General Medicine

» javatlkrs - New TSH results

Elaine,
I wanted to thank you for your last response about going hypo, and eye symptoms in Graves. I wish that I would have lowered my dosage of methimazole at that time from 20mgs. My latest blood work indicates a TSH of 32, and my Dr. said that I'm now hypo. I'm now on a lower dose of 5mg a day, and am wondering how long it will take for me to start to have positive changes. I've gained 13 pounds since Sept., and have been having hypo symptoms, ie. cold hands, weight gain, eye edema, various aches and pains, etc. Do people experience any adverse reactions to a drop in medication? (I forgot to ask my Dr. these questions.) Thank you so much for your blog. It has been a great source of information for me.
-Anne

-- posted by javatlkrs

» nurseheatherone - New Labs!

In response to New Labs! posted by nurseheatherone:
Hi Elaine, I did get my Gluten sensitivity results and they indicate that I am not sensitive. I also talked to my endo this morning and he does not recommend starting PTU with normal thyroid results, so I only took it for one day. I have a feeling that even though I may have had an allergic reaction to something, I think I also had a panic attack at the same time and I also think that I do not react well to prednisone. Over the past couple of days I felt horrible, depressed, overly emotional and anxiouss and my stomach has been a mess. Just by coming down on the prednisone dose yesterday I did not have to take the xanax to sleep, but then of course I woke up in the middle of the night with diarrhea and nausea( started since the prednisone), it happened again when I woke up this morning and then I ate a couple of saltines and the nausea was releived. Xanax makes me feel like I am in la la land and it is hard to function with it, so I am goign to save it for attacks. I think that I am going to talk with my Dr. about treating the anxiety disorder so that I can get back to normal. In two weeks I have lost about 6 lbs, I am sure a combination of everything has contributed to it, it is just funny that I am not hyper but now that my body is semi normal I am having hyper symptoms. Sorry to ramble
Thanks, Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» aviano - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Hey again Elaine:
In addition to my own suffering of this "racing" symptom, particularly when I try to add in estrogen (or seemingly progesterone as well), there are 4 other women in the U.S. from some of the thyroid/menopause boards that are all trying to help each other. Since I'm in meno, my LH/FSH are both now consistently high. The other labs (exc for prolactin???I know what it is, just trying to understand how it might contribute) are routinely run. We're not absolutely sure of all the things we have in common, but elevated TSI/androgens are certainly corresponding to this symptom in me. I also consistently have elevated hemoglobin/hematocrit (the other women don't..as far as I know)..but one of the women has had issues with CO2..I'm not sure I completely understand the details (jumping ahead and responding in part to your later email).
We've all had menopause hit us VERY hard..and our formerly productive lives (all these women are socially conscious "givers") have been stopped abruptly..We're not functioning.. So, suffice it to see that I am VERY grateful for any help you can give.
I just had most of these tests pulled today, ironically enough..not LH/FSH..because I'm assuming they'll be high anyway.
I'll let you know what they are, if your willing, and your comments would be most welcomed.
Endless thanks,
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» aviano - Internal racing, also elevated ketones

In response to Internal racing, also elevated ketones posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine:
When this symptom was at its worst..I DID lose about 20 lbs..and my former fasting glucose levels (typically anywhere from 65-85) jumped up to 100's. I have kept an eye on blood glucose levels (I have a home monitor) and they ARE erratic; generally fastings are not over 105, but post-prandials can be 150's to 180's. Incidentally, diabetes and elevated androgen levels abound on both Mom & Pop sides of family.
If this IS a metabolic disorder..do you have an idea of what it is? what to do about it?
And again, I HAVE noticed the elevation in TSI when I'm having the "racing"..Last serious episode was late Sept of /07 during a particularly virulent ragweed season..theoretically NOT due to hormone influx..unless I made a little more of my own (again I'm menopausal) than usual.
Again, grateful for your help..not just for me, but for others trying to solve the problem.
Thank you.
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» Elaine Moore - New Labs!

In response to New Labs! posted by nurseheatherone:

Hi Heather,
considering your cortisol was only slightly elevated and you're on glucocorticoids I wouldn't be too concerned about this result. But since you asked, other causes of elevated cortisol besides stress and Cushing's disease include oral contraceptives, estrogen therapy, ectopic ACTH syndrome, ectopic CRH syndrome (CRH is corticotropin-releasing hormone), adrenal adenoma or carcinoma, adrenal micronodular dysplasia, and adrenal macronodular hyperplasia.
PTU is most likely to cause side effects if the dose is higher than needed and this is the case if thryoid hormone levels are normal. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - New TSH results

In response to New TSH results posted by javatlkrs:

Hi Anne,
Lowering your methimazole dose would only cause a problem if you're still hyperthyroid and the methimazole is what's keeping your thyroid hormone levels in control (like someone with a 1.8 FT4 on 10 mg methimazole using the usual FT4 reference range of 0.8-1.8). If they were to lower their methimazole dose, FT4 would rise into the hyperthryoid range.
In your case, this isn't going to happen.
In Graves' disease, it's important to avoid hypothyroidism because your thyroid gland tries to correct hypothyroidism by speeding up its activity. This causes increased thryoid antibody production and can worsen or trigger TED and prevent remission. In your case, lowering your methimazole dose and correcting your hypothyroidism will help you although it could take a few weeks to get your levels back to an optimal range. Take care, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - New Labs!

In response to New Labs! posted by nurseheatherone:

Hi Heather,
Many things cause symptoms similar to those of hyperthyroidism and when you already have a thyroid disorder it's natural to assume that thyroid dysfunction is the cause of any new symptoms. Other things that can cause symptoms similar to those of hyperthyroidism include allergies, transient thyroid spikes from garlic or foods high in iodine and pheochromocytoma. Didn't you mention scheduling a workup for allergies? Did they ever figure out what your scalp lesions were from? Take care, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
I'd be very interested in seeing your latest lab results. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit probably aren't part of whatever is going on. They can be high in people living in high altitudes, people who are dehydrated, people with polycythemia vera, etc. Are any of you taking essential oils like fish oil or flaxseed oil? They really help so I'm suspecting none of you are taking them. Do you all have low DHEA levels? Maybe I can figure something out when I see all the results. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Internal racing, also elevated ketones

In response to Internal racing, also elevated ketones posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
You'd be surprised by how many of us with graves' disease have had serious bouts with ragweed allergies. I've been taking nasal steroids for nearly 30 years now to keep them in control. Studies show that TSI levels rise and symptoms of hyperthyroidism worsen when we're responding to ragweed and our IgE levels rise. The higher the IgE the worse the hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid hormone is very potent and even slight elevations in FT4 or FT3 can cause hyperthyroid symptoms. Are you having FT4, FT3, and TSH levels?
Besides glucose levels have you had hemoglobin A1c's or insulin levels to check for diabetes?

» fiddlist - RAI, Hives and a lump..

Hi Elaine,
I am so relieved that I found this website. I am a 26 year old female and was diagnosed with Graves in October 2005. I was on Thyroxine until June 2007. I recieved RAI in July 2007-- After having RAI I do regret it mostly because I was very sick afterward (vomiting, tired, neauseaus, yellow looking)for about 2 weeks and my only thought was "what have I done to my body." The thyroxine wasn't slowing my thyroid down and I felt like I had no other options other than RAI. At the end of August, after RAI, I began experiencing hives and have them to this day (nearly 6 months later). I take 10mg of an antihistimine to relieve the itchiness and need to take it every 24 hours. I scratch and it welts up in the area that I scratched--minutes later it will go away and the hives appear somewhere else where I may have scatched or rubbed against something. Also, during my last Endo. appointment, she found a lump on the left front side of my neck. I am scheduled for an ultrasound in a few weeks, but it is beginning to hurt when I stretch my neck and swallow. I don't know if the lump and hives are connected or whether they are both connected to the Graves. My doctor says that the hives (urticaria) are from stress, but I am not stressed!
I have been dealing with this for 4 years and I am so frustrated! I would appreciate it so much if you could offer me some help and advice.
Thank you,
Lyndsey

-- posted by fiddlist