I am a Graves disease patient and 3 months post RAI.
I recently had an 11 week post RAI blood test which showed Free T4 1.76 (ref. range 0.82-1.77), Free T3 4.2 (ref. range 2.0-4.4) and TSH 0.005 (ref. range 0.450-4.500). My endocrinologist is happy the my Free T4 and Free T3 are in range and not worried that TSH has not moved since my 3 week post RAI blood test as he said it will rise in time.
My current endocrinologist says that I should eventually go hypothyroid, need Synthroid and TSH should be between 2-3 because I am in my early 50s.
I recently went for a second opinion and that endocrinologist told me that TSH should be around 1, even at my age.
I read the AACE has suggested that the thyroid patient's TSH should be somewhere in the range of 0.3-3.0.
I then read the ATA which has suggested that thyroid patient's TSH shold be somewhere in the range of 0.5-2.5.
I read in another medical journal that TSH higher than 2.5 could cause higher cholesterol levels (LDL).
I also read that TSH should be kept no higher than 2 for patients with thyroid eye disease (TED). I was diagnosed with moderate TED.
I am getting confused at where my TSH levels should end up when they rise and once I am on Synthroid. I have copies of past blood work from before I was having problems with Graves disease symptoms and my TSH seemed okay for me between 1.7 to 2.5. I know at those times I felt fine; my only issue was when my TSH was 2.5 or higher that my cholesterol levels (LDL) were out of range. TSH over 2.5 for me I always had hypothyroid symptoms in the past.
I appreciate any input on this subject as I am hearing some endocrinologists in this country are now saying TSH should not be higher that 1.
Thank you in advance for your medical input Dr. Lupo.