Do i really need to be on synthroid if i feel fine?

[Indyrunner]

Age 45. Female. Went for annual exam blood tests done. Was told tsh level 4.28. Didnt really feel bad, but dr put me on levothyroxine .50. After two days i felt sick...like symptoms of overdose of med. if i felt fine before do i really need to take this med?

[gimel]

In my opinion I think you should just check out everything to be sure.  I suggest that you should be tested for Free T3 and Free T4, along with the TSH.  Also, test for the thyroid antibodies, to determine if you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and a possible cause for the slightly elevated TSH.  Also, while you are at it, I would test for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  

If you will get those done and get a copy of the lab report and post results and their reference ranges, members will be better able to assess your status.  

[Indyrunner]

I was only given the tsh level and thT was it. I have no idea if other thyroid tests were done. There was no mention of anything other than your tsh is 4.28 so you ll need to be on this synthroid as a result. I mainly went because i. Was having really bad mood swings and wanted to know if i was going thru menopause or if i had a hormone imbalance or something

[gimel]

TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that at best it is only an indicator to be considered along with more important indicators, such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4.  TSH is totally inadequate as the sole diagnostic for thyroid issues.  Were any other thyroid tests done?  If so, please post those results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.

If you have no hypothyroid symptoms what is the need to put you on thyroid medication?  The only valid reason I can think of would be if you were in the early stages of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  Were you tested for the possibility of having thyroid antibodies related to Hashi's?   The tests are TPO ab and TG ab.