lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
I was bitten by a tick the first week in January. I had my doctor do a thyroid test and got some very strange results, it reported a TSH of 55.09 (reference range 0.5-5.5). My last test was done in Oct 30, 2007 and was 1.33. Any ideas why the thyroid test would come back that spiked? Could I have inherited a new coinfection?
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Sometimes the spirochetes/disease like to take up residence in the thyroid and make it go haywire. It's just like when the disease also gets into our joints and makes them stiff, etc. Same with neuro lyme, the spirochetes have chosen the brain, etc., etc.
Many people with Lyme disease have hypothyroidism/hashimotos disease or even hyperthyroidism.
I have hypothyroidism and have to take thyroid hormone.
I actually found out I had hypothyroidism before I found out I had lyme and that threw me off big time. For a long time I thought my problem was my thyroid and I wasn't getting enough hormone replacement, etc. Didn't realize it WASN'T my thyroid until I was on Synthroid for a long time and the numbers were back to normal and I was still feeling TERRIBLE as ever.
That's when I had to continue my search and then finally found out I had Lyme disease/Bartonella/etc.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
The same thing happened to me. So many people report thyroid issues here. On the MP website, you find the same reports except you'll also find patients whose thyroid function has returned to normal (i.e., no more thyroid medication necessary!) after a year or so on MP.
Conventional medical "wisdom" would have you believe your own immune system is attacking your thyroid for some "unknown reason." I think my immune system is pretty smart. My immune system is simply trying to eliminate an infection in my thyroid! Makes perfect sense to me!
Posts: 246 | From Grass Valley, CA | Registered: Jun 2007
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
My thyroid prior to October was high at 6.5 and it did return to normal at 1.33. I think being bitten again must have brought on a new infection my body has to respond to. So, I'll work with my alternative doctor to increase the armour thyroid. I'll see him on the 6th. On my insurance, my primary thought it was just a viral infection.
Ahhhh, so many doctors so little time.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
lymie, also one of my tests was outragious; we discovered the typist made a mistake and put the decimal in the WRONG place making it extremely high. have that checked out too.
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posted
I didn't start having problems with my thyroid until years after I got lyme. Well I probably had symtoms for years, but was so sick with lyme I couldn't tell the difference. I wish I had caught it sooner though.
My TSH went from .04 which is hyperthyroid, from taking synthroid. I stopped the synthroid for 5 weeks and had another TSH done and it was 116.
I think lyme wiped out my thyroid.
Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
keep in mind that TSH comes from the brain based on the brain's (unconscious) interpretation of how much thyroid hormone is needed. I have never seen a TSH that high, so before jumping to conclusions I suggest you retest. You said you had a recent tick bite, had you been diagnosed with Lyme in the past? If your immune system has previously been challenged with BB and then you were rechallenged, the immune system response would trigger the brain to release more TSH to upregulate the metabolism to help it respond, on the other hand, you may have antithyroglobulin antibodies that are up regulated from the immune stimulation, and they are preventing your thyroid from responding to the TSH. In any event, you need careful eval, and Vitamin D level is very important here, so that should be checked too.
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Your TSH can be that high. They retested mine several times and it came back the same everytime. My doctor said the highest he's seen is 130.
Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
I'm not that fatigued, so I'm guessing something is wrong with the test. My Primary got concerned enough to provide a referal to an endocronilogist (oh they hate doing that) and I have a retest next week.
I appreciate the replies and I will worry about when I have a new result.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
If vitamin D is either high or low, would that disregulate the brains production of TSH? One thing that I noticed from a recent hair analysis is my calcium level is very high.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I've seen a fair number of people with mild elevations of TSH normalize when their deficiency is corrected, or even see them become over corrected when they are already on synthroid, but a level as high as yours should prompt a recheck and if persistent, an autoimmune workup, and other metabolic tests to assess liver, kidney function and electrolytes, as well as the T3, T4 and reverse T3. If your Calcium level is high, you should also have the 1,25 dihydroxy D level and a parathyroid hormone level tested and for the time being stay away from calcium supplements if you have been taking any...
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
Thanks for the information and insight it is very helpful. I haven't taken calcium supplements fortunately, but my diet had way too much calcium in it. I've been trying to reduce calcium as much as possible when I got the results back making sure calcium is about 75% of daily requirement for a couple of months and then retest. I believe that is working, I'll know next week what the the thyroid retest shows and I'll post it.
I will take the information to an endocronilogist to make sure I get the necessary tests. Especially the parathyroid.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
Thanks for the information and insight it is very helpful. I haven't taken calcium supplements fortunately, but my diet had way too much calcium in it. I've been trying to reduce calcium as much as possible when I got the results back making sure calcium is about 75% of daily requirement for a couple of months and then retest. I believe that is working, I'll know next week what the the thyroid retest shows and I'll post it.
I will take the information to an endocronilogist to make sure I get the necessary tests. Especially the parathyroid.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I agree you should have a autoimmune workup. I did, and I do have Hoshimoto's. I also have a goiter and hypothyroidism.
Kathy
-------------------- You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. Posts: 807 | From South Dakota | Registered: Jul 2005
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pamoisondelune
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11846
posted
My TSH was at 160 when i was first diagnosed.
Now the thyroid has been a problem, i can't figure it out: hair falling out--- is it low thyroid (TSH 30), or alopecia areata autoimmune, or both? My free T4 was normal. I've been on Armour for 2 days and feel much better.
Thanks for the info from DrLuddite!
Posts: 1226 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Just don't forget that thyroid medication (hormone supplementation) is palliative. It may relieve some of your symptoms, but does not cure anything. You will most likely have to take the thyroid medication the rest of your life.
I find it pretty encouraging that a number of people on MP have been able to stop thyroid supplementation. It's so obvious to me that hypothyroidism not due to surgery or injury is due to chronic infection. Curing the infection should cure the hypothyroidism!
Posts: 246 | From Grass Valley, CA | Registered: Jun 2007
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Itsy_bitsyone
Unregistered
posted
Mine spiked to 38...
They OD'ed me on thyroid meds (I do not test positive for hashi's)...
Got much worse. Went off them on my own.
Untreated, its been as low as 3 and as high as 6, and still fluctuates some. Its high enough that I am considered to be hypothyroid but I haven't treated in years.
My advice, retest in a month and then go on replacement if still necessary, getting retested every few months, adjusting the meds as necessary. Also do Ft4 and Ft3 tests with the TSH so to be sure...its your Ft4 and ft3 that really are the indicators of how much replacement you need.
Remember, TSH comes from the pituitary...its the regulator hormone. SO, if your TSH remains high and your T's go higher...you need to get the brain checked before doing thyroid replacement!!
posted
I'm curious what your values for free T3 & T4 were. I've noticed no benefit whatsoever from thyroid supplementation & my test results have often been contradictory. I did have my first normal TSH since the tick bites after starting MP.
Posts: 246 | From Grass Valley, CA | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
That is a high value, but I have seen even higher values reported on the MP message boards.
Posts: 246 | From Grass Valley, CA | Registered: Jun 2007
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