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What is the normal for TSH
My last TSH was 1. Usually I am in the .3-.5 range. I have symptoms of both Hashimotos and hyperthyroid, though primarily hypo. How much do the labs matter versus patient interview? Doctor is hesitant to bump me back up to 125 levoxyl even though TSH was on the left side of decimal this past test.
TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator, not a diagnostic, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3. If you were tested beyond TSH, please post results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. Also, please tell us more specifically about symptoms you have.
Hypothyroid patients frequently find that their TSH becomes suppressed when taking adequate doses of thyroid med. Doctors are wrong to think that a suppressed TSH automatically means you are hyperthyroid. In reality you are hyper only if having hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T4 and Free T3.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not TSH.
You can verify what I say by reading at least the first two pages of the following link, and more if you want to get into the discussion and scientific evidence for all that is presented.
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf
For your situation you will find Recommendation no. 10 on page 12 to be applicable. Also please take note of Rec. no 12 on page 14, for other tests you likely need.
Hypothyroid patients frequently find that their TSH becomes suppressed when taking adequate doses of thyroid med. Doctors are wrong to think that a suppressed TSH automatically means you are hyperthyroid. In reality you are hyper only if having hyper symptoms due to excessive levels of Free T4 and Free T3.
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH. Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results, and especially not TSH.
You can verify what I say by reading at least the first two pages of the following link, and more if you want to get into the discussion and scientific evidence for all that is presented.
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/TUK_PDFs/diagnosis_and_treatment_of_hypothyroidism_issue_1.pdf
For your situation you will find Recommendation no. 10 on page 12 to be applicable. Also please take note of Rec. no 12 on page 14, for other tests you likely need.
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