Normal TSH Level

[lisa_59]

Can anyone tell me what the normal TSH level is? Called my surgery today & the secretary told me it was 1 & should be 3-5, it's all gobbledygook to me. Waited a week for a doc to comment on this

[helvella Administrator]

I think your ears might have dropped something there. More likely 0.3 to 5 (point three to five).

However, the real answer is NO. Potentially every lab has a different range and, though TSH tends to have a similar range in most labs, the variation can be enough that what appears OK in one range would look too low or too high against another range.

1 (i.e. the number one) is often taken to be a decent value but we are all different. Some feel better with a lower or a higher TSH.

Rod

[lisa_59 in reply to helvella]

Thank you Rod I'm new at all this..... so I'm thinking the doc will say stay on the carbmizole, I panicked coz the secretary said that was low

[helvella Administrator in reply to lisa_59]

If TSH were low, they might be looking to increase the carbimazole - TSH goes down as thyroid hormone goes up. But as has just been said in another thread, TSH does NOT simply rise back up as soon as thyroid hormone drops - it tends to remain too low for a long time (months).

On carbimazole I believe they really must look at the thyroid hormone levels - FT4 and, hopefully, FT3. (What I believe has precisely zero effect on what they actually do, of course.)

Rod

[lisa_59 in reply to helvella]

Goodness I think I need to educate myself on this - thank you for clarifying much appreciated!

[helvella Administrator in reply to lisa_59]

One of the worst aspects of thyroid handling is precisely what you have demonstrated - the complete lack of any education and guidance.

In my view, the very first prescription to anyone with any thyroid disorder should be a book (or maybe these days, a link to a website). We see all so often that people with other disorders have such things given to them. (I was very impressed by the simple guide to endoscopy I was given - exactly what anyone needs. So it can be done.)

In the absence of that,go here:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

And read around the rest of the site.

Rod

[Clutter]

Lisa, Your GP's receptionist has no business telling you that and she is quite wrong too. Normal to a GP means within range eg 0.35-5.5 is the range in my area but ranges differ all over the country.

Your TSH of 1.0 is usually considered comfortable in hypothyroid patients but some people need their TSH much lower or even suppressed to feel well.

Your FT4 and FT3 need to be tested to determine your level of hyperthyroidism. TSH alone is not sufficient.

[lisa_59 in reply to Clutter]

I think she just told me that because I have been trying to get my results for a week, they are normally available after 48 hrs & I just wanted to know if I am to continue on the dose of carb I am on. They are short staffed & a doc hasn' t looked at my results yet. Normally I just get a message to continue as I am, so I was a bit thrown when she said about TSH. I obviously need to understand my results better. I was very hyper 2 months ago when first diagnosed

[Clutter in reply to lisa_59]

You do need to keep an eye on your TSH as you don't want to go hypo which can easily happen on too high a dose of Carbimazole, but TSH of 1.0 is fine. If it rises you will probably be advised to reduce the Carb dose. It's usual to be on Carb for at least 6 months before coming off to check for 'remission'. There is a pinned link on Hyperthyroidism which you will find informative.

[lisa_59 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you very much I've learnt a lot today. This site is a godsend