What if my TSH level is at 300?

[croak]

I found out today that my TSH level is at 300 compared to a normal persons 5 levels.
I am freeked...what does that high level mean and what makes it that high?

[Nikcalza]

Mine was over 500.00 i was hosptialized and could barely walk, talk, etc.  I was put on synthroid through IV's as well. That level is so dangerous you have no idea. at 300 my doctor wouldnt even allow me to drive. You need to see a doctor asap this is nothing to play around with. I was almost in a comotose state.

[goolarra]

I answered on the new thread you posted.

[21Matt]

My TSH ultra sensitive were 3.000 I have no idea what this means. Can someone please explain if that level is abnormal or close to abnormal? Thanks!

[goolarra]

It most likely means that you are hypothyroid and need further testing.  Your doctor should now test FREE T3 and FREE T4 to verify that they are low, which will back up your TSH result.  

I would be best if you started your own new thread by clicking the orange "Post a Question" button at the top of the page.  This thread is old and long, and we'll be more able to address your concerns in a new one.

Please tell us if you are on meds, and if so, which.  Post any other thyroid test results you have and include reference ranges because they vary lab to lab.

Also, please tell us about yout symptoms...how do you feel?

[epictabs]

My mom works at a doctors office and she just told me that my TSH is 132.27. I'm not really sure what it means I am only 17 and have been dealing with hypothyroidism for about 8 years now. Any advice?

[Jacq415]

I am so worried of brain defects in my baby!! My tsh was 35 and cant see Endo til Tuesday. Shld I be worried?!!!!! Dr increased my synthroid 25% today. Please help!! Scared!!

[Devinashley]

i developed hashimotos my first trimester of pregnancy.  I was not diagnosed until after my son was born.  he was critical for several weeks, we both had antibodies present and my Tsh was 357- his was 158.  The er dr that happened to notice my edema, ran blood work, and said she was shocked I wasn't in a coma.  I remember feeling like I was crazy because no one believed me and how I felt.  I hope you are better now.

[marty555]

Just noticed how old this question was lol...I'll post a new one, thanks!

[goolarra]

This is a very old, long thread.  You'll get a lot better response to your individual concerns if you go to the top of the page, hit the "Post a Question" button and start your own new thread.  

When you do, please post the results of any other thyroid tests you have with reference ranges (they vary lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report).  

Also, are you on thyroid meds?  If so, please give a brief meds history.

Do you have a diagnosed thyroid condition or disease?

[marty555]

That should be ok. I have my TSH at 3.5 and I'm in a dilemma if it is good or not! The thyroid section from about.com says it is, but I found other articles (like this one www.healblog.net/what-is-a-normal-tsh-level ) which says it's not!

Can anyone help me?

[nicksmom842]

you should not be taking N-saids (ibuprophen) with your thyroid meds. I think you're supposed to take tylenol instead.

[nicksmom842]

someone with TSH over 300 should not be held responsible for anything they say. they are very close to myxedema coma and should be hospitalized.

[lynnie525]

I have a hard time believing your TSH level is 300 and your doctor sends you home with no concern...my level went to 56 and I was sent to the ER...just saying

[croak]

hello stella how u doing now? thanks for your comment, if i have any constant headaches i will go to the emergency and let them know about my thryoid pitutary...i do get headaches but not often nor nothing i can bare.
ur info is good help.
:)

[croak]

hello all...just an update...sorry it took so long...been thru other family trauma within the past year.

my goiters have been controlled with synthroid, and have shrunk...i feel alot better with not much pain, and more energy...i would say i am 90% better and able to function now.

Will be on synthroid for life...I was taking 1.5mg a day for a year, now it is just 1mg tablet a day.

I've noticed that i have another problem since i've started taking synthroid medicine or been diagnosed with these goiters...my eyes have developed xanthomas...white/yellowish puffy spots on my eyelids and under my eye, they are almost forming a circle around my eye. I have seen the doctor of this and he said it was high cholesterol...well my blood work for the cholesterol was not really high i have been put on medication for high cholesterol as well, and these xanthomas seem to be spreading, and seem to be weighting my eyelids...effecting my vision, and i do not want to be seen in public, it is disfiguring. (waiting to see a plastic surgeon to see what they recommend.) been waiting for about 4 months for that call.

I am going to start a new topic on xanthoma or whatever is it wiht my eyes.

any suggestions would be helpful

once again
thanks for helping me thru my goiter disease!
:)

[goolarra]

Please post your own new question by going to the top of the page and clicking the green "Post a Question" button.  You will get a lot more individual attention that way than posting on an old thread like this one.

Did your doctor test your FT3 and FT4 levels as well as TSH?  If so, please post those levels with reference ranges.  Ranges vary lab to lab, so you have to post them with the results.

Do you feel terrible?  You probably have lots of hypo symptoms.

[Deep81]

Dear all,

I have just come to know that my thyriod is extremly on higher side i.e. 316. i dont know what to do. please help me friends.

[shamrockkatie60]

did you have your pituitary removed?was it painful?how did they remove it seeing it was so large..cut the skull open i guess.my reading has went up to 37..have to be checked again at the end of this month.i am getting alittle scared.hope your doing much better.

[littlewhitejeep]

I too just got out of the hospital with a TSH level of 320,  I have always had a hard time with my Thyroid for about 10 years, and somehow the oral synthroid does not absorb in my body, last year I was on Injectable thyroid medicine, my husband would have to give me shots every day, and it leveled out long enough for me to be able to carry a child to full term (after one miscarriage), then it went haywire again, I am back on the oral meds and have another appt with my Endo tomorrow, I am sure he will put me on the injectables again.  My doctor got my results of the 320 level, and called me and direct admitted me in the hospital, there I had a MRI done of my head, and they found a pituitary tumor and my pituitary gland was 3 times its normal size, I have been having really bad headaches for the past 3 months too, so this explains alot of that to me.  I was in the hospital for 1 week and still seeing specialists,  you should ask for a MRI of your head, if thyroid is not working, that means your pituitary gland is overworking, if it overworks it gets enlarged, and then they worry about it bleeding, it only had a little pocket that it fits in.  Seriously MRI of the head-  I have been off work for 6 weeks now dealing with this, its a bad way to live.

[cyndalie]

When I was diagosed (8 months post partum) my levels were in the 300's. The DR called me immediately and said I shouldn't even be walking around. I thought I was just overtired with a newborn that never slept.  I was also working full time.  It took 2 years to get my level into normal consistent range on meds.

[cyndalie]

When I was diagosed (8 months post partum) my levels were in the 300's. The DR called me immediately and said I shouldn't even be walking around. I thought I was just overtired with a newborn that never slept.  I was also working full time.  It took 2 years to get my level into normal consistent range on meds.

[goolarra]

My TSH has always been very high...67 at diagnosis and slowly falling to around 20 (no, I didn't forget a decimal point!).  I'm symptom-free quite low in the FT3 and FT4 ranges, and my TSH still hovers around 20.  I have PRTH (pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone), but a couple of doctors tried to kill me to get my TSH to come down.  With your TSH so high and no symptoms, you might explore a pituitary issue.

Can you post your actual FT3 and FT4 results along with their ranges?  Ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own lab report.

[Super_sally888]

Hmmm... with TSH consistently this high and T3 and T4 in the lower range you are hypothyroid and you do need to be given thyroid medication.

Looks like it is autoimmune and your thyroid is being killed.  For the moment it appears to be kinda coping as you are not having obious symptoms.  however, there will come a point when too much of the thyroid has been destroyed for it to be able to produce enough hormone to keep you feeling ok.

The analogy is that normally the rider doesn't have to whip a healthy horse (your thyroid) for it to run. However, now the horse is sick.  The rider can whip the horse very hard (this is the high TSH whipping your thyroid) to make it run (produce a basic level of hormone).  But eventually the horse will be too sick even to respond to the Whip and it will collapse and can't run any more.

Even though you don't feel bad at this stage, untreated hypothyroid is very bad for your body, and your heart.  And you may lose the remaining function suddenly and unexpectedly.  This can be dangerous.

I strongly recommend you find a doctor who will treat you.

TSH should be below 3.5 (5 is actually an old number) and FT3 and FT4 should be at least middle of the range.

[LazyMoose]

If you have no symptoms, what was it that led your doctor to test your thyroid levels in the first place?

They do not test thyroid levels for no reason, that is why I ask.

If your Free T3 and free T4 are both in the lower ranges, hypothyroid symptoms are likely to be present. These are more important than TSH.