haywire.
My cholesterol was high too...230 or so...HDL low LDL high...and I eat so good and exercise.
It's hard to put this together on my own...My PCP/LLMD is helpful but relies on specialists for these things (and they don't believe in Lyme) so it's hard to get the big picture here.
Anyway end of rant...any thoughts would be appreciated.
Posts: 222 | From NH | Registered: Mar 2011
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poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5355
posted
High cholesterol associated with lyme.
Levoxyl is T4. Some lyme people don't convert it to T3,which is the active form used by the body. Why this would happen after the drug has been working for you previously, I don't know. Or at least we assume it has worked.
Have you been tested for free T3, free T4, and reverse T3? TSH is not the best marker to use.
I had quite a long ride finding the right med, dose for thyroid. Tried synthroid, then levoxyl, then levoxyl + cytomel,compounded T3 only, then armour. Armour worked best until they changed the formulation. This does not work for some of us. Now take armour from Canada which is made the old way, but they are trying to shut down our ability to buy internationally. And no more testing, going by symptom relief at this point.
So, why I am telling you all this is to suggest that you might try different tests, different drugs. It can be hard to find a good thyroid doc who will do these things. If you want to try someone else, you could contact the Broda Barnes Foundation, or read one of the books on the subject like Mark Starr's, Brownstein's, and there are others. Mary Shomon's website and book have info, although I don't agree with her on all points.
Posts: 2888 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5355
posted
I am wondering if there is any correlation of the higher TSH with your lyme symptoms. Lyme can cause thyroid issues, so did it get worse about the time of the higher TSH?
Another suggestion is to do an archive search on thyroid. It has been discussed a lot here.
Posts: 2888 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I agree.... you would be better served if your endo would run a FT3, Ft4, RT3 IN ADDITION TO TSH.
I am assuming she ran thyroid antibody tests....
Lyme messes with the whole HPA axis and function...
I would try and find a holistically-oriented or integrative medicine type doctor.
I stopped going to endocrinologists (after I let them ablate mine in 1998)
Most of them are stubborn, prideful and closed minded to anything other than lab values and synthroid. (IMO)
Posts: 396 | From EAPennsylvania | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Lyme disease and Hashimoto's go hand in hand. I've tried all the different thyroid meds. and was on Armour and doing okay thyroid wise until the labs reformulated it. I found a pharmacy here in my state (CO) who compounds the Armour for me using the old recipe. Luckily, the pharmacist has the foresight to save the old formula. The name of the pharmacy is Belmar Pharmacy and their number is 1800-525-9473. They are quick, knowledgeable, and ship all over the U.S. If you decide to order from them, just let them know you want the old formula of Armour. Your doctor (it can be any doctor) just needs to state on the prescription that you want the "Porcine Thyroid old Armour formula". I've seen so many endocrinologists, even those who were Harvard grads and they were all quacks. My PCP knew more about the endocrine system than they did. Find a doctor who can treat all of your problems similtaneously. Good luck. C.P.
Posts: 106 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2012
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posted
I've been taking Tirosint which replaces t3 and t4. It's new. I feel ok but my face breaks out alot and I have gained weight.
-------------------- Dxd ALS 3/2010 Dxd cllinical Lyme 4/2010 Positive for Protomyxzoa but absolutely nothing else in Igenex Posts: 417 | From central ct | Registered: Apr 2010
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Yes, a TSH of 15 is very high. As others have posted, you need to have your Free T3 and Free T4 tested. Many doctors do not run these tests, but they are very important. Testing these can show if a T4 only med is best for you or if you need one that is T3 and T4.
Hypothyroidism can cause high cholesterol. I had high cholesterol for years despite a good diet and exercise. Once my thyroid treatment was optimal, my cholesterol normalized and it has remained normal.
I agree that it can be very difficult to find a doctor to properly treat thyroid issues. It took me several years. In my experience, endocrinologists treat very conservatively which is not always best for the patient.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
It Could be a rogue (inaccurate) result, but if your 'endo' "doesn't acknowledge Lyme as anything to do w/my thyroid condition", she's a buffoon! Lyme & thyroid issues are intertwined. If any B.B. [Lyme] activity flares in the thyroid, you can end up with a temporary elevation of TSH levels. A re-test IS in order, as is therapy ith "Armour" or some other thyroid med[s] if the new TSH results are similar.
Remember, TSH is only the level of a hormone made by the 'pituitary gland' at the base of the brain that is telling the thyroid (under your "Adam's Apple in the neck) to "make more" (T4/T3), not an indication of current T4 or T3 blood levels. *That* is what would make you symptomatic... if Those levels are way off.
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Maybe I need a new Endocrinologist...she tells me that she sees no connection between Lyme and Thyroid...I know they go hand in hand...you all know they go hand and hand...but come on now, we can't expect the damn doctor's to know these things can we?...sorry for the rant.
Posts: 222 | From NH | Registered: Mar 2011
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