General Medicine

» 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

» nurseheatherone - New Labs!

In response to New Labs! posted by daisyelaine:
Hi Elaine, well the MRI of the Brain was normal and my internist is going to consult with my endo to see if any other adrenal labs should be done. After being home in a vicious cycle of panic attacks for a week now I have started to take lexapro in hopes of getting back to normal again. I also could not stand being on xanax daily, I was too out of it. My last labs were normal about a week ago, so my Dr.'s do not think it is my thyroid causing my symptoms, we will recheck them in two weeks again. The only thing I can think is that the stress of all of this has caused me to get a panic disorder. I am not doing supplements right now until I get my allergy testing and I do not even know what to eat these days, but I really do not have much of an appetite. I guess only time will tell what is going to happen with all of this. I am supposed to get one of those pilar cysts biopsied in 2 weeks, I keep forgetting to mention them to my Dr.. Pilar cysts are supposed to be benign but since the GD my dermatologist wanted to look at one of them just incase.
Thanks Elaine,
Heather

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» Elaine Moore - RAI, Hives and a lump..

In response to RAI, Hives and a lump.. posted by fiddlist:

Hi,
Were you taking thyroxine along with an anti-thyroid drug like methimazole to control your hyperthyroidism before you had RAI? If you were taking thyroxine alone, it would have raised rather than lowered your thyroid hormone levels.
Hives, anaphylaxis, and new allergies are frequent complaints after RAI because of the dramatic immune system stimulation RAI causes. Hives are often caused by food or medication allergies, and a visit to an allergist might help you pinpoint just what you're reacting to. After RAI, I became allergic to celery, wheat, bee pollen, tomatoes, and soy. Many of us also react to iodine much more than we did, and the iodine in fast and processed foods and multi-vitamins, and even sometimes certain brands of thyroid replacement hormone, can cause hives and boils.
Some people also improve when adding vitamin A&D supplements, which is something else you could try. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - New Labs!

In response to New Labs! posted by nurseheatherone:

Hi Heather,
Have you tried meditation, deep breathing, or hydrotherapy to help reduce stress? All of these methods can help even though they sound simple. Best, Elaine