[ewmb]

#1065930

I’m 7 months out from RAI and have the same thing. My last TSH finally moved to 14. something. I think I am slow on getting my TSH to catch up. I am waiting 8 weeks this time to get blood drawn.

ewmb

[Ski]

#1065931

TSH is always slower to respond ~ when you’re initially going through this (ablation, going hypo, and beginning replacement hormone), T4 is the better measurement. Later on, when you’ve been stable a long time, TSH is more sensitive and overall a better measurement to use for keeping things regulated.

T4/TSH measurements do not predict anything regarding Thyroid Eye Disease though. That has its own disease course, and nothing you do for your thyroid will change the course of TED.

[markwagner]

#1018598

I had RAI for hyperthyroidism 5 months ago and I am on 125 mcg of levothyroxine and my free t4 has been in the normal range for a couple of months now (.95) but my TSH is staying high at 20.85 Although I am feeling a little better, I am concerned about the high TSH and my Graves Eye Disease is not any better. I am told that the sooner I get regulated the sooner I will get in the "cold phase" and my eyes should get better! Any Suggestions? Should I increase my levothyroxine?

[Kimberly]

#1065932

markwagner wrote: I am told that the sooner I get regulated the sooner I will get in the "cold phase" and my eyes should get better! Any Suggestions? Should I increase my levothyroxine?

Hello – As Ski said, TED runs on its own schedule, and there really isn’t anything we can do to make the cold phase arrive more quickly. However, I picked up a book on TED at last year’s conference, and the authors believe there is a link between hypOthyroidism following RAI and *increased* severity of TED. (Another theory is that this occurs because of an increase in autoantibody activity following RAI.)

However, the decision as to whether to increase your dose should be made in conjunction with your doctor, and based on recent labs. The "normal" range is fairly wide, so "normal" might not be OPTIMAL for you, if you are not feeling well. The catch is that if you end up *overmedicating* with the levothyroixine, you can end up back in hypER territory again, with all of the complications that go along with being hypER…including bone/muscle wasting and heart issues.

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