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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by HMK on June 28, 2002, at 8:07:08
Just spoke to my doctor and I'm really confused about his interpretation of my lab results. My Depakote value is only 35.3 and I was told the normal range is 50-100 but the nurse said he didn't think we needed to increase it.
Plus, my TSH value (I'm hypothyroid) was a whopping 4.67! She said as long as it's under 6.0 then I'm fine. However, I've heard people say that it should be closer to 1.5 or 2. What should I do?
Best wishes,
Heather
Posted by IsoM on June 28, 2002, at 11:58:05
In reply to Thyroid functioning tests, posted by HMK on June 28, 2002, at 8:07:08
Can't answer you about Depakote but as for your TSH level, yes, it's awfully high. But a good doctor who's familiar in treating thyroid problems goes more by how you *feel* rather than just readings. Some people will feel fine at your reading, others (like me) would feel like a giant slug. How do YOU feel? Readings between 0.5 to 6.0 are considered in the normal range.
This is one of the links that Dr. Bob has gathered for us about thyroid problems. It seems most suitable for your question. It's called
"HELP! My TSH Is "Normal" But I Think I'm Hypothyroid"
I think it'll answer your question in far greater detail than we could, plus give you info to take to your doctor if you think you're feeling hypothyroidic.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa111097.htm?once=true&;
Posted by BarbaraCat on June 30, 2002, at 13:49:51
In reply to Thyroid functioning tests, posted by HMK on June 28, 2002, at 8:07:08
Are you feeling hypothyroid? Those values are very high. Not too long ago 4-5.0 were considered 'borderline' levels but still within normal ranges. This thinking has changed, especially in the more savvy health community. Levels are now thought to be optimal in the .5-2.0 range.
Many health professionals are just not up to date, pure and simple - your nurse, for example. Also, so many other factors are involved with the thryoid, such as if you need only T4 (as you're probably getting), or a combination of T4/T3, as so many of us with depression seem to need. The article IsoM suggested is a good one. The bottom line is, we all need to do the research and detective work ourselves for our conditions. Our managed health care doctors simply don't have the bandwidth. The real test, however, is in how you're feeling.
> Just spoke to my doctor and I'm really confused about his interpretation of my lab results. My Depakote value is only 35.3 and I was told the normal range is 50-100 but the nurse said he didn't think we needed to increase it.
>
> Plus, my TSH value (I'm hypothyroid) was a whopping 4.67! She said as long as it's under 6.0 then I'm fine. However, I've heard people say that it should be closer to 1.5 or 2. What should I do?
>
> Best wishes,
> Heather
Posted by noa on July 8, 2002, at 8:51:08
In reply to Re: Thyroid functioning tests » HMK, posted by BarbaraCat on June 30, 2002, at 13:49:51
HMK,
I concur with IsoM and BarbaraCat. Many doctors rely somewhat blindly on the TSH test "norms" (statistical norms) and don't look at the full picture. Your TSH sounds like it could be high, so something could be going on for you. You really need more tests (see the about.com site or the Thyroid and Depression folder at P-B Tips--link at top of the Psychobabble homepage for more info on tests).Here is my story: At a TSH of 4.something, I was not in good shape. With treatment, it went down to about 2.something, and I was a lot better, but still not wonderful. When it went up to 3.something, I was a mess! Then I saw a great endocrinologist (found through the about.com doc recommendations page) and he raised the doses of my thyroid meds (both T4 and T3)gradually until my symptom improvement leveled off. That was at a TSH of less than 1. He subsequently wrote my PC doctor a letter saying that some patients like me, with hypothyroidism and depression, need to have the hypothyroidism treated aggressively in order to feel better, and as long as I was not showing any signs of hyperthyroidism, it was safe to have my TSH that low.
I can't comment on the depakote, and perhaps--in the interest of figuring out which issue is causing which symptoms--you should tackle the thyroid issue first--perhaps see a different doc who knows more about this-- and then if your symptoms still indicate you still might not have enough depakote in your system, consult a second opinion doc about the depakote as well.
This is the end of the thread.
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