General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by cowlover614:
Hi Shirl,
When you get your labs drawn, you can request that they send copies of the results to both doctors, and you can ask them to send you copies of the results as well. Take care, elaine

» Elaine Moore - TPO - what does it really tell you?

In response to TPO - what does it really tell you? posted by macurious:
Hi,
I'll post my article on TPO Abs and infertility here on the autoimmune site this week. I'm really not very computer savvy but to my knowledge the best way to get notified of my new articles is by signing up for the RSS feeds. I've done more research on the use of IVIg in fertility treatments too and I'll be writing something on that too. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Autoimmune and Related Infertility

Hello,
The topic of infertility we've been discussing reminded me of an article on infertility treated with acupuncture, which a very conventional doctor mentioned recently. This in itself was interesting and I was surprised by stories of success with acupuncture I've been hearing from OB/GYN nurses recently.
This link is for one of the Denver clinics I've heard about, but my purpose in sharing this link isn't to promote this site and have people running across the country for treatment; I'm sharing it because of the excellent journal articles linked here. I'll incorporate some of this info in my future article on infertility but for those of you who have time to start researching this now, start reading and I'll be happen to help you however I can if any questions come up. www.insightacupuncture.com/htm/med_index.htm

» cowlover614 - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by daisyelaine:

Hey Elaine I got labs done today. I had to go back to the doctors and have them check the boxes for my thyroid labs she had forgot to mark them. She said as soon as they get them I can have a copy. I just hope it's the FT3 and FT4. Should have them by Wed. Thanks Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» macurious - Autoimmune and Related Infertility

In response to Autoimmune and Related Infertility posted by daisyelaine:
I've used acupuncture (for ~2 years, along with Chinese herbs) and IVIG (combined with various other aspects of Dr. Beer's protocol) for fertility. Unfortunately for me, none of this treatment was successful. I was never able to achieve even one single pregnancy, and I have assumed that my age (over 40) is the primary cause for my lack of success but I really don't know. I was hyperthyroid the entire time (TSH ~0.1) so I assume that may have been a factor as well. I have not tried using donor eggs yet, but I wonder whether or not that will even work given my other issues. I know an acupuncturist who has done a lot of work with immunology issues and has experience treating some of Dr. Beer's patients. If you're both interested in connecting, I could introduce you, for example, if you want to get an acupuncturist's perspective on this. (I would do the introduction through a private email rather than through this forum, though.)

-- posted by macurious

» Elaine Moore - Autoimmune and Related Infertility

In response to Autoimmune and Related Infertility posted by macurious:
Hi Macurious,
Thanks for your willingness to share your experience with others.
I went to a reproductive medicine lecture at a conference a few years back that described the natural decrease in fertility after age 30. However, even with a decreased fertility rate, pregnancy is definitely possible through the mid-40's.

From an overview of many studies, it seems that IVIg is most likely to increase the success rate of in vitro reproduction in people who have antiphospholipid syndrome and in people who have oocyte fertilization rates of at least 50%. And as mentioned, TPO antibodies are more highly associated with infertility and miscarriage.

Recent studies as well as a major study from 2002 show how selenium supplementation effectively reduces TPO antibodies. I'm going to write a quick blog on this before work today with some links.

» beccav - Antibodies/post thyroidectomy/pregnancy

I am 9 months post thyroidectomy. I am thinking about getting pregnant. I am just now starting to stabilize on meds, though my doctor would like to bring me a bit lower to try to raise my TSH. Ugh, why do they teach them this is the most reliable and sensitive thyroid test!!?? Argh.
Anyways, I had elevated TSI when I was on ATDs. The second time they were tested, they were "in range", but high. Of course my doctor said all was normal then. I have not had them tested since then and since my surgery. My TSH is almost non-existent, but my Free Ts are well in normal range. I am wondering if I still have a significant level of TSI and if that is affecting my TSH and how that would affect the baby. Might I need to go on ATDs for the baby's sake? I remember my old endo mentioned I might need ATDs during pregnancy, but I don't remember in what scenario she mentioned it.
I hope this makes sense. Any suggestions or thoughts would be helpful.
Thank you!

-- posted by beccav

» Elaine Moore - Antibodies/post thyroidectomy/pregnancy

In response to Antibodies/post thyroidectomy/pregnancy posted by beccav:
Hi,
Read the blog I wrote yesterday on reducing TPO antibodies with selenium. it should apply to TSI as well. Likely, you still have TSI and they're falsely decreasing your TSH level. Reducing your TSI level and also your TPO antibody level since you likely have these antibodies too would benefit you in many ways.
It's true that TSI can cross the placental barrier but problems are more likely in people who have had RAI since TSI levels rise much higher. Even still, problems are reported to occur in about 1 percent of pregnancies where TSI is elevated. You'd want to have a TSI level in the first trimester and again in the third. ATDs would only be used if your thyroid hormone levels were high. Otherwise, your thyroid hormone levels could fall too low and that would cause more problems.

TSH also typically falls in early pregnancy because of the rise in a similar hormone beta-HCG that's secreted in pregnancy. So it's important to base any treatment on your FT4 level. During the second half of pregnancy changes in estrogen cause thyroid hormone levels to fall and most women on replacement hormone need to increase their dose. If TSH, which can still be falsely decreased then, is used to monitor therapy you could easily become hypothyroid. It would be helpful if selenium caused your thyroid antibody levels to fall, which would reduce the interferences of thryoid antibodies on TSH. Best, Elaine

» cowlover614 - mixed up

In response to mixed up posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine got my labs today after they scared me and told me the doctor needed to see me right away. For some reason no reg doctor wants to touch this she said I need an Endo.Here are my new labs as of 5/15. TSH--20.984 high 0.350-5.500 Thyroxine [T4] 3.7low-4.5-12.0 Triiodothyroine [T3]-113 85-205. ALT 12 So what does this mean and I don't know if I need replacement meds Also said my Cholesterol is 244 high and my LDL is high at 162 which she said this could be due to the thyroid problem. She wouldn'd give me any meds because the other doctors had told me not to take anything except my beta blocker. Said she would see me in two months. What do you think. Thanks Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» vickwithpc - lost my job

These were my lab numbers from last February:
T4 Free: 1.27
T4 Free: 1.59
TSH: less than 0.10
Thyroglobulin Antibody: 373
Thyroid Peroxidase: 54

At my job performance review last summer, my boss told me that they were not happy with my job performance. Ouch. I perceived this to mean that I was getting careless or becoming forgetful or something, it certainly wasn't anything that I was intentionally doing wrong. I've had my job for 10 years! I made a Dr. appt. to see if something else was going on, knowing thyroid stuff runs in my family. That is how I got to these numbers. My Dr. said I was most likely in early graves. No treatment, just go in for draws every few months.

My DH and my coworkers were all shocked I was let go, and my coworkers tell me that nothing was wrong with my job performance. That the boss that did my review does not like me (another story!), and finally has enough power to let me go and get his way.

My mind doesn't know what to believe. What if I get another job, and I'm not perfect? What if my coworkers are right, that the boss just wanted me out of there and I'm not losing my mind.

Because I'm now looking for employment, I have to watch every dollar. It is time for me to go in and have my labs drawn again. Do I see what my #s are and then if necessary make an appointment with my Dr.? (Which means paying my co-pay twice.) Or do I make an appointment with my Dr., ask for my labs to drawn at the same time. (One copay-and maybe the Dr. will think of something else to test?)

I kept a log of sorts, tracking my memory slips....such as, locking myself out of my car, forgetting where I put a gift, mistakes like that. I don't know how much is normal or not normal for someone. I really had thought these past few months were good though.

What would you suggest?
Vickie

-- posted by vickwithpc