Question About Thyroid and Meds

Before surgery 13 months ago my thyroid level was 2.12, which was said to be on the low range (or hypothyroidism, right?).  The head bariatric doc at Kaiser put me on Levothyroxine at 50mcg until after the surgery, and to be watched in the future.  He said I would probably not need it after I lost the weight.    

Okay, so this week my blood tests show it's 4.58, which is above the normal range (normal is 0.35-4.0, according to my emailed results).  Okay, so I guess that's hyperthyroidism, right?  Okay, I get it.  I got too much now.

What I don't get is that my PCP wants me to pick up a new Rx of levothyroxine TODAY, which is increased to .75mcg.  She wants me to take MORE of this drug???

Um.... doesn't levothyrixine INCREASE your levels?  And if so, why would she increase the dosage instead of lower it, or eliminate it altogether?  Am I missing something here?

So confused and waiting for call back from doc.  Thanks for any help!

You've got it backwards. If your TSH is higher than 4.0 then it is hyPOthyroid. HyPERthyroid is lower than .35. Also, the higher the med mcg is to lower the TSH making it stable. Make sense?

Got!  Wow, thanks... 

So, I guess when my levels were 2.12 they were giving me levothyroxine to LOWER it, not raise it?  (I believe this is where I must've been confused.)  So, now they're even higher, so they have to increase the levo to bring it down even more.

And I had the hyper and hypo backwards - got it.  

I think it's starting to make sense.  I KNEW I'd get some sensible answers here!  Love you guys - thanks!  

I'm kinda confused why they would even give you meds if you were 2.12 without them??? But yes, you're on the right path now.

Yeah, I thought it was unnecessary, too.  Since I was pretty much right in the middle of standard range, y'know?  But he was the head of the Bariatric department, so I didn't argue.  And he said it would be temporary and just kinda preventative until after the surgery.

What I guess I just figured at the time was that since I was SMO, that he was considering 2.12 'too low'... so he prescribed the levo to raise it.  That was an incorrect assumption on my part.  I guess he thought 2.12 was too high...???  Therefore the levo was to lower it.  

Anyway, I think I understand it better now.  If Levo brings your TSH level DOWN (not up)... then I see why they are increasing my dosage now.

Again... great answers from the pros here.  I'm very appreciative.   (y)

before you panic, check what was tested. 

TSH T4 or T3...

then read on line what they are what what they represent. 

I think the number you refer to is TSH. 0.4-4.00 The higher the number the more HYPO-tyroid you are. 

Thanks.  Okay I went back to the emailed test results but it does not say which one they tested for.  It just says:  TSH 4.58 / Standard Range 0.35-4.00.  I am reading online about the differences of 3 and 4 and learning more.

So, now I have another good question to ask the doc when she calls back.

Thank you.

Thyroid is really complicated.

not sure what the number or 2 was before- but if that was TSH - I am very surprised they put you on the Synthroid.  I never heard anyone was given thyroid hormones for TSH below 5 or even 10...There is something more going on...   

not sure if the doc is endo or some other specialty... 

I had mine tested and even with low t4, low t3 and TSH of close to 4 they would not give me any...because my doc was worried that it would shut down the natural thyroid response.. Ask questions - a lot of them...

I definitely will.  The more I read about the different components as related to the thyroid, the more confused I am.  Thanks again for giving me the right questions to ask.  

also,50 mcg is different than .75 mcg. .75 is less than 50