stillparley wrote:
By the way, I've never heard this from endocrinologists or other doctors and I've never read this anywhere...
"When they treat people for it they try to get (TSH) under 2 (optimal under 1)" saywhat

Wow, really? saywhat

What I was trying to say is that the range may say 0.5-5.0, and so while she is technically "in range" her symptoms may still be caused by hypothyroidism. Most people still feel sick until they get under 2, and some people under 1. Which is what I've read/heard/talked to people about their personal experience. When they treat women that are having fertility issues, I think they try to shoot to get it under 2. My endo told me she hopes to get me down under 1 because that is when she feels most people feel optimal.

I research things like crazy and find it bizarre that they call something a range, 0.5-5.0 for instance, and some people have to fight to get treated if they are on the upper end and within range. BUT once you have it then doctors try to get you on the low end of the range. Each lab has their own range, and medical associates each have different ones. It really depends on what your doctor associates with.

Oh, and this is just the TSH debate. Free T3, Free T4, Total T3 and Total T4 are also a source of issue. smiley: frown

Some links for further reading:
http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/optimaltsh.htm
http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/articles/communique/2009/03.html
http://hypothyroidmom.com/is-your-thyroid-doctor-using-the-old-tsh-lab-standards/
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/