TSH - hypothyroidism - what's your ideal level?

[Dillytante]

I recently had a routine blood test for tsh, time for my yearly test, but instigated by feeling tired, run down, achy, and no weight loss despite a change in eating and exercise habits.

The results are 'normal' at 3.1, but I would like to request trying an increas in my dose (currently 75mg). Just wondering what other people's levels are.

I also have a recurrent sore throat and near constant ulcers in my mouth. Could that be linked to my thyroid?

Have you ever seen an endocrinologist? Is there any way I could request a referral, as gps are not experts in managing the disease.

Anyone?

Your TSH needs to be about 1 and your FT4, if you can get it tested, needs to be in the top third of the range for you to feel well. That TSH at 3.1, although within range, is doing you no favours at all and 75 mcg thyroxine is half the average dose.

You are clearly undermedicated. If your GP thinks that?s OK, then there is no reason why you shouldn?t tell him you would like a second opinion and ask for a referral. The only thing I would say is that you might find that an endocrinologist is not really any more help. Most of them seem to be diabetes specialists these days.

Look at some of the UK internet forums and learn about your condition. You are not alone.

D

Testing the TSH is useless. You need to have the free T4 level checked at the same time. TSH of 3.1 is within what they class as normal but your free T4 could still be too low. You need to go back and get tested for both again.

I don't have a Thyroid due to cancer and have to have a higher dose than I really need to keep my free T4 just over the top range of normal and my TSH has to be less than 0.1. I'm on 125mcgs, I was on 150 mcgs but my endocrinologist said my last test showed it was perhaps a bit high although I felt great. Since it has been lowered i'm feeling like poo again, really tired and dropping of to sleep mid afternoon etc. Have also started to put weight on again which isn't good.
Have to wait another few weeks to get my bloods checked but i'm sure from how I feel that 125mcgs is too low. Might have to try and get him to let me go back onto 150mcgs even if my blood test is fine as I felt the best i've felt in about 2 years while on that dose !

Oh and do request referral to endocrinology as GP's aren't too good on thyroid conditions. Mine freak when they see my TSh is less than 0.1 !

It's interesting I've had a couple of thyroid tests one was 2.6 and the next when I was an inpatient was 0.2. I have neurosarcoidosus which can effect the thyroid. Not sure how often I should ask for it to be checked ?
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My consultant is aiming for a level of under 2.

I got referred to a consultant because my antibody level was high and also because I started to feel a lump in my thyroid area - the gp said she didn't know what either meant and so referred me .

Thanks for the replies. Spoke to my GP on the phone. He doesn't want to increase my dose. He says 3.1 is fine, even though my last result was around 1, he says that shouldn't make any difference. He said even an endo would be wary about increasing my dose as over dosing could lead to anxiety and stress on the body.

I have recently come of Fluoxetine (by myself ) so he thinks it is to do with that, but it pre-dates that, and it's not a mood thing. I was only the Fluoxetine for PND, though in actual fact it was mostly inability to cope with tiredness from a non-sleeping baby.

I'm nervous about asking for a referral or second opinion. I like my dr and don't want to affect our relationship IYKWIM? It's also really hard to say "Well, I read on the internet...". Part of me thinks this is my body I should have some say, and also, I have an illness which I am going to have for the rest of my life, possibly getting worse, yet I have had no guidance on how to manage it except "Here, take these drugs".

With regards to the weight he said he knows it's hard to hear but it's down to the old adage of eating less and exercising more. But it seems a vicious circle when I feel so tired all the time.

Was your T4 tested ? If not then the TSH reading is useless. The free T4 needs to be checked. An endocrinologist would know this. You can't know if your getting to much thyroxine without the free T 4 at the very least being checked.

TSh is not produced by the thyroid, it is made by the piturity gland in response to how much hormones it detects in the body. It is the T4 hormone that your thyroid produces, that then converts to T3 and runs your body, organs etc. Just because your TSH seems fine does not mean enough hormones are being made by the thyroid for your body to function properly.

I'd ask for a full thyroid work up to include the free T4 reading.