are these levels normal

[nc306]

I have been having symptoms of fatigue, no sex drive, brittle hair, brittle nails, wt gain for the last two years, shortness of air.  I quit smoking and gained 25 lbs.  I weighed 117 and now weigh 142.  I went back to smoking and try watching what I eat and still can't lose any wt.  I had my thyroid checked.  The results were TSH 0.92  and free t4 0.76   My doctor said they were normal.  I had been taking some thyroid stimulating herbs about two weeks before taking this test.  So I am wondering if these levels are normal?

[redheadaussie]

I am very curious as to what the thyroid stimulating herbs were. Many so called 'cures' are actually quite dangerous, especially when it comes to the thyroid.
   You do need the Free T3 checked.

[gimel]

Can't really comment on whether the thyroid stimulating herbs might have affected the test results or not.  You certainly have a number of the classic symptoms for hypo t, and your FT4 was on the very low end of the range.  I would stop taking any more of the herbs and go back and ask that FT 3 also be tested (free T3), because it is 4 times as potent as FT4 and largely regulates metabolism.  Doctors do not usually check FT3 because they assume that if T4 is okay, then T3 will also be okay.  That is not always the case, plus your FT4 is on the very low end of its range already.  

The best you can hope for is a doctor that will listen to your symptoms, recognize them as probably related to hypothyroidism,  test you regularly for FT3 and FT4 along with TSH, and regulate your meds to alleviate your symptoms.  Relief of hypo t symptoms correlates much better with FT3 and FT4 than with TSH.