Your TSH of 5.5 is only mildly elevated, which is very common and not a cause for alarm. To help determine if you need medication, you should request Free T4 and Free T3 tests. Free hormone tests measure the active, unbound thyroid hormones in your blood, providing a much more accurate picture of your actual thyroid function. Total T3 and T4 levels can be easily affected by other factors like medications, hormone levels, or liver proteins, making them less reliable. Along with Free T4, your doctor might also check thyroid antibodies to decide if starting a low dose of thyroid hormone (like levothyroxine) is necessary for you.