Question re: TSH levels

bametels

Hi - I just found this group.

I'm curious what your doctors consider to be a normal TSH range? I had thyroiditis about 15 years ago. I was warned that I would be at higher risk for hypothyroidism later in life. My TSH has always been fine (normally a little over 2) until my physical two weeks ago - it was 5.75. A retest less than one week later came back as 5.06 and my T4 and T3 was tested - T4, Free - .069; T3, Free - 3.0. I've had a number of symptoms that suggest something is going on. I've seen .3-3.0 listed as the normal TSH range. My doctor's lab is using 0.34-5.60.

editorgrrl

TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is something your pituitary produces to tell your thyroid to produce T4. (Your body then converts T4 to T3.) A high TSH usually means something's not working right.

There are many definitions of "normal," though. If you're concerned, ask your GP for a referral to an endocrinologist.

Fuzzipeg

I agree higher tsh means something is not working quite right. "Normal" in general does not necessarily mean best for you. Some people may be happy at the lower end but others need to be towards if not at the higher end nearer 0.5 ish there are so many things which can influence thyroid function.

The GP you consulted gave you your free numbers, these have been shown to be most relevant in hypothyroid care. The probability is you will be referred to a well informed endocrinologist from there. Our, Thyroid UK, advocate discovering as much as you can about things as you start out so you can decide if you are receiving the best advice you can. Other countries have their own similar organisations who would probably do so too. Were you to decide the advice you finally receive is not all it should be your national organisation will be best placed to point you in the right direction for better care.

lindsey1979

My understanding was that the old range didn't consider you hypo until you were over 5, but new standards were instituted in 2002 or so and it was reduced to 3. Some even will say that there is likely some impairment of thyroid function over 2-2.5.

But, TSH is only one test. For those of us with Hashi's (which is the vast majority of hypo folks), TSH isn't as helpful which is why docs look at Free T4 and Free T3 in addition to antibodies (if Hashi's hasn't been diagnosed yet) and clinical symptoms. But usually you have to find a doc that is really up on thyroid care to know this -- too many still rely on the only-TSH testing method.

bametels

Thanks to all of you for your responses. My doctor is clearly not on top of what is considered the current range for normal TSH. I'm not anxious to go on thyroid meds and I appreciate her caution but at the same time, I have a history of thyroiditis and was warned that I am at higher risk of hypothyroidism. Plus, I've not been feeling well for quite some time. I've been doing some reading and searching for potential endocrinologists because it may be worth the time and money to speak to a specialist.

lindsey1979

bametels wrote: »

Thanks to all of you for your responses. My doctor is clearly not on top of what is considered the current range for normal TSH. I'm not anxious to go on thyroid meds and I appreciate her caution but at the same time, I have a history of thyroiditis and was warned that I am at higher risk of hypothyroidism. Plus, I've not been feeling well for quite some time. I've been doing some reading and searching for potential endocrinologists because it may be worth the time and money to speak to a specialist.

Look beyond endos -- as many are super old school and not as current. Trust me that there are quite a few of us that have gone to endos and they ended up being completely unhelpful.

Look for someone (whether endo or not) that specializes in thyroid or metabolic issues. Sometimes they're endos, sometime their GPs. I've found the most luck with those MDs that take an integrative or functional approach.

indianarose2

I took synthroid/cytomel for 14 yrs and just had a sonogram of my "thyroid". It was practically nonexistent due to atrophy from taking thyroid replacement all those years. If I had it to do over again I'd go the integrative approach as no Endo or any other regular doc could ever explain why my thyroid did not function properly. My sister in law was put on Synthroid last year for low thyroid but it gave her joint pains so a friend suggested alfalfa (relatively high dose) so she took that instead and the last thyroid bloodwork came out normal. Keep your options open.

CSARdiver

I agree with Lindsey1979 - shop around as most endos are old and operate very conservatively. I struggled to find one willing to work with me (happened to be my flight surgeon), especially considering most endos working with men are working from a point of sexual dysfunction and/or diabetes. I pulled a clinical eval from pubmed showing the narrowed range of TSH 0.3-3.0 and we discussed and altered Sythroid until I consistently fell within that stated range. I also kept detailed reports of blood pressure and heart rate and by doing so built up a level of trust with my endo that I'm monitoring myself so he does not have to. Many physicians operate by CYA for fear of litigation.

Then again I had a total thyroidectomy, the current surgical trend is to do partials, so there is no variation of my baseline T4.