Can anyone tell me what the normal range of free T4 and TSH levels should be?

[zen1]

Google keeps coming up with different things!
Thanks

it depends on where you are - at least thats how it was lat time I was looking at it - UK accepted levels are higher than the US ones & not sure about Oz etc etc - I can't remember the figures, but add in UK or wherever to your google or check NHS direct

It also depends on your hospital - mine used to have a set of scores and then changed them

What was it you were concerned about?

Thanks rockin. That's what's confused me. I think I got a lot of US sites up.

Shall I tell you mine? would that help?

to be honest - if your Doctors any good, they will go by the uS levels - at very least to keep an eye on you - good luck

Well, have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism (after years of symtoms), but my levels don't seem that bad: T4 level 10 and TSH 9.47. I also have a history of Graves Disease which I was treated for a number of years ago.

Yes brandy, what are your please?

In my lab (in France) it's 4,2 for upper limit for TSH. For T4 it's 1-1,6 IIRC and other value in mols (?), but don't remember what that was.

Mine is in mols...I think

The tsh is way too high - should be max 5.5ish - that shows your body is struggling

Mine are:
TSH 1.3 (0.34 - 5.5)
T4 10.3 (7.5 - 19)
T3 4.4 (3.8 - 6)

The bits in the brackets are the normal range (but am happier right at the top personally)

Get your T3 done as well to give you a complete picture

The diagnosis also depends on symptoms I think. Hormone levels go up and down so any cut off is quite arbitrary . TSH is more of a constant level (although still up and down a bit). Also the trend is important so if you are symptomatic and your TSH levels are rising your.Gp may decide to treat you even if your T4 or TSHlevels are within normal range.

I m not at all sure that's made it any clearer at all.sorry

Thanks naughty and brandy. I asked my GP today to request a T3 test, but he refused saying it wasn't relevant in underactivity . I have a print out of all the blood tests with the "out of range" results highlighted. The T4 result is shown as being out of range even though it is 10. Annoyed that they didn't actually print what the normal range is though like they used to.

I can see why that is annoying. In sideways what is important is what is normal for you and makes.you feel well,at the end of the day the range is just that a.range, a bit like a guideline but not the law . If you are symptomatic and your TSH is up I would.think you might feel better on treatment.

The reference ranges are dependent on the type of machine. So if you take the same sample and run it on 4 different types of machines you will get four slightly different results. The most important thing is to interpret results related to that machines reference range and the patients clinical signs.
Thyroid levels are affected by many different things and can be different at different types of day and non thyroid illness can cause euthyroid syndrome. So a low thyroid result is not necessarily diagnostic of hypothyroidism.

Thanks for that info Lizcat. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, but have been concerned my current tablets are not a high enough dose.

in my experience they will try and clip you just into the normal ranges, especially with TSH levels, and then tell you that you MUST feel better.

My tsh is consistently zero, which means each review I am nagged to take less thyroxine, but since I flag badly if I miss a single dose I have refused and maintain that I am on a suitable dose, I also have no hyper symptoms whatsoever so me and the doc have an uneasy truce! Been going on for 10+ years now.

So if you do not feel right go back and complain!

zen take this book He is a NHS doctor who is well regarded - he admits your TSH should be at 1... yours is over 1 x that

go armed with the book and your gp will struggle to wriggle out of what is written as it is a well regarded book. You can also pick a copy up from many local pharmacy

Thanks for the recommendation ivykatie - I will seek out the book. I don't know why so many GPs are reluctant to diagnose or prescribe the correct doses for hypothyropidism. Lots of people on here seem to have had problems getting the right treatment for this condition.

My consultant uses the same base levels as LeoniDelt. Thought all would be the same ?

I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer last year and my free T4 levels have to be kept artifically high. My last tests showed my TSH was less that 0.01. And my free T4 was 26. My enodcrinologist is the only one who can alter my tablets as if a GP saw my readings they would be trying to lower the dose of my Levothyroxine as my readings indicate an overactive thyroid.

Zen i'd go back to the GP as your levels aren't right especially the TSH one. If the reading is too high it shows that your pituitary gland is putting out loads of TSH to stimulate your thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones as it can't sense enough in your system.

Have pm'd you Leonie - thanks for the info. Catpark, I am waiting for the results of another bloodtest after being on levythyroxine 50mcg for 2 months. If no different, I intend to make sure my dose is raised. I don't feel any different tbh. Heating is turned up to 25 degrees, DH is lounging about in a t shirt and I am sitting next to the radiator in a fleece and can hardly feel my hands and feet!

LeonieDlet - you miss the point about the book, it isn't whether the book is any good or not. The point is taking the book with you to the gp as the book's author is a known gp who a gp will take notice - so if he says the TSH needs to be 1 then the op will stand a chance of getting medication to match armed with the book. Op's TSH is nealy 10