General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
Thanks for clarifying. You're probably on to something. Definitely, estrogen will affect mood, increase blood pressure, affect lipid metabolism, and more. People have different sensitivity and ways of metabolizing estrogen too.

At a TSI greater than 125% most people will have symptoms of hyperthyroidism and also elevated thyroid hormone levels. However, if someone also has blocking TSH receptor antibodies, the blocking abs prevent TSI from even reacting with thyroid cells. So someone could have a much higher TSI and no effects.
Also, thyroid cells have various subtypes of TSH receptors. An increase in the subtype of TSH cell receptors that have a greater propensity for stimulating thyroid hormone production affects the effects of TSI.
There are lots of variables with some types of TSI more likely to cause thyroid cell growth than stimulate hormone production.
TSI also react with TSH receptors on skeletal muscle, heart muscle, pituitary cells, skin cells, orbital cells, and perhaps other organs. So you can't equate a TSI value with a specific effect except to say that in most cases levels need to be at least 125% before symptoms of hyperthyroidism develop. Hope this helps, Elaine

» aviano - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine:
It does..and I'm looking forward to your updated article on autoimmune disease and bipolar illness (no rush..Lord knows you give us enough time as it is). I'll keep you posted as to the "anecdotal case reports" from the women that are sharing this symptom. Many thanks.
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» aviano - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine:
I want to make sure that I understand..TSI Ab's ARE stimulating, but could have less of an effect due to blocking Ab's. I understand that there are new ways (Quest Labs) of measuring thyroid receptor antibodies that are more accurate and definitive. My doc is telling me that in some cases where TSH is high, RIA may actually be confusing TSH with TSI..However, my TSI is relatively (1.6) low at this point, so I'm assuming that I can trust the # of 149.
Thank you,
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
I wrote the article a few weeks ago, right after we discussed this. It's on thyroid disease. You should find the link on latest articles on the left column next to the post.
I can find more info specific to autoimmune diseases in general but thyroid diseases are probably the most commonly associated autoimmune disease with bipolar disorder. Let me know if you have trouble finding it. best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
Yes, you're absolutely right.
TSI will be blocked and less potent when there are blocking TSH receptor antibodies.
The TSH level will be falsely elevated if someone has TSH antibodies.
The TSH level is falsely decreased if someone has TSH receptor antibodies (either stimulating or blocking ones).
Quest and Mayo both have good procedures for testing TSH receptor antibodies.
RAI causes an increased production of TSH receptor antibodies, and this will falsely decrease TSH levels. Blocking antibodies can contribute to hypothyroidism, and this can cause TSH to rise. It could also cause your TSH to appear euthyroid (normal thyroid function tests) while TSI are causing transient hyper symptoms.
Your TSH wouldn't be considered low. Most adults have TSH levels between 0.3 and 1.0 mu/L. Levels higher than 2.5 suggest hypothyroidism although after RAI, TSH is typically falsely decreased so you really have to look at your FT4 and FT3 levels to tell your thyroid status. Best,Elaine

» aviano - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Elaine:
I can't get to it..apologies, I am still clumsily trying to navigate this site.
Thank you,
Avi

-- posted by aviano

» Elaine Moore - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
I can't find it either so now I'm wondering if it vanished along with everything else on my hard drive during my major computer crash in December. Oddly enough, I ran across several studies on psychological problems in autoimmune diseases the other day and I still have the reference book I used to write the missing article.
I'll write an article this weekend and I apologize for the confusion. In the meantime here's a different article I wrote that's more on autoimmune diseases and schizophrenia. http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/ar...
Watch for the new article to show up before Sunday. Best, Elaine

» Elaine Moore - Found Bipolar Article

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by aviano:

Hi Avi,
I'm not sure why I didn't find this before, but here's the link for the article I wrote on autoimmune thyroid/bipolar disorders:
http://thyroid-disorders.suite101.com/ar...

I have some other info on autoimmune diseases/bipolar in general so I'll try to write another article on that within the next week. Best, Elaine

» nurseheatherone - Internal Racing Feeling

In response to Internal Racing Feeling posted by daisyelaine:

Hi Elaine,
I wanted to ask you about the blcoking antibodies. I have TSI of 179% after going from a TSH of 2.61( overmedicated) to now of around .5, my FT4 and FT3 are in the mid to normal range. Is it possible that I am having trasient hyper symptoms even with normal throid results or do the blcoking antibodies only effect the TSH. I have finally been diagnosed with a bit of an anxiety disorder. I am now taking lexapro for about 2 weeks so far and have begun to speak with a therapist. She also wants me to take a very low dose of klonipin at night until the lexapro fully kicks in and so I can sleep better. I had a test for the pheochromocytoma and it was negative as well. I am not sure what triggered this sudden panic,a nd I am not sure I can blame it on the thyroid, but I had to start some sort of treatment to be able to function. The good news is my menstrual cycles are pretty normal now, my acne has cleared up, I have lost almost all of the weight I gained ( almost 30 lbs), my hair is falling out less and those awful headaches and muscle aches are barely noticable anymore. Stress could have triggered this anxiety so I am really trying to not think about the thyroid disease as much these days and just try to relax! Have a Great weekend!

-- posted by nurseheatherone

» aviano - Found Bipolar Article

In response to Found Bipolar Article posted by daisyelaine:

Hey Elaine:
Thank you so much for the article..I really appreciate it..Are there new ways/methods/treatments; e.g., hope on the horizon for those that suffer? Where do you think LDN will fit in to all this? The "anti-Graves monoclonal" study currently being done in Barcelona?
I have definitely suffered severe mood impact with the Graves exacerbation..while not psychotic, nor schizophrenic..(3 psychiatrists have assured me of this) I do experience what my Grandmother (and my neurologist kindly described) as "spells" from time to time. Feeling disoriented, like I'm going to black out, a little detached/out of it..(these are also symptoms commonly described on perimenopause boards).
Where are the best places for treatment?
Thank you,
Avi

-- posted by aviano