Posted by BryanII on November 6, 2006, at 16:43:54
In reply to Article on thyroid and depression., posted by SLS on November 4, 2006, at 5:55:13
Thanks for this lead. It's an unusually good article on diagnosis of thyroid problems, not just on thyroid and depression. Especially the discussion of TSH levels from 2.5 to 5. Calling these levels subclinical may be wrong, however. People with clear, overt symptoms can have TSH in this range. IMO, the endocrinologists responsible for defining and interpreting the "normal" range don't understand statistics.
Getting educated and reading the dissenting views is critical. Unfortunately most articles and websites related to hypothyroidism repeat the conventional wisdom (worse than useless if you have high but "normal" TSH), engage in polemics, or promote dubious alternative treatments. Some good info can be gleaned from these, subject to all the usual cautions.
The observation that psychiatrists are more open to treating subclinical hypothyroidism seems true. At least that was my experience. I listened to my doc's casual reading of my labs ("You're normal, it's not the cause of your fatigue.") It took 8 or 9 years to get dxed correctly with NO CHANGE in labs. Treatment of hypothyroidism and BPII have both been critical, and my Pdoc has been very good about this.
poster:BryanII
thread:700237
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061104/msgs/700979.html