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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Elevated TSH Level?

My tsh level has recently increased, very close to being just above recommended number. My free t3 is slightly elevated as well. T4 is in the middle. My hair is very dry and falling out, I ve had persistent symptoms. Dr has advised me to take an extra pill 3 x per week. If all my numbers have rose doesn t that point to hyper rather than hypo, which is what I ve always had?
Wed, 23 Nov 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

It is very unusual for the thyroid hormones and TSH to rise at the same time, this should not occur.

TSH is released from a part of the brain called the pituitary, it travels to the thyroid gland and causes it to release thyroid hormones.

When there is enough or too much thyroid hormone, a message is sent up to the pituitary telling it to decrease the TSH so that it would cause less of the thyroid hormone to be released.

When there is too little thyroid hormone, a message is sent to the pituitary telling it to increase the TSH so that more of the thyroid hormone is released.

This means that LOW TSH---- high thyroid hormones (the high hormones stop the TSH from the pituitary)
HIGH TSH-- low thyroid hormones

This means that if your TSH has increased, there should be an associated decrease in your thyroid hormones not increase.
The increase in TSH means that there is not enough thyroid hormones, so a message was sent up to increase the TSH

High TSH---means low thyroid hormones- ---hypothyroidism not hyperthyroidism.

I hope this helps to explain this to you
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What Causes Elevated TSH Level?

HI, thanks for using healthcare magic It is very unusual for the thyroid hormones and TSH to rise at the same time, this should not occur. TSH is released from a part of the brain called the pituitary, it travels to the thyroid gland and causes it to release thyroid hormones. When there is enough or too much thyroid hormone, a message is sent up to the pituitary telling it to decrease the TSH so that it would cause less of the thyroid hormone to be released. When there is too little thyroid hormone, a message is sent to the pituitary telling it to increase the TSH so that more of the thyroid hormone is released. This means that LOW TSH---- high thyroid hormones (the high hormones stop the TSH from the pituitary) HIGH TSH-- low thyroid hormones This means that if your TSH has increased, there should be an associated decrease in your thyroid hormones not increase. The increase in TSH means that there is not enough thyroid hormones, so a message was sent up to increase the TSH High TSH---means low thyroid hormones- ---hypothyroidism not hyperthyroidism. I hope this helps to explain this to you