PCOS Messages for March, 2002: Re: Please, HELP interpret my test results

Re: Please, HELP interpret my test results

From: cat (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 16 Mar 2002 00:35:02 -0600 (CST)

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Reply: Valerie: "Re: Please, HELP interpret my test results"

Hi, I'm not sure about all of these tests but I noticed a couple of things.

A TSH of 8.41 is definitely too high. The normal upper range in most labs is somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5. A lot of specialists think a TSH over 2 is too high. A high TSH indicates hypothyroidism. Your free T3 is low, and your free T4 is at the low end of normal. These are also consistant with hypothyoidism.

Your LH is higher than FSH, this indicates pcos.

A fasting insulin of 19 is also high. Although it is in the official 'normal' levels, ideally it should be under 10, anything above that shows insulin resistance.

Also I have heard that for testosterone anything above 50 is high enough to be a problem.

Oh, I just remembered, a good link that explains what normal test results are is the pcos faq at http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos2.html. And glucose/insulin results and info are at http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos4.html.

There is another androgen called androstenedione that you didn't have tested, this could also be elevated and cause some of your symptoms.

With all your IR symptoms and high fasting insulin it would be a really good idea to get a glucose tolerance test with insulin (IGGT) done, that should show you are IR. And to treat the IR you should get metformin (glucophage) and exercise and low carb too.

Make sure your doc treats your hypothyroid, it can cause insulin resistance so if you treat that maybe your IR will get better. Did the doctor not say anything about the high TSH? I don't understand how a doctor could miss this.

Good luck!

--
Cat xxx

At Fri, 15 Mar 2002, Anonymous wrote:
>
>Test results are sooooo intimidating...  I got my doctor to fax me a
>copy for my own records...  and here they are...
>
>T3: 1.21
>Free T4: 0.88
>TSH,Serum: 8.41
>
>Glycohemoglobin A1C (Integra)GHb A1C: 5.0
>Mean Blood Glucose: 81
>Insulin (Specimen 1): 19
>
>Cortisol: 5.78
>
>DHEA-Sulfate: 163
>FSH, Serum: 5.5
>LH, Serum: 8.7
>Estradiol Serum: 27
>Testosterone, Total: 57
>Free Testosterone: 2.0
>  Percent Free: 0.4
>
>According to the "normal ranges" many of these appear fine...  so am I
>back to being nuts again? (!) I mean, I have 1-2 spontaneous periods per
>year, I had a "great" beard, mustache and pork chops before my first
>laser treatment and I am due for my second one and wish I could afford
>to do my whole body, I am overweight but barely eat, I crave sugar and
>have "hypoglycemic episodes," I am moody, I sweat like it's going out of
>style, I have 3 generations of PCO ancestry, I've never used birth
>control in the past 3 years and yet no babies, I have skin tags and
>velvety brownish patches, I get HUGE NASTY volcanic irritating pimples
>between my legs, I have horrible GI problems and have to keep my carbs
>between 7-10 grams per day to lose any weight, the hair on the top of my
>head has thinned, and when y'll say "apple shaped" do you mean looking
>like the guy who wears the apple costume over a pair of tights in the
>old fruit of the loom commercial??? because he and I have the same
>figure! AND I'M ONLY 22!!!! :0
>
>HELP ME PLEASE... JUST WHEN I WAS FEELING SANE AGAIN!!!!!

Next message: Minni: "Re: Question about PCOS Event (To Sonnet)"
Previous message: stedgar: "To Angela re: hystersisters"
In reply to: Anonymous: "Please, HELP interpret my test results"
Next in thread: Valerie: "Re: Please, HELP interpret my test results"
Reply: Valerie: "Re: Please, HELP interpret my test results"

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