In a message dated 9/2/2007 9:18:12 P.M. US Eastern Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:


...  I have no other symptoms that I can detect.  >>>>>
   It is not unusual for a Hypothyroid person to be unaware  of signs and 
symptoms of Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroid symptoms  develop  slowly, and people 
often see excess fatigue and sleeping as a  condition of life instead of a 
symptom. In addition, if thyroid function  decreases 10%, brain function decreases 
by the same amount; and self observation  is the first faculty to be weakened. 
I know, I was Hypothyroid for many years  and struggled to find out why I was 
too tired for Life. <<<<

My  doctor wanted to prescribe someting that she described as "life-long  
treatment."  I decided against it and she set me up for a repeat test in  three 
months (which is coming up now). >>>>
 
No treatment is "Life Long." Patients change, so should  their care. <<<


Should I get the updated  TSH first and then follow up with the T3 and T4 
only if it is still  abnormal. >>>>
 
Lab work only contributes about 5% of the information needed  to Diagnose 
Thyroid Status. The History (What has been happening to  the patient before they 
came to the office?) is about 85% of that information,  and a good Examination 
is about 10%.  <<<<

Can excessive workouts prior to testing drive the TSH results up?   >>>>
 
That really doesn't matter, your Health does. Just pray that  your doc 
doesn't try to use Lab work to make 100% of the Diagnosis, and ignore  you. That is 
the biggest complaint I hear from patients who have  sought help for a Thyroid 
problem.  <<<<

Does taking the standard prescription for a high TSH tend to shut down your  
thyroid?  If so, I would very much prefer to determine if I really need it,  
or to perhaps seek alternatives.  >>>>>
 
If your Pituitary-Thyroid axis is working well and you get  less thyroid 
replacement than you need,  your thyroid will slow up and let  the medication take 
up the slack. Most often, that axis is disturbed by  Hypothyroidism, as well. 
So, if you need thyroid replacement, your thyroid has  already, functionally, 
 "shut down" to a significant degree.  


The decision to treat or not treat should NEVER be made on  Laboratory work, 
alone.  <<<<

Would getting referred to a specialist help? >>>>
 
That depends solely on the quality of the "specialist"  involved. I have 
worked with good people who listen to their patients; and  I've subsequently, 
shared patients with "experts" who tried to use lab work  to replace brains. <<<<

I am 63 and otherwise in very  good health.  I am not asking for a diagnosis, 
just advice on what to ask  my doctor to do. >>>>

The most you could hope for would be that your doctor pay  attention to your 
overall health and treat accordingly. 
 
In my humble experience (IMHE), there are far too many docs  who ignore 
patients and listen only to labs; hence, List Serves like this one  fill up with 
Intelligent, Empowered people who struggle to get the help they  need. <<<
 
 
Doc Don
 
(AKA D. Michael, MD, PC
Mishawaka, IN)








************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

_______________________________________________________________

  Control Your Self-Serve Thyroid Account Here
Rules - mailto:[log in to unmask]
NoMail - mailto:[log in to unmask]
Mail - mailto:[log in to unmask]
Not DAILY DIGEST - mailto:[log in to unmask]
DAILY DIGEST - mailto:[log in to unmask]
Stop Attachments - mailto:[log in to unmask]
Force Attachments - mailto:[log in to unmask]
Force Subject: [THYROID] - mailto:[log in to unmask]
Subscribe - <http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=thyroid&A=1>
Unsubscribe - mailto:[log in to unmask]
Our Home Page - http://www.Emissary.Net/thyroid/index.html
Thyroid Archives - http://LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG/archives/thyroid.html
Contact List Owners - mailto:[log in to unmask]
_______________________________________________________________