TSH Levels raised

Heya Liza, 

I'm so sorry you find yourself in this situation. 

First of all, change GP. Because whoever you've got at the moment doesn't have a clue not only about thyroid cancer, but about hypothyroidism. I'd really like to call them incompetent actually, and I really suggest you report them for putting you in this situation. 

The 'normal' range for TSH is between, roughly, 0.4 and 4, and you're currently at 59.7..... . So you are majorly hypothyroid right now, hence the weight gain, fatigue, headaches. And probably constipation, moodiness, and a whole host of other things.

The 'normal' range for T4 is between, roughly, 10 and 25. However with both T4 and TSH, different labs can work to different ranges.

Now, the reason I've said normal like that, is because after a TT for thyroid cancer we often don't sit in the normal ranges. Our TSH is supposed to be suppressed to around 0.1 for at least the first year. After that, it depends on how high risk we are as to how high we can let the TSH get up to. However the highest I've seen someone told they can let it get to is 2.

The reason for TSH suppression is that TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. So the more TSH there is, the more active any remaining thyroid cells are going to be. Which can cause recurrence and spread if they are too active, which is why it needs to be monitored and kept under control.

So it looks like your idiot GP has misread or misunderstood something, and has taken your T4 down to the minimum, not the TSH. So with your TSH so high, it sounds like there's every chance those lumps you've found will be a recurrence I'm afraid. But fingers crossed they won't be!

Good luck and keep in touch! 

Lass

Xx