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What Causes Elevated TSH Level?
Question: I have hypothyroidism (I guess) as my TSH results were over 8. I have tried Centroid, but gained a lot of weight while taking it. As I only took it for a few weeks, less than a month, and began to gain a lot of weight I stopped taking it. Now I see I likely have low levels of Iodine. If I eat foods rich in Iodine, and get my Iodine levels back up, is there a good chance my TSH results will show lower numbers, ie., less than 8?
I would like to take a particular diet pill to help me loose the extra weight (20 lbs +/-) I have gained since I took Centhroid last year. I gained that weight during and just after stopping the Centhroid prescriptionmy T4. Can I take the diet pills and chew appetite suppressant gum with my hypothyroidism (my TSH was just over 8 (I'm told 0.45-4.0 is normal range) and my T4 was 0.96 (I was also told 0.82-1.77 is normal range)? I live in Barrow, AK, the northernmost town in Alaska & I have no in-network doctors here. To see one I would have to fly to and from XXXXXXX 700 miles away and at a cost of well over $500 per trip plus lodging. So seeing a doctor is nearly impossible. My TSH/T4 test results were from late August, 2015, a once per year trip to XXXXXXX I cannot afford to fly there again until sometime in 2016.
I would like to take a particular diet pill to help me loose the extra weight (20 lbs +/-) I have gained since I took Centhroid last year. I gained that weight during and just after stopping the Centhroid prescriptionmy T4. Can I take the diet pills and chew appetite suppressant gum with my hypothyroidism (my TSH was just over 8 (I'm told 0.45-4.0 is normal range) and my T4 was 0.96 (I was also told 0.82-1.77 is normal range)? I live in Barrow, AK, the northernmost town in Alaska & I have no in-network doctors here. To see one I would have to fly to and from XXXXXXX 700 miles away and at a cost of well over $500 per trip plus lodging. So seeing a doctor is nearly impossible. My TSH/T4 test results were from late August, 2015, a once per year trip to XXXXXXX I cannot afford to fly there again until sometime in 2016.
Brief Answer:
You need thyroxine supplementation
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through the details provided and fully understand your concerns. Let me mention that the problems that you faced are probably due to the unmanaged hypothyroidism which was not balanced even on the intake of Centroid, and not due to Centroid itself. Your hypothyroid status is responsible for your weight gain and unless you bring it desperately in control, no diet or diet pills will be able to help you gain control over it. But keep in mind that for weight gain to occur there needs to be positive difference between the total energy taken in as food and the total energy expenditure. Hence irrespective of what you eat, you need to cut down on it. Increasing workout and energy output is another crucial thing that you need. You also need to increase the intake of colourful vegetables and fruits since they contain plenty of antioxidants which are essential in a case of hypothyroidism. Taking sea weeds and vegetables like kelp will help you reduce your iodine deficiency. Taking sea fish is also important since they contain omega 3 fatty acids.
Let me also tell you that in case of hypothyroidism what matters is that the TSH levels are high. It does not really matter if in such a case T4 levels are ok. You need to start Centroid or any other brand of Levothyroxine without delay. You should start with 100 mcg per day and recheck the TSH levels after 6 weeks. You had not done the right thing by stopping it.
Taking diet pills and chew appetite suppressant gum will not help and so I will not speak in its favour.
Hope that helps.
Regards
You need thyroxine supplementation
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone very carefully through the details provided and fully understand your concerns. Let me mention that the problems that you faced are probably due to the unmanaged hypothyroidism which was not balanced even on the intake of Centroid, and not due to Centroid itself. Your hypothyroid status is responsible for your weight gain and unless you bring it desperately in control, no diet or diet pills will be able to help you gain control over it. But keep in mind that for weight gain to occur there needs to be positive difference between the total energy taken in as food and the total energy expenditure. Hence irrespective of what you eat, you need to cut down on it. Increasing workout and energy output is another crucial thing that you need. You also need to increase the intake of colourful vegetables and fruits since they contain plenty of antioxidants which are essential in a case of hypothyroidism. Taking sea weeds and vegetables like kelp will help you reduce your iodine deficiency. Taking sea fish is also important since they contain omega 3 fatty acids.
Let me also tell you that in case of hypothyroidism what matters is that the TSH levels are high. It does not really matter if in such a case T4 levels are ok. You need to start Centroid or any other brand of Levothyroxine without delay. You should start with 100 mcg per day and recheck the TSH levels after 6 weeks. You had not done the right thing by stopping it.
Taking diet pills and chew appetite suppressant gum will not help and so I will not speak in its favour.
Hope that helps.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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