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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 8:19:57
Hi,
i recently talked to my pdoc. We're going to add lithium to my combo, i have an appointment friday. Anyway, i talked to him over the phone today and i asked about the blood test i took last week, everything was fine, he said. I asked what my TSH level is and he said 4.3 and and he added that that was a perfectly normal value. What do you think?
/Mattias
Posted by Glydin on January 4, 2005, at 9:32:05
In reply to TSH level, posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 8:19:57
The range has been changed to 0.3 to 3 for TSH. It's basically a screening test along with the T4, T3, etc.... and I would talk with your doc about it. The narrow range puts more folks into the catagory of maybe having a problem.
If you don't feel comfortable wiith the feelings of your present doc on this, maybe an endocrinology consult would be a good idea.
Posted by jujube on January 4, 2005, at 9:47:28
In reply to TSH level, posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 8:19:57
It is my understanding that a result above 2.0 could indicate hypothyroidism. For reference,
see the following website.http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/labs2003.htm
I would raise it with your doctor and ask why he/she is not concerned about the result. And, I agree with Glyndin that you may want to insist on a referral to an endocrnologist.
Tamara
> Hi,
>
> i recently talked to my pdoc. We're going to add lithium to my combo, i have an appointment friday. Anyway, i talked to him over the phone today and i asked about the blood test i took last week, everything was fine, he said. I asked what my TSH level is and he said 4.3 and and he added that that was a perfectly normal value. What do you think?
>
> /Mattias
Posted by bimini on January 4, 2005, at 9:57:35
In reply to TSH level, posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 8:19:57
UK suggest a TSH reference range of .4 - 4.5. The US has changed the peak to be at 3.0.
The reference ranges are determined from a wide population base and do not reflect unique factors to be considered.
I'd say your Doc knows all the facts about you and is correct by saying your TSH is normal.The FT3, T4, FT4 values, body temp. and other symptoms will give your Doctor reference to your test results (or a headache interpreting). Time of day the blood was drawn, other medical conditions, age, weight, gender, ...constellation of Jupiter (lol).
I wish I could get the thyroid explained with an analogy, like -saaayyyy- a combustion engine or with a digital logic flowchart.
bimini
Posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 13:10:23
In reply to Re: TSH level, posted by bimini on January 4, 2005, at 9:57:35
Hi!
> UK suggest a TSH reference range of .4 - 4.5. The US has changed the peak to be at 3.0.
> The reference ranges are determined from a wide population base and do not reflect unique factors to be considered.I've been searching the web about the TSH value, it's meaning seems to be not yet fully understood. It's somewhat diffuse. Some claiming that TSH has no clinical correlation while other seems to think that the majority are suffering from either hypo- or hyperthyorid.
> I'd say your Doc knows all the facts about you and is correct by saying your TSH is normal.
Thank you, this was the answer i was looking for :-)
Kind regards,
Mattias
Posted by Tabitha on January 4, 2005, at 13:35:42
In reply to TSH level, posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 8:19:57
Your doctor sounds somewhat uninformed. The change to the "normal" range down to 3.0 was issued by a mainstream endocrinology group in the past couple years. Seems like any doctor treating thyroid should know about it by now.
There is also a lot of disagreement about what is a good TSH level. Some doctors think people with depression need to be kept at a TSH of 1 or lower. If you click on the "Tips" link on this page there is a section about thyroid and depression. It has some discussion among pdocs about thyroid and depression.
Posted by Maxime on January 4, 2005, at 21:36:50
In reply to TSH level, posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 8:19:57
It's too high - hypothyroid. You should have a level between 1 and 2. A really good site is about.com and look up thyroid. They have tables on how to interpret results.
Max
> Hi,
>
> i recently talked to my pdoc. We're going to add lithium to my combo, i have an appointment friday. Anyway, i talked to him over the phone today and i asked about the blood test i took last week, everything was fine, he said. I asked what my TSH level is and he said 4.3 and and he added that that was a perfectly normal value. What do you think?
>
> /Mattias
Posted by Cecilia on January 5, 2005, at 2:36:20
In reply to Re: TSH level, posted by Maxime on January 4, 2005, at 21:36:50
It amazes me the way doctors don`t bother to keep up with the latest info, especially with something as common as hypothyroidism. My doctor tried to tell me a TSH of 5.2 was normal, I oh so tactfully asked about the recent changes from the American College of Endocrinology and she did then talk to an endocrinologist at my HMO and increased my levothyroxine (not franky that I`ve noticed any benefit from it). Sometimes I think doctors are idiots. The above doctor (family practice) was lookng at my records and nodded in satisfaction that I had been seeing my pdoc, muttering something about my depression being under control then, as though seeing the pdoc meant my depression was under control-the fact that I`ve tried at least 30 meds and combinations for my depression without any benefit was totally irrelevant to her. Cecilia
Posted by dancingstar on January 6, 2005, at 14:31:42
In reply to Re: TSH level » tensor, posted by Glydin on January 4, 2005, at 9:32:05
I am not sure what my current levels are, but my internist has me on Armour thyroid, and I would bet that he has it down to the 1 area...just as close as you can go without endangering bone.
I'm a 49-year-old female, and besides the icky withdrawal from Effexor, and especially now that the nasty drug isn't affecting my cycles, my moods are fabulous, no PMS, weight keeps dropping without help from me...well, the Effexor trained me to eat like a bird; so now eating anything that I want but not very much of it is kind of a treat. Having the thyroid properly regulated is kind of a dream come true...I think. I mean, there could be some evil attached to it down the line, like with all good things, I suppose. I even went to the gym at 10:00 last night, came home, and worked until 2:00. No more chronic fatigue for this one ;-) (no more effexor balanced w/proper thyroid levels-woo-hoo!!)
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