What is a normal thyroid level?
I SWEAR that I have a thyroid problem. My Ob/Gyn did a blood test and referred me to my doctor. She said that the # was abnormal. Everytime that my doctor checks it he says that it is normal. Last time it was 3.5. Is that normal? I have the following symptoms:
Cold hands and feet
A tendency to feel the cold
Depression
Tiredness especially in the morning
Headache
Constipation
Swollen eyelids especially in the morning
Loss of hair
Dry skin
The dry skin is particularly bothersome and I hate the hair loss. I am ALWAYS tired and seem to gain weight no matter what I do. How do I make my doctor listen to me? Should I see an endocrinologist even though my doc thinks that there is no problem? He has no explanation for my symptoms and tells me simply that my thyroid was normal at 3.5.
AACE set the normal range a few years back at 0.3 to 3.0, yet labs like Quest still have it at 0.3 to 5.5. Some doctors believe that a TSH over 2.0 is not normal. With a 3.5 reading, you are hpothyroid according to AACE and should be put on meds.
Words of advice…..always test first thing in the morning. If possible get free t4 and free t3 levels done too. That way if you need T3 you can go on a T4/t3 med. You should be on meds with symptoms and TSH. The TSH is a lousy test to diagnose. I know my first test was 2.6. 9 months later it was 6.8. Was I hypo at the 2.6? most likely, it could have been found with a free t4 and free t3 test
Yes he is right that is a normal level. I have an underactive thyroid and my levels were 7.5 when i was tested. I have been taking levothyroxin and now I am around 2.5. 1.5 to around 3 is considered normal. My hair started to fall when I started the medicine because they gave me a dosage of 50mg. I was so convinced it was the medication so i made my doctor lower the dosage to 25mg. My hair has gotten so much better now. Some of the signs you mentioned are an indication of a thyroid condition but not all of them. You may have something else have your doctor run other blood test.
It sounds like you have classic stereotypical hypothyroid symptoms. It actually sounds like you are reading them out of webmd or something like that. Do you really have all of these symptoms?
I am guessing that you had a TSH test. Your TSH test also says you have hypothyroidism. Your doctor is an idiot. Run away as fast as you can, and get a new doctor.
When you get a new doctor, demand the correct tests. You need Free T3, Free T4, and antibodies. TSH is only an indirect, second hand way to make a guess at what your T3 and T4 levels are. And your T3 and T4 levels determine if you are sick or not. So a TSH test is really irrelevant. (Another reason your doctor is an idiot.) But in your case, I think your T3 and T4 levels will be fairly accurately predicted by your TSH level. But you need to confirm this with the first hand, accurate test (Free T3 and Free T4) and find out the cause of the hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is only a symptom. Not a diagnosis.
BTW, this is a pretty standard battle that everyone with thyroid disease has to go through before they can get treatment. Good luck.