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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on September 22, 2011, at 11:17:04
I'm not sure what to do. I just got a requisition in the mail for another blood test, to test something called TSH. It was dated the day after I got my first blood tests and the EKG. It doesn't come with any instructions on what to do. There is a small note that says, "repeat after a month" but it's so vague that I still don't know what to do!
I'm not even sure if it was my pdoc who sent it!
What are the chances of this being bad? I think TSH has something to do with the thyroid? I don't know much about the thyroid. Is it serious if something is wrong?
What are the chances that my starvation diet caused the bad results?
I called my pdoc's office and they don't know anything!
I guess I have to wait until my next appointment.
Posted by jane d on September 22, 2011, at 12:02:01
In reply to Bad test results?, posted by Deneb on September 22, 2011, at 11:17:04
> I'm not sure what to do. I just got a requisition in the mail for another blood test, to test something called TSH. It was dated the day after I got my first blood tests and the EKG. It doesn't come with any instructions on what to do. There is a small note that says, "repeat after a month" but it's so vague that I still don't know what to do!
>
> I'm not even sure if it was my pdoc who sent it!
>
> What are the chances of this being bad? I think TSH has something to do with the thyroid? I don't know much about the thyroid. Is it serious if something is wrong?
>
> What are the chances that my starvation diet caused the bad results?
>
> I called my pdoc's office and they don't know anything!
>
> I guess I have to wait until my next appointment.
>Was TSH supposed to be part of the first set of tests? In other words is this part of that first set of testing that they couldn't complete the first time around for some reason? Or did they do TSH the first time and are telling you to come back next a month for a retest. If so, what were the TSH results this time?
Is there any contact number on what you received. Surely whoever is telling you to come in can tell you who's office originated the request.
TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. It's the easiest test for thyroid function and it's done often. I'm tempted to say it's part of the standard blood tests ordered here. I'm not positive about that but it's done very often so the fact that someone has requested one for you doesn't have much significance.
Posted by Deneb on September 22, 2011, at 12:07:21
In reply to Re: Probably not - common test requested » Deneb, posted by jane d on September 22, 2011, at 12:02:01
> Was TSH supposed to be part of the first set of tests? In other words is this part of that first set of testing that they couldn't complete the first time around for some reason? Or did they do TSH the first time and are telling you to come back next a month for a retest. If so, what were the TSH results this time?
Yes, I remember TSH was definitely part of the first set of tests. I don't have the TSH results. They sent me the requisition with no explanations. This new requisition is dated the day after my first tests so I'm thinking something is very wrong? I didn't know test results come back that quickly?
> Is there any contact number on what you received. Surely whoever is telling you to come in can tell you who's office originated the request.
My GP's name is on it, but on the last one that pdoc made, GP's name was on that one too. So I'm not sure who to go to.
Posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 13:05:40
In reply to Re: Probably not - common test requested, posted by Deneb on September 22, 2011, at 12:07:21
Deneb TSH could have been slightly off and the doc just wants a repeat to see if error in lab. Same thing just happened to me two days ago but I do see an endo as have low thyroid. It's not serious at all. And the result must have been just slightly off. Call the doc and ask. That's what we do. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 13:59:44
In reply to Bad test results?, posted by Deneb on September 22, 2011, at 11:17:04
Deneb, I don't think it is serious. You had some nervous symptoms a little while back, yes? So maybe your doc is rechecking to see if your thyroid is stable. Low thyroid can exacerbate nervousness and anxiety. I don't know, but I don't think hard dieting can effect the thyroid that directly. I could be wrong about that, but I would say the TSH test is pretty standard and maybe your doc is just being thorough. Try and get the TSH number from him/her. It's good to have as a reference if your thyroid ever does go wonky like mine :-)
Posted by Zyprexa on September 23, 2011, at 0:38:36
In reply to Re: Bad test results? » Deneb, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 13:59:44
If your throid is not sucreting the right amounts of hormone, you can get a goiter, and if you don't treat the Hypo thyroid (which is usualy the problem, not a hyper one) your thiroid can die, which is realy bad. They probably did some previous tests on you which suggest that you may have a thyroid problem. And now they want to see if your TSH is high. If so they will juat give you syntroid or some generic. Thiroid problems are very common. There are five people in my house who take thyroid medicine. Thats all of them. Thyroid regulates the speed of your metabolisom. I don't remember what they did before looking at my TSH to decide to test it, but it may have been my diabettes or weight gain and tiredness. Your thyroid is in your neck on the front 2 sides and I belive it gets swollen when you have a goiter. Your doc can feel it to check.
Posted by Deneb on September 23, 2011, at 0:46:18
In reply to Re: Bad test results?, posted by Zyprexa on September 23, 2011, at 0:38:36
I've been gaining weight before I started my diet so hypothyroid makes more sense than hyper. I hope I don't have it though, I don't want to add yet another med I have to take for life. :/
But I guess it would be good if taking medicine would make me lose weight.
I wish I didn't have to wait so long for my appointment. I want to know what's going on now.
Posted by Zyprexa on September 23, 2011, at 1:43:53
In reply to Re: Bad test results?, posted by Deneb on September 23, 2011, at 0:46:18
generic syntroid is very cheap, so I would not worry about price on that one. The hard part is taking it 2-3 hours after a meal and then waiting anouther 30-60min before you can eat. Usualy you take it in the morning before breakfast. You also cant take calcium pills 4h before or after the pill. Its very tough to work it in with all the meds.
I think it also can reduce depression. Its something you would definitly want to take. Hasen
t gotten me off of any of my psychotropics though.
Posted by jane d on September 23, 2011, at 3:25:12
In reply to Re: Bad test results?, posted by Deneb on September 23, 2011, at 0:46:18
>
> I wish I didn't have to wait so long for my appointment. I want to know what's going on now.
>Then call and ASK! And if you absolutely can't do that make an appointment with the appropriate doctor and ask in person. No one here or on any other web site can tell you why some test was ordered. You have to ask the person who ordered it. All you are doing is wasting your time with pointless speculation.
Posted by Phillipa on September 23, 2011, at 20:18:06
In reply to Re: Bad test results? » Deneb, posted by Zyprexa on September 23, 2011, at 1:43:53
Never had a goiter. And now antibodies normal confused. Phillipa
Posted by Zyprexa on September 24, 2011, at 4:42:21
In reply to Re: Bad test results? » Zyprexa, posted by Phillipa on September 23, 2011, at 20:18:06
The goiter goes away with thyroid medicine. If you don't treat it soon enought you could lose you thyroid.
Posted by Willful on September 29, 2011, at 9:42:00
In reply to ask your doctor » Deneb, posted by jane d on September 23, 2011, at 3:25:12
The problem with information about goiters is that it implies that a goiter is somehow relevant to Deneb. So far, I don't see any basis for any specific concern. I'm sure you mean well, Zyprexa, but it only worries people if you say, well if you do have x (vague and/or nonspecific symptom) it could be y (disease). Because probably vague symptoms-- or more than that, vague requests by the doctor, for tests, could mean anything or nothing-- and the more diseases you can think of, the more you have to worry about.
And with worriers, all you need to suggest a worry, and you're inviting a new round of anxiety.. A good basic rule is to be prudent, to follow up, but not give in to exaggerated or random concerns about health. The more important question, Deneb, is whether you're taking your meds regularly as prescribed, and whether you've noticed that lately you've had a series of health concerns, but none of them have proven to be a problem
As Jane d says, only the doctor can explain why he/she ordered the test. Just call their office and ask. That and only that will give you your answer. I think you're fine-- unless your meds are too low-- or less effective that they were. That needs to be more an area of concern given these many scares that you've had lately. I understand these worries, but they aren't about anything real.
Willful
Posted by torrid on September 29, 2011, at 20:27:28
In reply to Bad test results?, posted by Deneb on September 22, 2011, at 11:17:04
TSH is thyroid and it is envolved in many functions in the body and can have psycological symtoms but don't worry it's easy to fix. I hope they run both your t3 and t4. My thyroid dosen't work and the thyroid converts t4 into t3. there's 2 basic meds, synthroid t4 and cytomel t3 I take both.
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2011, at 22:55:51
In reply to Re: Bad test results? » Deneb, posted by torrid on September 29, 2011, at 20:27:28
Or if you go natural armour which I don't use. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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