General Medicine

» u25000 - antibodies

I had my ab's checked 1/07 mildly elevated; then was on fsh inject July, pregnancy. If these are proteins which last about 90days, do you suppose the recent cause for elevation might still be evident even after m/c and d&c late Aug, if I have test done?

-- posted by u25000

» dana65 - Another Graves questions

In response to Another Graves questions posted by daisyelaine:

So after achieving remission, must one avoid dairy products totally forevermore or just for 3-4 years? Or eventually can one just be cautious in their use?

Also, since Graves Disease goes into remission in about 1/3 of the cases . . why do doctors not wait to see if that will happen before treating the disease? Or is it dangerous because of the risk of "thyroid storm?" Can that happen to someone with a mild hyperthyroid condition?

And one more question . . . you have mentioned that being hypothyroid has been much more difficult for you than being hyperthyroid. Could you explain?

Thanks.
Dana

-- posted by dana65

» Elaine Moore - Remission

In response to Remission posted by eyeseelinda:

Hi,
With TSH falling, you may be moving back into hyperthyroidism but you wouldn't want to start ATDs when FT4 and FT3 levels are normal. A low TSH with normal thyroid hormone levels suggests subclinical hyperthyroidism, a disorder that often resolves on its own.
Your FT4 level is also on the low side. If you start producing more blocking than stimulating TSH receptor antibodies you can move into hypothyroidism yet initially have a low TSH because both stimulating and blocking antibodies falsely decrease TSH levels.
The problem with starting ATDs when thyroid levels are normal is that you can easily move into hypothyroidism, and this promotes thyroid antibody production, which can worsen TED.

You say you went into remission evidenced by normal thyroid hormone levels. This only fits if your levels remain low while on a very low ATD dose, like 1.25 mg every other day for Tapazole or 12.5 mg every other day for PTU. Otherwise, if you're on a higher dose, you should have normal levels but this wouldn't imply remission. Hope this helps. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Safe to take Melatonin for jet lag if you have Graves Disease?

In response to Safe to take Melatonin for jet lag if you have Graves Disease? posted by eyeseelinda:

Hi,
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland with potent antioxidant properties. It's sold as a hormone supplement although it's not a herb. I take it regularly because I work the night shift. Taken for prolonged periods it could stimulate the immune system. For occasional use, it's a safe supplement. I have an article on it on 101. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - graves'

In response to graves' posted by mariammc:

Hi,
Your September labs are fine, and you should be able to lower your dose without problems. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - antibodies

In response to antibodies posted by u25000:

Hi,
If your TSI level is low now, you can probably assume it was low during your pregnancy. If your TSI level is elevated now, you won't know if it was elevated during pregnancy or rose after your miscarriage. It won't hurt to have the level now but it may not tell you what you need to know. Best, Elaine

» mariammc - iodine

Hi, i just wanted to comment on how amazed i am at all the foods with natural or added iodine.

Today i almost purchased Sacha inchi oil because it's loaded with omega 3 oil, but when i further checked out information on this product, i found out it is loaded with iodine too.

Sometimes i just don't know what to eat anymore, and i wish companies would stop adding sea salt to everything, lol.

Take care,

Maria

-- posted by mariammc

» Elaine Moore - iodine

In response to iodine posted by mariammc:

Hi Maria,
Thanks for the tip on the Sacha inchi oil. It's so important to read labels. Red food dyes are another hidden source of iodine. Whole foods including raw vegetables and lean organic meats combined into a stir fry or salad are generally good choices. Best, Elaine

» cowlover614 - eye drops

Hi Elaine, I'm still waiting on new Endo appt. Oct 16th. I went to the eye doctor yesterday he said my pressures are up. He gave me drops to use called Xalatan. I really don't like the side affects it may cause, I haven't used them yet because I am afraid. I read it was tested on monkeys do you know anything about these drops? On the other hand I am afraid not to use them. i sure don't want to end up blind. He asked if they had my levels under control yet. I can't get anyone to touch my thyroid problem. He said he wants to try these drops and he would see me in six weeks. I don't want to look even worse. Is this ever gonna stop? It's almost a year and no improvement with my eyes at all. I am really tired of this. I am trying to hang in here but it is so hard. Thanks Shirl

-- posted by cowlover614

» Elaine Moore - eye drops

In response to eye drops posted by cowlover614:

Hi Shirl,

Here's a link on xalatan, which is primarily used for patients with glaucoma since it reduce intraocular pressure.
http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/download/us...

Besides the studies on monkeys, there have been clinical trials that are described here. The most often mentioned side effect is that the pigment of the iris can change, becoming brown in the treated eyes of patients with blue or green eyes. Whether this is a permanent change isn't known.

The important effects are that this drug can effectively lower eye pressure, reducing complications including vision loss. I think it would be worthwhile to see if the drug helps. If it's congestive infiltration of white blood cells and immune system chemicals from the autoimmune process that are causing the pressure change, I'm not sure how well this drug will help, but it doesn't seem harmful. Let us know if you try the drops. Best, Elaine