Leora99's figures agree with what I have read.
(Note to giggle4fun: I read the article you mentyioned, and noticed that it said the upper limit is likely to be changed to 2.5 and that volunteers were normal in the .4 to 2.5 range. However, for some reason, the actual guidelines that were released were 0.3 to 3.04). When you go to see your endocrinologist, ask them what they consider to be the normal range. Evidently, many practioners are not aware of the change. If the range s/he uses considers up to 5 or 6 normal, then s/he is probably not aware of the new guidelines. I recommend that you print out this article and bring it with you to your appointment, just in case.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa090700a.htm
New Guidelines Say Millions More Are at Thyroid Risk
According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), what was normal last year, thyroid-wise, may now be abnormal.
According to the AACE, doctors have typically been basing their diagnoses on the "normal" range for the TSH test. The typical normal levels at most laboratories has fallen in the 0.5 to 5.0 range.
The new guidelines narrow the range for acceptable thyroid function, and the AACE is now encouraging doctors to consider thyroid treatment for patients who test the target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04, a far narrower range. AACE believes the new range will result in proper diagnosis for millions of Americans who suffer from a mild thyroid disorder, but have gone untreated until now.
At a press conference, Hossein Gharib, MD, FACE, and president of AACE, said: "This means that there are more people with minor thyroid abnormalities than previously perceived."
AACE estimates that the new guidelines actually double the number of people who have abnormal thyroid function, bringing the total to as many as 27 million, up from 13 million thought to have the condition under the old guidelines. These new estimates would make thyroid disease the most common endocrine disorder in North America, far outpacing diabetes.
AACE made the decision to narrow the range because of data suggesting many people may have low-level thyroid problems that could be improved with treatment and a narrower TSH range will give doctors reason to more carefully consider those patients.
"The prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid disease in the United States is shockingly high - particularly since it is a condition that is easy to diagnose and treat," said Dr. Gharib. "The new TSH range from the AACE guidelines gives physicians the information they need to diagnose mild thyroid disease before it can lead to more serious effects on a patient's health - such as elevated cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis, infertility, and depression."