TSH Level Advice

[MyAngels]

I'm getting so fed up with feeling rubbish, but with a TSH of 3.16 I've been getting nowhere actually getting another blood test before next July, as the doctors (both GP and rheumatologist) keep saying the level is "normal".

I see on here sometimes that people recommend the TSH level should be less than 2.5 or even around 1 - are there any papers/recognised thinking of this recommendation that I can wave at a GP when I make yet another appointment this week to beg for a test? (I have Hashimoto's and Sjogren's in case that affects anything...!)

Many thanks

If you're on treatment for your Hashis with thyroxine, the objective should be to relieve your symptoms and for most people that means TSH around , or even lower and FT4 in the top quarter of the reference range.

If you still have symptoms with your TSH at 3.16, then your doctor is not doing his job.

If you join the ThyroidUK forum at www.healthunlocked.com, you should be able to get hold of an article written by Dr Toft, one of the top endocrinologists in the country, for the GP's journal, which says exactly this. Ask for the Pulse article.

Have a look at this as well;

www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Thyroid_disease_-_how_to_persuade_your_GP_to_diagnose_and_treat

I think in the US they suggest a range of up to 2. I'd say yours is high. I'm trying to keep mine at 1 or below.

The health unlocked forum that timeistight has linked to is excellent for help and advice.

It's in the subclinical interval, and I read yesterday it's not always necessary (nor effective) to treat. Look for "Levothyroxine treatment of mild subclinical hypothyroidism". Have you just had a baby? That might interfere and raise the THS levels, or so I've read. Here's a picture when to treat or not: www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0215/p776.html