What % through range do you feel best at?

[Arlie123]

I know this is very individual but I’m six months in to being on levothyroxine and managing symptoms and dose. Curious to know where people feel best at for tsh, ft3 and ft4. And if there is anything else that affects your levels (aside from optimal vitamins) e.g. stress or lack of sleep or diet/drink.

Thanks!

[shaws Administrator]

Most members feel best if TSH is 1 or lower and FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of the ranges.

[HashiFedUp]

TSH under 0.5 (assuming range 0.2-4.2) and T4 and T3 75% up through range.

Yes all your vitamins and minerals need to be good too. Vit D is often low with thyroid patients in particular.

I would cut out alcohol (or have very little) as it affects the production of T3 in the liver.

Exercise and healthy eating very important (try to cut out gluten if you can) and sleep is of major importance - 8 hours a night where possible. I recently had a few short nights of sleep 5-6 hours and felt ill for a week!

[Arlie123 in reply to HashiFedUp]

Thanks, really struggle with sleep unfortunately 6 hrs is the norm for me even though 8 is where I feel best!

[Gilbo72]

Hi Arlie, I am on levothyroxine only.

I feel best when my TSH is under 0.05 and my FT4 needs to be over 300% through range, to get my FT3 to about 40% through range. The doctors don't like it. It means my TSH and FT4 are both out of range, but that is the only way I start to feel normal. If my TSH is higher and my FT4 is about 80% through range, my FT3 is out of range (under) ie. minus 10%. Like you said, I think it is very individual and I think I may be a bit of an extreme case and a candidate for adding T3 (if I could.)

[Arlie123 in reply to Gilbo72]

Gosh that’s difficult. And have just read your story - so sorry you had to go through that. It does sound like you’d be a candidate for t3. I don’t think I need it but it’s nice to know my endo will give it where necessary (he’s ex-nhs, now private only).

[tattybogle]

similar to Gilbo.....TSH 0.05 =ok (for me!) TSH 0.5 =constipated/ digestion gone to sleep completely. (On Levo only, this gives FT4 top of /over range, FT3 mid range,would prefer to try less T4 and some T3)

GP not happy.

[Etje]

For me personally I need to be around a tsh of 0.5. All the other results need to be optimal not just in range.

A low carb paleo type diet made all the difference to me.

No grains soy and limited dairy.

Also get your b12, vit d and ferritin tested.

Take a magnesium supplement ( I like citrate)

Try and get a good night sleep, stress is detrimental for how you feel.

I do a quick bed time yoga session ( in bed) and stay away from your phone.

Your diet will be a very individual thing, I just did an elimination diet.

Hope you feel good soon. X

[Arlie123 in reply to Etje]

Thanks - by optimal do you mean at the top of the ranges, say 80% or would have way through be ok for you?