Most people feel well with TSH at the lower end of the range. TSH >2.0 indicates thyroid is beginning to struggle. TSH fluctuates throughout the day and is highest early in the morning. Aim for early morning testing when TSH is highest, and fast (water only) because TSH drops after eating and drinking.
TSH alone will only confirm or rule out primary hypothyroidism. It is possible that TSH remains low-normal but FT4 is low (secondary hypothyroidism). If you are unable to persuade your GP to order FT4 in addition to TSH it is worth you ordering TSH, FT4, FT3 and thyroid antibodies from Blue Horizon or Genova via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... Blue Horizon's Profile 11 also includes ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate which it is worth having tested.
Satisfactory coeliac screen means negative for gluten intolerance but doesn't rule out non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. If you reintroduce gluten in a few weeks and have adverse reactions you probably have non-coeliac sensitivity to gluten.
I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.
Teyris, I see you take levothyroxine - 75mcg. Often, those on levothyroxine find they feel better with a dosage of levo which gets their TSH below 1.0. I'd say it's likely you need a dose increase.
The level at which you feel well is the best one. Seriously. Statistically, it is more common to feel well with TSH around 1, but people are not all the same and a few feel better with it higher or lower. Most people on meds need TSH under 1 or suppressed.
You also have to remember that TSH varies about 75% over the course of a day - lower in the early am and getting higher through the day. It also falls when you eat, so, really, it is a very inaccurate measure of thyroid status.
I have kind of 'lost' when I feel best, you get so used to feeling tired and your hair falling out (my husband says I moult more than our two cats) dry skin etc etc and having doctors that are less than helpful you just go from day to day dealing with it. I have only recently started looking at it again having been told that I have a fatty liver which is weight related. I dont consider myself THAT overweight although it would be nice to lose a stone! The doctors also said that the liver and thyroid aren't connected! Sorry I have waffled a bit there. How can you get your levels down? I have been on the same dose of Levo since and my result then was 0.41 and my doctors will only do TSH test. I can't afford the private testing at the moment but it is something I would consider in the future
You definitely aren't feeling well enough then. Go to your doctor, ask to try a small raise in levo. It's unlikely he'll refuse, given your TSH is currently over 2.0.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.