General Medicine

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cowlover614:

Oops. Sorry for writing so many posts...but I have to add this for you cowlover614 (or rather Shirl B^)), while it appears we both have been under stress and stress is a known trigger (reading your article, Elaine! B^))...I have learned to (best I can) not cry! This is hard of course, (esp when under stress)...but crying can make the swelling of my eyes far , far worse! (that is when I first got alarmed...I woke up quite grotesquely swollen about my eyes..but the day before I had had a good cry on other matters). So it is hard..I guess we have to work on stress reduction, eh? B^)

-- posted by cybee

» Elaine Moore - hair loss

In response to hair loss posted by mariammc:
Hi,
It always surprises me how practitioners who haven't had ablation
or hypothyroidism are quick to say how effective this treatment is. For me and many others, the hypothyroidism and effects of ablation have been far worse than the initial hyperthyroidism.

Your labs show mild autoimmune hyperthyroidism with a low vitamin D level and normal kidney and liver function results. Your vitamin D supplements should help and so would 200 mcg selenium and a low iodine diet.

Your low creatinine level suggests that you could benefit from more protein in your diet, and this could also help with hair loss. Biotin and vitamin B5 supplements are also helpful for hair loss.

With your FT4 only being slightly elevated, you probably were put on a 10 mg dose of methimazole, and this should bring FT4 into the normal range within a few weeks.

It's important to avoid hypothyroidism from too high of an anti-thyroid drug (ATD) dose since this promotes inflammation and thyroid antibody production as well as increased hair loss.

You're considered euthyroid or normal as soon as FT4 falls within range regardless of your TSH result. Your TSH level will stay low for a long time because of your thyroid antibodies. A low TSH doesn't mean that you're still hyperthyroid...although many doctors get confused by this. As soon as FT4 falls within range, your ATD dose should be lowered so you're on the lowest dose needed to keep your FT4 within range. And over time, the dose is reduced until you achieve remission. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:
Hi,
Low selenium levels contribute to autoimmune thyroid disease so you want to take a supplement containing 100-200 mcg of the mineral selenium. Allergies trigger autoimmune diseases, including thyroid eye disease and Graves' disease, and they always cause a worsening of symptoms. You might want to read this article, Allergies in Graves' Disease which explains the effects of allergies.
You might also want to read this article, Tips for Thyroid Eye Disease for other suggestions on reducing your eye symptoms. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:
Hi,
Drops used to replenish eye moisture are helpful and so is consuming more fluids to prevent dehydration. Avoiding sugar and saturated fats also helps reduce puffiness by reducing inflammation.

Many eyedrop products like Visine, which are designed to reduce redness, can be harmful in thyroid eye disease so you want to avoid them. Be sure to avoid becoming hypothyroid from too high of an ATD dose since this worsens thyroid eye disease and contributes to puffiness. Hope this helps, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:
Hi,
Stirring up dust probably did cause your immune system to respond. Dust is a common allergen. I sent you some links on the allergic connection.

I ended up having radioiodine ablation for my Graves' disease. For me, this was a big mistake but it ended up alarming me enough to start my advocacy efforts. Empowering other patients makes me feel like my own problems weren't in vain. Anyway, the immune stimulation from RAI caused thyroid eye disease, which varied. Some days my eyes were too puffy to leave the house and I ended up with anaphylactic reactions that caused my entire face to swell. I really dove into alternative medicine to help my immune system heal and that helped my eye symptoms the most. My eyes are ok now, although I really have to watch what I eat since my food allergies intensified after RAI.
Gluten, the protein in wheat, rye, and barley is a very common trigger in people with autoimmune thyroid disease. Try eliminating it for 3 weeks and if you have gluten sensitivity, you'll notice a big reduction in inflammation. Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant and it really helps keep my allergies in control. I also use stinging nettle herb and bromelain to taper the allergic response.
I'm glad to see how empowered you're getting. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:
Hi,
You're absolutely right. Stress reduction is essential. Over the last few days I read this great book, Ultra-Metabolism by Dr. Mark Hyman, which I borrowed from the library. By the way, he cured his own chronic fatigue and problems with stress through his own methods. I think those of us who start out with problems are the most determined to find solutions.

I'd seen this book before and wish I'd read it sooner because, although the book is primarily intended for weight loss, he achieves both weight loss and optimal health by reducing inflammation. He does this via stress reduction and nutrition and detoxification and by correcting thyroid and adrenal function nutritionally.

I learned alot from this book, and he reinforced alot of what I'd already learned. I incorporated some of his findings in my last articles, and I'm also recommending this book for those interested in helping themselves heal. Best, Elaine

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:

Hey I've been using both the liquid tears and for dry eyes. I also found a good allergy eye releif drop. That seems to help.I really don't have the gritty feeling as much ,but inflamed and swollen a little itchy and the excessive tearing. That gets on my nerves when I'm trying to do things even trying to pluck my eyebrows.[which is a pain to do with all the swelling!] Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine, I think stress had a real important part on me. I took on taking care of my mom who is 84 has sugar, memory loss, and using a walker.I just never knew it was going to be such a hard job! I haven't had alot of family support! Plus taking care of my own family the stress got to much! And I have decided that I'm not going to let this Endo scare me into anything. I also remember my first doctor, when this started thought this was from allergies. The man who picks up my mom for day care said his wife is hyper they wanted to do the RAI and she refused. She is controling her own thyroid with bugleweed and motherwort! He said it took about six or seven months but her labs are fine now. Only thing I don't understand is if you have nodules does that change things on the way things are treated and can't they use meds to shrink them? Thanks Elaine Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» cowlover614 - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by cybee:

Hey, I'm glad that we can try to help each other out! I've cried many times and your right it just makes your eyes worse. Enough crying it's time to stay positive and kick this thing in the butt. I'm sure with Elaines help and us giving each other support we will feel better! I've been on thyroid meds for the last fourteen years until this happened, I never dreamed their was so much involed. Never took the time to learn what it was all about. Now that it has decided to fight with me Ha Ha! I'm trying to learn all I can. Anyway some mornings I wake up my eyes aren't that bad then the next day I'm back to square one. So I try to remember what I ate the day before. I'm really trying to stay away from salt but that's hard because I start craving things. I wonder if that has anything to do with my thyroid? Guess I'll check that out! I don't really have any other ideas on what to do at the moment. Guess I'll try the pillow up method again. Also by the way do you get hip pain in your joint? Gosh mine has woke me up hurting. Keep in touch. Shirl aka Cowlover614

-- posted by cowlover614

» cybee - Mixed up Help!!!!!

In response to Mixed up Help!!!!! posted by daisyelaine:

Thanks so much, Elaine! You have been most helpful! I did go out and have some selenium now and will be alert to managing "triggers" (stress being a hard one to control!). B^)

-- posted by cybee