Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician A TSH of 10 mIU/L is high in most adult laboratory ranges and usually means that the pituitary gland is having to stimulate the thyroid more strongly than normal. But a TSH result of 10 does not tell me everything by itself. The next number I want to […]
What Does a TSH of 10 Mean? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician A TSH of 10 mIU/L is high in most adult laboratory ranges and usually means that the pituitary gland is having to stimulate the thyroid more strongly than normal. But a TSH result of 10 does not tell me everything by […]
Why Is My TSH Low While Taking Levothyroxine? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician If you take levothyroxine and your TSH is low, one common explanation is that your current dose is providing more thyroid hormone than your body needs. But I would not automatically reduce the dose after seeing one low TSH result. […]
Why Is My TSH High Even Though I Take Levothyroxine? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician If you take levothyroxine but your TSH is still high, the result usually means that your body is receiving less thyroid hormone than it currently needs. But I would not automatically increase the dose without first asking why. […]
When Should You See an Endocrinologist for Thyroid Problems? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician You do not necessarily need an endocrinologist for every thyroid problem. Many straightforward cases of hypothyroidism, mildly abnormal TSH results, and stable thyroid-hormone treatment can be managed by a family physician. An endocrinologist becomes particularly useful when the diagnosis […]
Do Thyroid Antibodies Mean You Have Hypothyroidism? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician No. Having positive thyroid antibodies does not automatically mean that you currently have hypothyroidism. Thyroid antibodies tell us that an autoimmune process may be affecting the thyroid. Your TSH and FT4, however, tell us much more directly whether the thyroid is […]
Why Do I Have Thyroid Symptoms but Normal Blood Tests? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician If you feel tired, cold, constipated, have difficulty losing weight, notice hair changes, or struggle with concentration but your thyroid blood tests are normal, it is reasonable to wonder whether the tests are missing something. In most people, […]
How Long After Changing Thyroid Medication Should TSH Be Rechecked? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician For most adults taking levothyroxine for hypothyroidism, TSH is usually rechecked about 6 to 8 weeks after starting treatment or changing the dose. Testing much earlier can be misleading because levothyroxine has a long half-life and the pituitary-thyroid […]
Can TSH Change From One Test to Another? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician Yes. Your TSH can change from one blood test to another, sometimes even when your thyroid condition has not significantly changed. When a patient shows me two different TSH results, I do not automatically assume that the thyroid has suddenly […]
What Does a Positive Anti-TPO Test Mean? Written by Dr. Albana Greca, Family Physician If your blood test shows positive anti-TPO antibodies, it means that your immune system has produced antibodies against an enzyme inside the thyroid called thyroid peroxidase. A positive anti-TPO test is commonly associated with autoimmune thyroid disease, particularly Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. But […]