Posted by dmlvt on January 11, 2007, at 8:41:32
I posted last week, asking about lab tests that might be useful to look for underlying causes of depression. I appreciate the responses.
I saw my pdoc last Thursday and he thought that looking at TSH and checking for anemia were the only two recommended tests. He said that anemia is highly unlikely given the amount of mileage that I manage to run in training on a regular basis.
I had my physical on Tuesday, and my PCP agreed to the TSH. He also agreed to test total and free testosterone at my request. Plus, a CBC is standard, which would show if there was any indication of anemia. I also asked him to do a hepatic profile, just to make sure that the Wellbutrin and Cymbalta (and alcohol) haven't done any damage to my liver.
So far, all of the tests have come back except the testosterone. Free testosterone is a difficult and expensive test that is being done at a reference lab in Minnesota (Mayo). I'll see that one on Monday.
Everything else has been fine so far, although my cholesterol numbers are high. My HDL was 79, the highest it's ever been. That's probably a combination of my exercise plus the 3 grams of Carlson's Fish Oil that I take daily. But, the LDL was 148, definitely too high.
With cholesterol, one number that is used is the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL. That number is supposed to be 4.5 or lower. Mine is about 3.0. I sometimes wonder which of these would be better:
1) My current result - high LDL and total cholesterol, but great HDL and good ratio
2) A total cholesterol of 200 with a ratio of 4
3) A total cholesterol of 150 with a ratio of 5 or 6
So, I'll find out next week if testosterone levels might be off in any way. In the interim, it appears that I am, for the most part, healthy and depressed.My pdoc wants me to go back to psychotherapy, which I am going to do shortly, although with a new therapist. My previous therapist, who I liked a lot, is simply too far away to see regularly.
DML
poster:dmlvt
thread:721296
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070107/msgs/721296.html