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Enquiry on TSH 8.75
My Father's TSH is 8.75 . Rest parameters in the report seems fine. Is there any other specific test needed before consulting? Should he be on medicine lifelong or for a fixed term?
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Can help you with the next course of action and treatment plan. Kindly consult via whatsapp at nine zero two nine six zero zero four seven zero.
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TSH of 8.75 shows mild hypothyroidism. Before treatment, get a Free T4 test. Depending on results and symptoms, your father may either need a small dose of thyroid medicine or just monitoring. Treatment is lifelong only if Free T4 is low; otherwise, many elderly patients do well without daily medication.
Next Steps
What you should do now
1. Get Free T4 test (important).
2. Take the report to your doctor or you share with me
3. The doctor will decide if medicine is needed now or only monitoring.
1. What does TSH = 8.75 mean?
A TSH of 8.75 indicates hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
Since he is 75 years old, this is usually subclinical or mild hypothyroidism, especially if:
• Free T4 = normal
• Free T3 = normal
This is a very common finding in elderly patients.
2. Before starting treatment, only ONE more test is useful
Free T4 (FT4)
This tells us how active the thyroid hormone is in the blood.
Optional (not mandatory):
Anti-TPO antibodies
To confirm autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s), but this doesn’t change treatment in elderly.
No other tests are usually required.
3. Does he need lifelong medicine?
This depends on Free T4 and his symptoms
Health Tips
In older age, we avoid high doses of thyroid medicine because:
• Over-treatment can stress the heart
• Can cause palpitations
• Can reduce bone density
So doctors start very slowly and carefully.
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Need few more details for proper understanding of your issue.
You can consult with me online on Practo or whatsapp on eight three one eight four six nine eight eight six for proper diagnosis, conclusion and management
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Please consult
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Need to do a complete thyroid profile
Next Steps
it's symptoms that I need to do medication
Health Tips
till now
must avoid some food like cabbage, cauliflower, soya food
avoid tablet Salt
do some yoga , avoid stress
I recommend early morning jogging and running lead to control your stress and hormonal imbalance
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If the T3 and T4 are normal with elevated TSH, it's known as subclinical hypothyroidism.You can get his anti tpo antibody test to see if hehas autoimmune thyroiditis.He requires treatment if only he is symptomatic or his TSH level is more than 10
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TSH of 8.75 suggests hypothyroidism, most likely mild to moderate. If the rest of the thyroid panel (T3/T4) is normal and he has no major symptoms, this is usually called subclinical hypothyroidism, but it still needs evaluation.
Next Steps
Before consulting, one useful additional test is:
• Anti-TPO antibody – this checks for autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease). If this is positive, the thyroid condition is more likely to be long-term.
Health Tips
Whether treatment is lifelong or temporary depends on the cause. Many patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism usually need long-term or lifelong thyroid tablets, but the dose is small and very safe. If it is mild, age-related, or due to temporary thyroid inflammation, sometimes the dose can be reduced or stopped after follow-up.
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TSH 8.75 suggests underactive thyroid (likely sub-clinical).
✅ Before consulting doctor, useful tests:
Free T4
Anti-TPO antibodies
Repeat TSH after 6–8 weeks (if no symptoms)
✅ Medicine is NOT always lifelong
If Free T4 is normal & no symptoms, doctor may observe and repeat tests.
If symptomatic, Free T4 low, or Anti-TPO positive, thyroxine may be started.
Lifelong treatment depends on cause (e.g., autoimmune = usually long-term).
⚠️ Get urgent care if he has severe fatigue, swelling, low heart rate, or very high TSH (>10).
For more Information contact me in practo
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If he has symptom of weigh loss
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You can consult me directly on Practo, or reach out via WhatsApp:
Eight Seven Six Two Seven Four Nine Nine Seven Four
I’ll guide you step-by-step with easy-to-follow treatment plans.
Early consultation helps avoid complications — feel free to connect.
Only whatsapp message no calls
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Yes .. do the complete thyroid profile.. and yes.. if there is any thyroid issues the medicine is for lifelong
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HYPOTHYROIDISM
START THYROXINE
TAB THYRONORM 75 MCG ONE IN EMPTY STOMACH FOR 2 MONTHS. NOT TO STOP AS U REQUIRED FOLLOW UP BY MD PHYSICIAN.
ADD CALCIUM AS THYROXINE IS CALCIUM DEPLETING AGENT SO BONES BECOME WEAK IN TIME.
SHALCAL XT ONE AT NIGHT AFTER DINNER FOR MONTHS.
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Need to start thyronorm
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Get T3 and T4
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Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Check anti tpo plz
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Dr. Digvijay Vashistha
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Faridabad
If you need guidance, I’m here—feel free to book your consultation.
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Dr. Shivam Mishra
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Mumbai
A TSH of 8.75 in a 75-year-old indicates subclinical or early hypothyroidism, even if the other thyroid parameters look normal.
Before deciding whether he genuinely needs long-term treatment, a few things must be clarified:
✔️ Whether he has symptoms – fatigue, cold intolerance, constipation, imbalance, weight changes, leg swelling, slow heart rate etc.
✔️ Repeat TSH + Free T4 after a short interval to confirm the pattern
✔️ TPO antibodies – to check whether it is autoimmune thyroiditis (which changes long-term management)
✔️ Review of his medications, as some drugs in older adults can artificially alter thyroid levels
✔️ Assessment of heart status, because starting thyroid medication in elderly patients requires careful titration to avoid cardiac strain.
Whether he needs lifelong medication or a short corrective course depends entirely on the above factors. At his age, treatment must be customized blanket advice often does more harm than good.
If you want, I can review his reports and symptoms together and guide you step-by-step on what exactly needs to be done next.
You can message me privately on w.h.a.t.s.a.p.p – nine three two six zero two zero five three six for a detailed consultation.
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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Dr. B R S Kumar
General Physician
25 yrs exp
Hyderabad
If the TSH was previously fine before this reading and he has no symptoms (see below what symptoms) related to thyroid, then have the TSH repeated in 4 weeks before any treatment.
If he has symptoms like weight gain, memory issues which are new, excessive sleep or tiredness, recently becoming more constipated then needs treatment. This will be Thyronorm 25mcg once a day in the morning and once treatment is started have a repeat TSH in 4 weeks to see if the dose of Thyronorm needs increasing.
In older patients always the starting dose of Thyronorm need to be lower like 25mcg to avoid unexpected complications.
This is a long term treatment so once started to continue for life.
All the best.
J G S R
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Dr. Gaurav Jaiswal
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhansi
Avoid fried and spicy food
Water intake more
Do connect and consult
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Dr. Rachna Pande
Internal Medicine
42 yrs exp
Bhopal
Treatment is mostly for life. Dose can be adjusted as per monitoring of TSH levels.
Start with a low dose, I.e. thyronorm tab 25 microgram daily before breakfast, repeat thyroid profile after 2 to 3 months.
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