General Medicine

» juicymango - Grave's, coming off ATDs and low ferritin levels

Hi Elaine
I have had Grave's for 2 years, been on Carbimazole for 18 months and just now stopped taking it to see if symptoms come back. I was also diagnosed with anaemia four months ago and have taken an iron supplement since then, however, although my haemoglobin level is now normal (11), my ferritin level is still very low (5). I feel exhausted and depressed but dare not take any more time off work. My T4 is 17.5. Some research I found on the internet suggested that if haemoglobin is normal, then low ferritin levels shouldn't have much effect. My doctor is doing some investigations to try to find the cause of the low ferritin levels but, in the meantime, I wondered if you have any knowledge/ experience of either the effects of coming off ATDs or low ferritin levels? I have been taking St John's Wort but am now considering taking a pharmaceutical antidepressant as I'm feeling so awful. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Best wishes
Helena

-- posted by juicymango

» aviano - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Hello Elaine:
I do not have TSI back as yet, but the remarkables for me were: elevated testosterone/free T..DHEAs (had dropped back down on last set but is typically high/high normal) 228; elevated RBC/hemoglobin/hematocrit/serum iron, elevated lymphs. TSH 1.6, free T3 - 3.4, free T4 - .99; Ep-Barr Chronic/reactivated infection..calcium stays on high end of normal or high..Low estrogen, but progesterone had jumped up to 1.0 which is a little high for a post-menopausal woman. Cortisol 15.1 (8:45 a.m.) and estrogen was actually detectable at 16!!! Again for me racing correlates with exo/endogenous estrogen/progesterone, increased free T, increased TSI..seemingly somewhat irrespective of thyroid "levels".
Thank you,
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» Elaine Moore - Grave's, coming off ATDs and low ferritin levels

In response to Grave's, coming off ATDs and low ferritin levels posted by juicymango:

Hi,
I have to wonder if your ATD dose was too high and your thyroid levels were too low at one time. Hypothyroidism often causes a low ferritin and hypothyroidism also causes depression. See http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/fer...
I'm not sure what your ranges are but your want to look at both FT4 and FT3 compared to the reference or normal range and make sure your levels are at least at mid-range. Before stopping ATDs completely you should be on the lowest dose needed to keep FT4 in range. Over time, the dose is reduced. When you're on a very low dose, like 1.25 mg daily and have normal thyroid function tests, remission is likely. Best, Elaine

» juicymango - Grave's, coming off ATDs and low ferritin levels

In response to Grave's, coming off ATDs and low ferritin levels posted by daisyelaine:

Thanks Elaine
The info & link on hypothyroidism & low ferritin was really useful - I guess my own research didn't yield results because I was searching for hyperthyroidism & ferritin but its a while now since my T4 was anything other than low or low-normal. I'll check it all out.
Thanks and best wishes
Helena

-- posted by juicymango

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi,
In the lab we see progesterone falling over time in the postmenopausal period; it's not unusual to have progesterone levels of 1.0 in women in their 60's, and these levels also fluctuate. Progesterone is measured in very small units ng/ml and the difference between 0.7 (the high end of the postmenopausal range) and 1.0 is slight. A good endo could prescribe a compounded hormone formula that would keep your levels in balance if you think they're the problem. If TSI is the problem, you'd want to reduce it by avoiding immune stimulants such as vaccines, allergens, chemicals, etc. You should probably be tested for 24 hr urine catecholamines and other things that could cause internal racing. Take care, Elaine

» mariammc - restricted calories

Hey Elaine!
I haven't been here for a while, hope all is well. I was wondering about a calorie restricted diet with added goitergen foods. I've been having a problem with methimazole and might need to stop taking it. It did what it was suppose to do, I don't have a racing heart anymore, but I do have side effects.
I tried to stop taking it, but within 2 days my heart was racing again.
I was thinking about juicing, eating raw goitergen rich foods, egg whites and kicking this sugar habit I've developed. As soon as I started the meds, I've been drinking coffee everyday, and I never did this before.
Is it true that restricted calorie diets can prevent autoimmune disease? Thanks again! Maria

-- posted by mariammc

» Elaine Moore - restricted calories

In response to restricted calories posted by mariammc:

Hi Maria,
There's some evidence that calorie restriction can aid longevity, improve immune system health, and thereby reduce the tendency toward autoimmune diseases.
I know several people who achieved remission using a raw foods diet.
However, you're not going to notice effects overnight.
If your thyroid levels rise when you're not on meds, you need to keep them in control with bugleweed or a low dose of methimazole at the onset of your new program.
Slowly, you'll be able to reduce the bugleweed or methimazole, and eventually stop it but to just stop it because you're starting a new program could backfire.
Taking acetyl-l-carnitine is another way to reduce symptoms as you're weaning off meds. best, elaine

» aviano - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine:
I did finally receive the TSI result today...149. As usual that increased #..seemingly somewhat irrespective of free hormone levels is correlating with the "racing". I've had two urinary catecholamines done..admittedly NOT when racing going on..but at this point, I'm not sure there is a need. TSI/free T are the apparent correlating "culprits".
Again, what I'm trying to determine is whether/how the hormones themselves are the immune system stimulant and if so, what, if any way is there around the problem? Could a block/treat or LD Naltrexone treatment lower the abs enough such that hormones could be tolerated?
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
Thyroid hormone isn't the immune stimulant. Your immune system in autoimmune disorders is weak and inactive. It confuses thyroid antigens (protein molecules from your thyroid cells) with foreign proteins. Normally, the immune system shows tolerance for your body's own "self" components and doesn't target them.
There are various reasons why your immune system might target your thyroid gland and produce TSI:

*infectious microorganisms can mutate to new shapes that resemble thyroid antigens, and your weakened immune system gets confused (molecular mimicry)
*sugar, aspartame, cigarette smoke, and other chemicals can contribute
*excess un-natural refined dietary iodine can damage your thyroid gland's *ability to function properly, leading to thyroid autoimmunity
*Low selenium levels can do this too
*estrogens can trigger your immune system to act erratically
*stress cripples your immune system and is a major cause of TSI production

As for LDN, it has potential benefits and primarily works by helping restore homeostasis, which is the body's own negative feedback mechanism for restoring good health. LDN also regulates cell profiferation and helps maintain normal cell turnover. By increasing endorphins it helps restore immune system balance. It's definitely something worth mentioning to your doctor as a means of reducing TSI levels. I'm trying it now. Best, Elaine

» aviano - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine:
I'm sorry, I should have been more clear..I know that TSI/thyroid hormone itself is not the [immune] stimulant. What I believe is that estrogen and perhaps progesterone as well are the culprits..
My doc and I are doing a little experiment right now. My TSI during a "racing" episode was 149, even though thyroid levels..though a bit higher than normal were okay..After the "racing" settled down, we added a 14 mcg estrogen patch (Menostar). Usually the patch..or any form of estrogen for that matter can have me manicky/racing within about 3 days..we're going to run serums, comprehensive urinary profile, and I may elect to do salivas as well to see if we can discern what is going on.
It is my belief (and I think my doc wants to confirm this) is that the racing at least correlates with an increased TSI, increased DHEAs, increased total/free Testosterone.
This is an important experiment because it may explain why at least a subset of women get "manicky" when they attempt estrogen replacement.
If TSI is what is precipitating the racing, then getting that # down theoretically should improve things. I appreciate your feedback on the LDN.
What is your opinion on the TSI of 149?
Avi

-- posted by aviano