Autoimmune Heptatis and now Throid Problems?

 

Hi All,

I am new to this site I am a member on the Hepatitis web site and just found this one and will know today if I will become a member.  I have had autoimmune hepatitis since 2006 as the result of taking Lipitor for High Cholesterol basically my Hepatologist said that the Lipitor kicked off a medication induced attached on my liver.  I have been on Prednisone on and off for 3 years and have experience a lot of weight gain.  I recently had some blood work done by my Hepatologist and my TSH level was 5.060 my lab shows a reference of 0.450 -4.500 they feel I have hypothyroidism because of my high cholesterol numbers and weight gain.  The last time I has my TSH checked was in 06 and it was 2.433.  I am 62 years old and very active I work out at the gym or play tennis 7 days a week and watch my diet carefully but continue to gain weight I know the Prednisone is a factor but the doctor feels since women with autoimmune problems often develope throid problems.  I have an appointment with a Endocrinologist today but from what I have been reading so far it seems a reading of 5.060 could be normal.  I do not have all the symptoms but have difficulty with weight and over the last month seem to just crash in the early afternoon I am so tired I feel like I cannot do anything.  Is it possible that this level of TSH could be hypothyroidism?

Jerry1

 

Hi Jerry1,

I've had Hashimoto's thyroiditis since I was very young (doctor said probably my teens), but wasn't diagnosed until I was in my early 30s. At diagnosis my TSH was in the 90s.

I've recently been diagnosed with AIH too (in June 2008), and several other autoimmune diseases (see signature).

I know that if my TSH gets up to 1.0 now, I feel tired. A TSH over 5 is high, IMHO. There has been controversy over the reference range...the old range ends at 5.0. The newer (proposed) range ends at 3.0, based on a number of things, including the fact that levels of TSH greater than 2.0 can cause complications during pregnancy and inhibit fertility. See the following article:

http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/tshtestwars_2.htm

Keep in mind that if you have one autoimmune disease, you are very likely to develop others.

All of that being said, exhaustion is also a hallmark of chronic liver disease....sorry that you're dealing with that! I know it's difficult.

Good luck! I hope you feel better soon!
JoAnn