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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerrympls on April 26, 2003, at 17:30:58
If someone's TSH test came back as 1.96 - where does that fall exactly? I mean - can someone tell me the point ranges for normal, low, high? Is 1.96 low/normal?
Thanks!
jerry
Posted by Snoozy on April 26, 2003, at 20:46:29
In reply to Thyroid results: normal range?, posted by jerrympls on April 26, 2003, at 17:30:58
Hi Jerry -
I don't know if there can be a difference in reference ranges for TSH tests, but generally normal is between .5 and 5.5
I found this link about how to read your thyroid test results. Apparantly, they made some change in the normal range at the beginning of 2003, but I think you're still normal :)
http://thyroid.about.com/library/howto/htthyroid-test.htm
> If someone's TSH test came back as 1.96 - where does that fall exactly? I mean - can someone tell me the point ranges for normal, low, high? Is 1.96 low/normal?
>
> Thanks!
>
> jerry
Posted by Bill L on April 28, 2003, at 8:44:35
In reply to Thyroid results: normal range?, posted by jerrympls on April 26, 2003, at 17:30:58
If memory serves, the normal range is up to about 5 The lower limit is somewhere around 0.5. So I would say you have a very normal amount. Keep in mind that a high TSH means a low thyroid hormone level. So your thyroid hormone level is probably a tiny bit higher than average.
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on April 28, 2003, at 14:08:00
In reply to Thyroid results: normal range?, posted by jerrympls on April 26, 2003, at 17:30:58
The normal range would be from 0.35 to 5.5.I saw an article recently suggesting that T3,a thyroid hormone, may be useful in women for depression where the response to SSRIs is not entirely satisfactory.
Posted by noa on April 28, 2003, at 15:57:30
In reply to Re: Thyroid results: normal range?, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on April 28, 2003, at 14:08:00
The ranges do vary somewhat, but I think most are around what Snoozy, Bill and Ed have said--about.5 to 5 or so.
1.96 is in the "normal range". It is even below the 2.0 that some recent research suggests is a better marker for high TSH (ie, low thyroid) in some people (it showed that TSh of 2 or higher correlated with future thyroid problems).
I guess it is also important to know what your other thyroid test results were. Check out the about site that Snoozy mentioned. There are also guidelines for the other thyroid test levels there.
Posted by Pfinstegg on April 28, 2003, at 17:06:42
In reply to Re: Thyroid results: normal range?, posted by noa on April 28, 2003, at 15:57:30
There is a special standard for TSH when you suffer from depression, according to a 1999 article in the New England Journal of Medicine. It should be under 1.0. Most people are given synthroid alone (T4). However, you should take part of your medication in the form of Cytomel (T3), as that is the form which is used by the body; (some people don't convert T4 to T3 on their own). I believe this applies to both men and women. A number of posters here have noted better control of depression after adding Cytomel- me among them.
Pfinstegg
Posted by SLS on April 28, 2003, at 18:07:58
In reply to Re: Thyroid results: normal range? » noa, posted by Pfinstegg on April 28, 2003, at 17:06:42
> A number of posters here have noted better control of depression after adding Cytomel- me among them.
Hi.Cytomel exacerbates my depression severely. This was demonstrated by discontinuation and rechallenge. On the other hand, T4 is somewhat helpful. I hate being different!
- Scott
Posted by Pfinstegg on April 28, 2003, at 19:19:23
In reply to Re: Thyroid results: normal range?, posted by SLS on April 28, 2003, at 18:07:58
Well, live and learn! That's fascinating; maybe you are an excellent T4-3 converter already, and added Cytomel is the last thing you need. I wonder if many endocrinologists know that this can happen.
I'd be interested to know whether you eventually decide to contact Dr. Hutto, and if you do, what you learn.
Pfinstegg
Posted by jemma on April 29, 2003, at 11:28:27
In reply to Re: Thyroid results: normal range?, posted by SLS on April 28, 2003, at 18:07:58
Scott, do you suffer from an agitated, anxious depression? That would explain why T3 would exacerbate it, given that it's often highly activating. It's most useful for a lethargic-style depression, though I would think the same to a lesser extent would apply to T4.
- jemma
Posted by SLS on April 29, 2003, at 21:09:11
In reply to Re: Thyroid results: normal range? » SLS, posted by jemma on April 29, 2003, at 11:28:27
> Scott, do you suffer from an agitated, anxious depression? That would explain why T3 would exacerbate it, given that it's often highly activating. It's most useful for a lethargic-style depression, though I would think the same to a lesser extent would apply to T4.
>
> - jemma
Hi Jemma.My depression is severely anergic with psychomotor retardation and anhedonia. However, at the time of my experience with T3 (20 years ago), I did suffer from anxiety as well. I definitely prefer the way T4 treated me. Perhaps T3 would work now, I don't know. Still, I think T4 is often overlooked, particularly in bipolar disorder.
Thanks for your interest.
- Scott
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