I got My TSH level tested and it came at the range of 5.99 .So please tell me what to do.

Question

It means that your brain thinks that your body is deficient in thyroid hormone. The body then releases TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Triiodothyroxine (T3) is the active form but generally oral supplements are given as thyroxine because they are usually interconvertible. High TSH means low thyroid status, low TSH means high thyroid status. The usual levels for TSH is 0.5 to 5.0 your reference lab may use slightly different values. During pregnancy lower levels are recommended because thyroid deficiency during pregnancy can lead to mental retardation in the fetus. The most common symptoms for hypothyroidism are fatigue, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, slow heart rate, ability to tolerate cold, depression, and many many more symptoms besides. If you are not having any symptoms and not pregnant your doctor may just simply repeat the blood test in a few months or if you are symptomatic you may be started on a thyroid hormone at a low dose and adjust the dose it until your levels of TSH are in the normal range. A TSH level of 5.9 may just be your normal and not require any treatment.

Mahender Kumar Gera · Accepted Answer

It means that your brain thinks that your body is deficient in thyroid hormone. The body then releases TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Triiodothyroxine (T3) is the active form but generally oral supplements are given as thyroxine because they are usually interconvertible. High TSH means low thyroid status, low TSH means high thyroid status. The usual levels for TSH is 0.5 to 5.0 your reference lab may use slightly different values. During pregnancy lower levels are recommended because thyroid deficiency during pregnancy can lead to mental retardation in the fetus. The most common symptoms for hypothyroidism are fatigue, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, slow heart rate, ability to tolerate cold, depression, and many many more symptoms besides. If you are not having any symptoms and not pregnant your doctor may just simply repeat the blood test in a few months or if you are symptomatic you may be started on a thyroid hormone at a low dose and adjust the dose it until your levels of TSH are in the normal range. A TSH level of 5.9 may just be your normal and not require any treatment.