Re: Doc appt. did not go well

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I think your doctor is confused about TSH, but labs are to blame for that.

When we began doing the TSH test, we recommended it for thyroid function

screening but had no idea how it doesn't quite work this way in autoimmune

thyroid disease.

It's also not true at all that a TSH level will fluctuate from 0.4 to

whatever he said in a given day. During the waking hours TSH only fluctuates

by about 0.3-0.5 mu/L.

You're correct in that FT4 and FT3 measure your actual thyroid function. TSH

reflects it and in people who don't have autoimmune thyroid disease or have

stable levels on meds, TSH can be helpful.

I'm not a fan of Dr. 's, but I believe his philosophy, and that of Dr.

Broda , are correct. Symptoms are much more important than labs. There

are many things that can interfere with lab results, depending on the

reagent. We use monoclonal antibodies to different animals like goats and

mice. On occasion we have people with antibodies to these animals who have

labs that make no sense. And there's no way to know how often this happens.

We generally only pursue it when we're doing drug levels and they're so

obviously wrong.

Jody mentioned that a web site listing doctors who follow Dr. 's

philosophy. I think I'd find a doctor more up on things. take care, elaine