Question:
what is normal thyroid tsh

I AM SCHEDULED FOR RNY SURGERY ON SEPT 22. MY INS CO HAS DECLINED IT. HEALTH AMERICA/HEALTH ASSURANCE, BASED THEIR DICISION ON THEIR MEDICAL NECESITY DEFINITION FOR EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS "ANY SERVICES THAT ARE NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY (AS DETERMINED BY THEM), ARE NOT COVERED SERVICES. I DON'T MEET THIS BECAUSE MY REQUEST DOES NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A NORMAL TSH LEVEL. MY BMI IS 51, HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HIGH COLESTROL, SEVERE SLEEP APNEA, GERD,JOINT HAND KNEE AND BACK PAIN, AND DO HAVE A THYROID PROBLEM. I DO TAKE MEDS FOR THE ABOVE, AND THE DOC HAS UPED MY THYROID MED., BUT THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE LEVEL OF TSH TO GET NORMAL. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS TSH THAT IS BLOCKING MY SURGERY?    — harvey S. (posted on August 26, 2003)

August 25, 2003
TSH is "thyroid stimulating hormone". It is my understanding that if your TSH levels are high, then your thyroid isn't functioning well, and the hormone is out of whack. I have that myself. My TSH levels are now under control with the use of synthroid .112. I don't think it's a life threatening problem that would cause them to deny your surgery, I think it's bull! With all your co-morbidities, they are just nit-picking.
   — Happy I.

August 25, 2003
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is only one factor in thyroid disease, but it's the one most doctor's look at first and foremost. (And sometimes that is unfortunate.) Nevertheless, most women feel best when their TSH is between 1 and 2, even though "normal" is usually up to 5.5. My normal TSH was around 1.17. After I had part of my thyroid removed, my TSH started to go up. I felt like death warmed over, and had a hard time getting a medical person to believe how bad I felt. My TSH only went as high as 2.94. I was very lucky to find an understanding (female) endocrinologist who put me on medication and I was feeling normal again with in a few weeks. My symptoms: unbeleiveable fatigue, aches and pains, depression, withdrawal from social situations, dry, flaky skin, and brain fog. Not to mention that I gained back 25 of 35 hard lost pounds in about 4 weeks (took a lot longer to lose it!)Your thyroid has a lot to do with how your metabolism functions. It might be best to get that under control before you have surgery. Your pituitary gland in your brain pumps out more and more TSH to get a sluggish thyroid gland to produce more T3 and T4, so the higher the TSH, the slower your thyroid is working.
   — koogy

August 26, 2003
Hi Harvey, your thyroid also controls a number of things in your system including heart beats and blood pressure. Good thyroid levels are important. Once you are on the newer dose of meds, the thyroid should level out quickly. I have mine checked regularly and my level usually changes after taking only a few days worth of a new dose. Best wishes -
   — M B.