[Julie3588]

#1059445

I received RAI a few years ago now and have been on Synthroid since. My endo emphasizes after every lab that he likes to keep TSH below 1 in young women. He always checks my total T3 and free T4 to make sure they are in the normal range, but seems really insistent on the TSH being under 1. Has anyone else ever heard of this preference before?

I ask because lately I’ve been bouncing between doses and I’ve noticed over time that whenever my TSH is below 1 I feel a bit on edge/anxious. My endo is willing to adjust my dosage so that I feel well, as long as my TSH falls between .3 and 3, but still seems to prefer having the TSH below 1. Is there a reason for this? I’ve tried asking him but get kind of vague answers. I don’t want to push for a lower dose if having my TSH under 1 really is best. I’m just wondering what the medical reason is for this preference.

[Kimberly]

#1174734

Hello – I have not seen any general studies that recommend a TSH of less than 1. However, there are certain situations where it is desirable to keep TSH on the lower side of the normal range — for example in patients who have been treated for thyroid cancer and in women who are planning a pregnancy.

If neither of those situations applies to you, it’s certainly worth asking your doctor for a further explanation as to why he prefers this approach. That’s good, though, that you are very aware of how your labs and symptoms correlate — and it seems like your doc is willing to work with you on this.

Take care!

[Bobbi]

#1174735

Well, I happen to believe that there is a wide normal “RANGE” for a reason. I also tend to believe that some of us are more “normal” — for US — at one part of that normal range than at another. While I tolerate near hypo levels of hormone well, without symptoms of any type (including weight gain), I do not tolerate near-hyper levels without symptoms. I think our doctors should listen to us about things like that, so long as we are still “within normal.”

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